The dining hall of Currumundi Recreation Camp was full of loud chatter and laughter as over 100 secondary scholarship students finished their breakfast and prepared for another day full of adventure. The students, from right around Cape York, were all gathered for the four-day Cape York Leaders Program Annual Camp. It’s a camp designed to set them up for a successful year at Queensland's top boarding schools. The four days blend exciting outdoor activities with leadership workshops, offering students a chance to grow, bond and plan for their futures.
One young leader, Tyrell Wolmby from Aurukun, looks forward to the camp each year. “This camp gives me more confidence in who I am and where I come from,” he said. "I love this camp.”
This year’s camp was packed with activities – like body boarding, rock climbing, canoeing, archery, catapults and ropes courses – which were chosen not just for their fun element but for their potential to foster team-building and personal resilience.
It was the first camp for Year 7 student, Quade Bowen from Hope Vale. “My favourite activity has been body boarding,” he said. “Because we get to go down to the beach and have a nice swim and get a push from the waves.”
The other focus of the camp is on developing leadership skills. Workshops with their Student Support Officers encouraged the students to explore their aspirations and potential career paths. They heard about cyberbullying and their digital footprint from tik toker Wollie Gela, and about their social and emotional wellbeing from the team at Ngak Min Health.
For many students, like Kevisani Daniel from Weipa, the camp is about finding out what type of leader they want to be. “I want to be a role model to my cousins so they know they are able to do anything,” she said.
Rhys Hollo-Russell, Cape York Leaders Program Manager, emphasised the camp's importance. "This is the only time during the year when we are all together as a group. We use this time to set the standard we expect from the next generation of Cape York Leaders," he said
Tamara Hunting, Team Leader Academic Leaders, shared a similar sentiment. "We see transformation during this camp. Students arrive with potential and leave with a plan."
From here at Sunshine Coast to all boarding schools, this camp is a stepping stone towards a brighter future for these young leaders. With applications for CYLP outnumbering the funded placements, Layne Creek from Coen is grateful for the opportunity and ready to make the most of it.
“Everyone deserves to be on this program,” she said. “CYLP has helped me get into a great school and they have lovely staff here.”
