During the term break St Peter’s College partnered with Kickstart for Kids for our inaugural children’s holiday camp. 70 primary-aged children joined us on campus supported by 25 student volunteers, 8 SPSC staff and 12 Kickstart for Kids staff. This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with and support children experiencing hardship by showing them a great time in a fun and caring environment.
The focus of the Camp was connection and community, and our student volunteers embodied the SPSC qualities of ‘strong and lovely’ in every interaction with the children they buddied with. It was a meaningful and lively day with lots of laughter, and we look forward to hosting Kickstart for Kids again during the next term break.
Keen to volunteer?
We are currently seeking student volunteers in Years 10 to 12 to be buddies for our next Camp on Tuesday 7 July. We welcome all parents to help supervise games and activities. If interested, please email Service Learning Partnerships and Programs Lead Ashleigh Day at aday@stpeters.sa.edu.au for more information.
Thank You’s
Thank you to Ian and Olivia Steele and the team at Kickstart for Kids for joining us and supporting our students support the children.
Thank you to the SPSC supervisors on the day: Jess Gilbert, Ed Ruediger, Anthea Hagar, Bianca Harms, Lucy Johnson, Georgia McDonald and Julia Denny-Dimitriou.
And well done to our fantastic team of student volunteers:
Seb Harms
Ned Manifold
Ryan Weinert
Max Harms
Charles Johnson
Daniel Spyrou
Harry Steele
Harvey Kupniewski
Sidney Kupniewski
Jack Lai
Jerry Liu
Cruz Leon
William Harper
Yifei Ren
Caleb Scott
Liam Hindmarch-Meredith
Archie Braithwaite
Tyler Gao
Felix Siow
Charlie Melillo
Kaien Liu
Henry Lehman
Student Reflections
“I really enjoyed being involved in the Kickstart Camp and helping run the egg drop challenge stall. It was a great experience seeing the kids work together, be creative, and get excited about testing their designs. The most rewarding part was watching their confidence grow as they came up with ideas and became more confident in what they were building and with each other, even when their egg did not survive the drop.” – Jack Lai, Year 9
I was initially worried about how I’d be able to handle the responsibility of managing a group of kids I’d never met before, but in the end, I believe that I was able to provide the highest level of support possible. I believe that other students should sign up for this, as this is an amazing opportunity to step out of your comfort zone. – Cruz Leon, Year 11
The most challenging part was probably managing my energy and staying patient, especially during busy or chaotic moments. It could be full-on at times, so learning how to stay calm and positive was important. The best part was definitely interacting with the kids. Playing games, talking with them, and seeing them enjoy themselves was really rewarding to know that I was helping create a fun and safe environment for them. Other students should certainly get involved because it’s a really rewarding experience that helps you grow as a person. You gain confidence, learn new skills, and make a positive impact on others. Plus, it’s genuinely fun and something you’ll remember. – Harry Steele, Year 10
A highlight was on the pool day, we were in the mini pool, and all volunteers had a race while piggy backing the little ones. – Seb Harms, Year 11
I found adapting during the day challenging as there were lots of changes that we had to make to our activity. I had lots of fun whenever the kids were having fun and making their days enjoyable. I was very surprised with the behaviour of the kids, they were very nice. – Tyler Gao
Being part of something that brings joy to others was truly fulfilling and it’s an experience that has stayed with me long after the day is over. Beyond that, it also helped me grow as a person. I developed patience, communication skills and a better understanding of different perspectives. Overall, the program was so rewarding and I couldn’t recommend it more. – Jerry Liu, Year 11
Ashleigh Day
Service Learning Program Coordinator
