Act for Kids Gold Coast team held another successful three-day Youth Adventure Program (YAP) during the school holidays. The program encourages kids to participate in sport, play, art or other activities that they enjoy, helping them to develop new skills, build self-esteem and make new friends.
Eight girls from families weve been working with on the coast, between the ages of 11 and 13, joined in on an action-packed adventure, facilitated by Act for Kids Family Support Workers, Elizabeth Danes and Felicity St.John on 13 January.
Activities included a mentoring workshop, yoga, indoor rock climbing, surfing and snorkelling at Cook Island, banana art, laser skirmish, bowling and lots of free choice activities. The vibrant group of girls all managed to surf confidently, scale the roof of multiple indoor rock walls, and appreciate turtles in their natural habitat.
Act for Kids Family Support Worker, Felicity St. John, said they were constantly amazed and proud of the attitudes, persistence, resilience, and openness that emerged over the three days.
By applying therapeutic approaches within an adventure program we were able to empower the girls, provide coping strategies, help acknowledge and push beyond their fears, create a sense of social inclusion and use positive affirmations and gratitude journals to increase wellbeing.
The program was more than just having fun on the holidays. The girls created a safe place and continued to encourage and bring out the best in each other. We hope they can return to their communities with the enthusiasm and confidence to empower one another, she said.
The program wouldnt be possible without the funding from the Gold Coast Suns and many other generous donors. Wed like to say a special thank you to Subway for supplying two healthy platters of subs, which help teach our kids the importance of healthy eating. A big thank you to AMF Bowling for providing bowling and laser skirmish passes.
