With Christmas just around the corner, we tend to get caught up in the festive spirit and forget about those less fortunate. A group of teenagers who wouldn’t normally get to celebrate Christmas have been given the opportunity to celebrate thanks to an exceptional group of young adults from Sydney, Australia.

Starting in 2009, Summer Camp is an annual camp that has been giving Australian teenagers the opportunity to celebrate and experience a fun-filled Christmas. Ryan Buckland, one of the camp organisers, said it’s important to have something for teenagers that are in need during the holiday season.

“The older kids tend to miss out at Christmas time. People normally give to the younger children.”  Summer Camp is about bringing a family Christmas experience to teenager’s aged 13 - 18 that are in a rough situation and letting them know that people love and care about them.  A lot of the teens that are attending Summer Camp are street kids or have drug/alcohol issues. This year’s camp is situated on the beach with a heap of Aussie fun planned! There will be jet skis, surfboards, jam sessions, PS2’s and a possible private screening of a newly released movie to help keep the teens entertained.
Local Sydney dance crew Royalty Crew will be there, with hopes of professional surfers to also make a special appearance. Local businesses have donated to the camp which helps give the teens that extra bit of love. Wave magazine, a local surfing mag, has kindly donated surf products- so that all the teens will be decked out with awesome surf gear! Because the camp isn’t on December 25^th, one day of the camp is dedicated to Christmas Day. When the teens wake up they go down stairs and unwrap their presents that are underneath the Christmas tree.

“We literally take what everyone’s Christmas is and give it to young people who have never had one.” 

Teens who have participated in previous camps have changed their life around. Some have quit smoking and others have gotten houses, while some have even stopped doing drugs. 

“We don’t want young people to feel that they’re not capable of doing anything. Young people have the power to make a difference, even if it’s in their local community or in the lives of people they know.”

The organisers of Summer Camp would love your support!
If you would like to know more about Summer Camp or are interested in donating, contact Ryan Buckland at: ryan@mmad.org.au