Boys Leadership Camp: A Journey of Growth, Culture and Connection
Participants in Souths Cares’ Deadly Youth Mentoring, Liverpool Opportunity Hub and Nanga Mai Marri (Dream Big) Programs attended a Boy’s Leadership and Cultural Camp last week at Middle Rock Ingenia Holiday Park. Guided by the theme “Surviving and Thriving,” the camp provided a powerful opportunity for young leaders to strengthen their confidence, resilience, and connection to culture and one another.
After arriving at camp, the first activity for the boys was establishing the campsite and working in teams to build their swags. The group then travelled to Tomaree Mountain for a cultural workshop and guided walk to the summit. Through storytelling and reflection on Country, the mentees explored the strength of Aboriginal culture, the responsibility of caring for land, and the importance of perspective. Reaching the summit symbolised perseverance and resilience, reminding the group that leadership often requires effort, reflection and the courage to keep moving forward, even when the path is challenging.
In the afternoon, the group cooled off with a swim at One Mile Beach followed by time in the pool, where it was great to see the boys building new connections with one another across different Souths Cares programs. That evening, the boys continued developing their life skills by helping to prepare and cook a BBQ dinner.
On the second day, the boys were up early, cooking breakfast before heading to Soldiers Point for a land-based fishing workshop. The session reinforced the importance of sustainability and caring for Country. For many, the experience went beyond fishing — it was about slowing down, observing their surroundings and working together, all essential qualities for leadership. The boys demonstrated growing confidence as they developed new skills, with many rewarded for their perseverance by catching bream and whiting at the picturesque location.
Yileen Gordon, Mentor“It was great to see the young men supporting each other through the activities, especially on the mountain walk and during the fishing. Camps like this help them build confidence, try new things and stay connected to who they are and where they come from.”
The group stopped at Salamander Bay for a fish and chips lunch before enjoying a swim at the pool and taking advantage of the fantastic facilities at Middle Rock Ingenia Holiday Park. They then headed to Ten Pin Bowling, balancing learning with fun where laughter, friendly competition and teamwork helped build confidence and strengthen friendships. These relaxed moments created space for connection and reinforced the importance of enjoying the journey alongside the challenges.
As a reward for their efforts and for stepping outside their comfort zones, the group enjoyed dinner at Negroni’s Italian Restaurant in Nelson Bay. Over shared meals and conversation, the mentees reflected on their achievements, worked on communication skills, acknowledged their growth, and celebrated the experiences they had shared throughout the camp.
On day three, the boys helped cook breakfast before working in teams to pack down the campsite. The group then took part in a final leadership reflection, with the boys sharing what they had learnt during the camp and how they would take these learnings back to their schools and communities to strengthen their leadership.
The boys returned safely to Sydney, driven home by their mentors with great memories and valuable lessons that will continue to guide them in their communities, education and future leadership pathways.
