Each school holidays, a group of kids converges on Bridge Valley Adventure Centre to experience the magic of camping in the country, despite being just a five-minute drive from Wakefield.
For the latest holiday camp, the theme was "The Amazing Race", with 60 campers aged 8-13 participating.
“The aim is always to make camp feel exciting and memorable, while also helping children learn good values, grow in confidence, and have a lot of fun,” says general manager James Worthington.
“Each school holiday camp has its own theme, which helps create fun, imagination, and a sense of adventure for the children.”
“The theme is woven into games, activities, team challenges, chapel times, and the general feel of the camp.”
It takes a whole team to run a school holiday camp at Bridge Valley, with 40 staff, leaders, and volunteers required to run the holiday camp programmes safely.
There are trained leaders, kitchen and activity staff, with support from people looking after activities, supervision, food, cleaning, pastoral care, first aid, and the many behind-the-scenes jobs that make camp work.
“One of the lovely things about camp is that many of our leaders were once campers themselves,” James says.
“They come back because Bridge Valley meant something to them, and now they want to help create that same experience for the next group of children.”
While Bridge Valley runs children’s holiday camps during the school holidays, it also hosts school camps, church camps, retreats, community groups, leadership training, and other events throughout the year.
Its activities include kayaking, water activities, climbing, team challenges, laser tag, luge, mini golf, and other camp-based adventure experiences.
“We also provide a place for groups to gather, eat together, learn together, and build community,” says James.
According to James, Bridge Valley, which opened in 1982, was set up as a Christian camp and community facility, with a heart to provide a place where people can be encouraged, challenged, and inspired.
“Our purpose is to create a welcoming environment where people can step out of normal life for a while, enjoy adventure, build friendships, grow in confidence, and encounter positive Christian values such as kindness, courage, service, responsibility, and care for others,” explains James.
“At its heart, Bridge Valley exists to serve people. We want children, young people, families, schools, churches, and community groups to leave better than when they arrived.”
For the year ended March 2026, Bridge Valley recorded more than 8,000 bed night stays, for school camps, community groups, children’s holiday camps, or youth leadership training.
“Children and young people are a major focus, but we are certainly not only a children’s camp,” says James.
“Bridge Valley is used by a broad mix of groups from around the Nelson Tasman region and beyond.”
James says that Bridge Valley is about much more than facilities.
“At its heart, it is about people. We want children and young people to feel welcomed, safe, encouraged, and inspired,” he says.
“It is wonderful watching a child arrive a little nervous, then leave with new friends, big stories, and a real sense of achievement.”
