Camp Australia began in 1987, coaching children tennis after school and in 1991, expanded to offer engaging holiday programs. Rocketeers operates during the school holiday period, giving families the confidence that their children are entertained with some of the best school hoilday experiences.

### Benefits of a Summer Holiday Program

Summer holiday programs are beneficial for children for a whole host of reasons. Providing holiday care for kids gives them a change of scenery from their usual school or Outside School Hours Care program.

Holiday programs allow children to just be themselves and gives them the freedom to have fun. There seems to be no pressure when it comes to being on school holidays – children aren’t restricted by time and the usual worry of everyday routines. We recognise the need for children to relax whilst being entertained when they are on holidays and we offer holiday programs with variety and excitement.

Rocketeers programs are the perfect way for children to meet new friends. The children attending our holiday experiences come from different schools and with a full day program, gives children time over a longer period to get to know each other and have fun together.

By attending a holiday program, the confidence of children is boosted and they continue to build on their socialisation skills.

The variety of Rocketeers experiences offered provides children with something engaging to do, no matter what their interests are. 


### Professional Rocketeers Team

Camp Australia has a dedicated Rocketeers team, who research the best school holiday activities that children will want more of!

Our Rocketeers team looks for the best providers to include in our program and schedule activities so that children can be given an epic summer filled with entertainment and excitement, day after day.

Rocketeers educators are then provided with the resources to deliver children experiences that they will remember!
 

Remember that if you have a child starting primary school soon, Rocketeers is the ideal way to build on their confidence at the beginning of the new school year. To attend a Rocketeers location at a school near you, [visit here](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers) for more information and to register.

Rocketeers operates during the school holiday period, giving families the confidence that their children are entertained with some of the best school hoilday experiences. 

Holiday Action during the Summer Holidays 

Blog

Rocketeers is Camp Australia’s holiday program for primary school children. For non-stop action, morning to evening during the school holidays, children will go home exhausted at the end of the day.

At Rocketeers, every season is a new mission, every day - a new adventure. Rocketeers is a holiday program that’s filled with thrilling showcase experiences and supported by unique, tailored activities.

Rocketeers is THE fun place for primary school-aged children to be, where they will [experience extraordinary school holiday adventures](https://www.mamamia.com.au/camp-australia-school-holiday-program/). There’s a variety of experiences and dedicated Commander and Crew to guide each mission in the Autumn school holidays.

### Types of experiences
 
1. Operation: X
Explore the wonders of Base Camp. The commander and Crew design a program around a special theme and tailored to your children. School holiday activities include Pirates to The Deep Blue, Jungle Animals to Environmental Warriors, and everything in between.

 Example: Wellness Retreat

It can be easy to get into the habit of doing all the things that are good for our overall wellbeing. Your Commander and Crew will guide you on what can be done to improve wellbeing for ourselves. Children will be able to suggest wellness activities that they would like to , such as yoga and meditation.

2. Incursions
Incursions are split into 2 distinct types:

**Project: X**
Enhance your fun and upgrade your skillset with a special project in the Rocketeers school holiday program. Exclusive to Rocketeers, children could see themselves designing their own guitar, make veggie enchiladas, experiment with exploding toothpaste and heaps more.

Example: Little Coders and National Handball Championships

Learn to code and program in a fun and free screen environment: Children will program a coding robot called Botley by entering a code on the remote and then ask Botley to ‘run the code’. Children will create a foam maze mat and step, hop and turn while learning programming ideas. Older children will get challenged in a hands-on game where they will get to play programmer building “procedures” that guide their robot along a path from start to finish. Last but not the least, each child will receive a set of coding cards and a board game to continue their coding journey at home. There will also be the National Handball Championships on this day.

The National Handball Championships is a handball competition that will be run across all our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and holiday (Rocketeers) services. Children will be given the time to practice their handball skills to partake in service competitions. The winner of every OSHC and Rocketeers service receives an invitation to the limited regional events.

Example: Deliciously Italian

Children of all ages can get in on the fun in the kitchen during the school holidays, especially when pizza is involved. Today children will make their own dough and top their pizza with vegetarian toppings (mushrooms, capsicum, cheese and olives) and turn their pizza into funny faces pizzas. Children will not only prepare their lunch but also prepare some vegan zesty orange gummies. They will bring back some at home and will be given the recipe to do it again with their family.

