Courage and connection at Camp Yurrebilla

Camp Yurrebilla is an annual camp that brings together children and young people from Baptist Care SA's Out of Home Care program along with young people from Aboriginal Family Support Services.

Held at Mylor Adventure Camp, the camp provides an amazing opportunity for these young people to discover their strengths, build resilience and develop healthy self-belief whilst connecting with other young people unable to live with their families in a safe environment.

Yurrebilla is the name given to the giant who is featured in a Kaurna Dreaming story and whose fallen body forms the Mt Lofty Ranges and spirit looks down from the hills and protects all forms of life along the plains.

This year, more than 45 children and young people attended the three-day camp where they worked with each other to solve problems and build trust through a huge range of outdoor adventure activities.

A less exhilarating activity, which was a hit with the younger children, was a visit from a squirrel glider, quokka, goanna and python as part of an interactive presentation which taught about the habits and habitats of native wildlife.

The visit from these gentle and curious creatures, some of whom got up close and personal with the children, underscored the value of caring for our environment and protecting all forms of life.

Some of the participants commented:

“I liked the flying fox and how I made a new friend. I also liked the water sports, beautiful scenery and the animals.”

"Camp has been pretty fun. I liked the giant swing. The first time I did it I was hanging on for dear life and the second time I started showing off."