Lions Club of Ocean Grove-Barwon Heads has donated $5000 to Bellarine Training and Community Hub’s (BTACH) youth drop-in centre to help with a two-day camp to be held later in the year.
BTACH has been running the centre at its Ocean Grove hub for 23 years every Friday during school term time.
The program attracts between 30 and 50 young people and focuses on building resilience as well as developing physical and mental skills.
Youth program coordinator Clint Miller said the two-day camp will be a no-electronics affair, meaning no phones, games or smart watches.
“Last year in my role as youth coordinator I initiated some nature based camps for the kids where we went with no watches and phones and it was a real success,” he said.
The local Lions Club decided to do some fundraising and was looking for projects to support.
Mr Miller presented a pitch from BTACH at a club dinner and the $5000 was donated.
The money will be used for the camp and will fund roughly half of it, going towards youth workers’ wages, a bus, food, fuel and activities.
“I spoke about challenges facing young people today and how we would be grateful for any support,” Mr Miller said.
Mr Miller said the benefits of a camp without electronic devices were numerous.
“We communicate to them that a no phones approach is not because anyone has done anything wrong, it’s a reward,” he said.
“There are so many distractions and anxiety that come from screen-based devices.
“The internet will provide you with millions and millions of connections that will never surpass a human connection in real time.”
The drop-in centre at BTACH is open from 6pm to 9pm every Friday during school term and costs $5, which includes dinner. It is open to anyone from Grade 6 to Year 12.
