• Omaui Camp invites the community to celebrate its newly developed outdoor facilities.
  • Attendees can enjoy activities including a flying fox, walking track, and environmental education.
  • Partnership with Rotary Club of Invercargill key to camp’s recent transformation and new amenities.

The Y Southland is preparing to welcome the community to Omaui Camp for a public open day on Saturday, 7th September. This event will showcase the extensive efforts poured into the camp’s recent developments, highlighting a true community collaboration.

Visitors to the open day will have the opportunity to explore a new walking track, engage in outdoor adventure activities like the flying fox, spider’s web, and balancing wires, and take part in environmental education activities. The camp building will also be open for viewing. The open day runs from 12noon to 3pm, with a free BBQ available from 12noon until 2pm.

The transformation of Omaui Camp has involved countless voluntary hours, most notably in the creation of an onsite walking track. This development was made possible through a partnership with the Rotary Club of Invercargill. Over 350 metres of track have been constructed, hundreds of native plants have been added, and a former pond has been reinstated, with four wooden walkways built by the Invercargill MenzShed.

Y Southland General Manager Jason Holland praised the project’s scale and the impact it will have on future camp experiences. “The partnership with the Rotary Club of Invercargill has been key to getting this project completed, and there is now a fantastic onsite space that we know will be enjoyed by thousands of young people, only adding to their Omaui Camp experience,” he said.

The Rotary Club of Invercargill has a long history with Omaui, dating back to 1935, when it was the site of their first working project. The club played a crucial role in the original construction of the camp and has continued to support it over the decades. This year’s efforts are part of the club’s 100th-anniversary celebrations.

Club President Chami Abeysinghe expressed pride in the partnership with Y Southland. “Omaui holds a very special place in the hearts of our club members, and we couldn’t be happier at what our partnership with the Y Southland has achieved!” she said. The project has involved laying 350 metres of weed matting, nearly 75 tonnes of gravel, and constructing wooden walkways.

The camp’s new developments also include an environmental education resource funded by the Leslie Hutchins Conservation Foundation. The resource, written by Lloyd Esler, covers Omaui’s history, native plants, coastal and bird life, and provides activity sheets for schools with links to the curriculum.

Paul Norris, Chairperson for the Leslie Hutchins Conservation Foundation, noted that the project aligns with the Foundation’s goals of providing educational opportunities in the outdoors for local community groups.

“Omaui is a really special place and we’re doing what we can to ensure schools and community groups or organisations have as many reasons to visit the camp as possible,” Mr. Holland said.

Omaui Camp, formerly a Children’s Health Camp, was gifted to the Y Southland in 2001. It remains a vital resource for the community, used primarily for school camps but also available for private bookings.

The Details

  • What: Omaui Camp Open Day
  • When: Saturday, 7th September 2024
  • Time: 12noon to 3pm (free BBQ 12noon to 2pm)
  • Where: Omaui Camp, 159 Mokomoko Road, Omaui
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