**Experience Takeover**
Join us as Base Camp welcomes special guests as part of our school holiday program. Every takeover is different, with guests storming the ship with creepy crawlies, Silent Disco experiences, massive sporting carnivals and way more. These special guests are experts in their field and are guaranteed to bring an enriching and fulfilling experience to Rocketeers!

 Example: Bubble soccer

Bubble Ball Games is a fun safe innovative program ready to entertain your children while keeping them fit and happy. This program is designed for fun! It involves battle games in partners and teams for all primary school-aged children. children will run laugh roll and bounce all while being in a bubble it’s the ultimate fun. Let’s face it which kid doesn’t want to be in a bubble!!

 3. Excursions

**Adventure: X**

Embark on an expedition outside of Base Camp. Every destination is different, every experience – extraordinary. School holiday activities include Ten Pin Bowling, Trampoline Parks, Science Museums, Inflatable Playgrounds, Animal Sanctuaries, Theme Parks and way more, once we get to our destination, the fun begins.

Example: Rainbow Race (also an Experience Takeover)

Rocketeers will be running a national Rainbow Race (inspired by the Colour Run) event which will celebrate diversity and inclusivity. Children from different services will meet at an approved outdoor Camp Australia service to participate in this event. Children will race and complete various physical challenges around a course (designed by our specialised national provider), wearing a white shirt, a pair of goggles and a neck scarf (which will be provided). They will be sprayed with different coloured powders at each station. A fun day is guaranteed!

Camp Australia operates 225 Rocketeers locations across Australia. Every registered family has access to every one of our Rocketeers locations, whether it’s near work, home or a holiday destination. Join in the fun at Rocketeers these school holidays: [https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers).

 

Rocketeers is Camp Australia’s holiday program for primary school children. For non-stop action, morning to evening during the school holidays, children will go home exhausted at the end of the day.

Extraordinary School Holiday Adventures with Rocketeers

While summer is a joyous time for kids, it can be stressful for parents. Many parents struggle to manage their schedules while the kids are out of school, and finding activities to keep them occupied away from screens during the day can seem like an uphill battle.

Luckily, holiday camps for kids can provide an ideal solution, offering an array of benefits that include physical activity for children and skill-building. Keep reading as we explore some of the top benefits of camp for kids. 

## Learning to become a Leader

Many camp activities for kids are designed to develop leadership skills, teaching children how to handle responsibility and model good behaviour for others. Kids have opportunities to lead their peers through a variety of activities, as well as to observe effective leadership skills from their camp crew.

Regardless of your child's age, leadership is a skill that will follow them for years to come. This skill can affect their performance in school and in the years following as they embark upon their career.

## Developing Social Skills

![indoor-play.jpg](https://caprdstdlrs.blob.core.windows.net/public-cms/assets/indoor_play_f25f888303.jpg)

At school holiday camps like [Rocketeers by Camp Australia](https://campaustralia.com.au/rocketeers) - children have the chance to make lasting friendships with peers they might not otherwise meet. As they spend their days taking part in varying activities together, children can develop stronger social skills. This can lead to increased confidence and better relationships with their peers and their family members. 

## Less Screen Time and more Physical Activity for Children

While children are using tablets and smartphones more than ever before, it's important for parents to know that current health guidelines recommend no more than two hours of screen time each day. 

Instead of screen time, regular physical activity is recommended daily. The [Australian Department of Health](https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-children-and-young-people-5-to-17-years) reports that children aged 5 through 17 who engage in physical activity on a regular basis experience a lower risk of disease and unhealthy weight gain, as well as improved social skills and self-esteem.

Camp activities for kids are frequently rife with physical activity, especially with games and activities like swimming and team sports to help reduce the amount of time they spend in front of screens.

## Spending Time Outdoors

As your child spends time with friends and the leadership crew at Rocketeers, they engage in activities that help them understand the world around them. These activities, such as hiking, outdoor sports, and nature walks, can provide an array of emotional benefits, including increased self-esteem, improved self-confidence, and an enhanced ability to understand and assess risks.

## Gaining Team-building Skills

Team building is another skill that can help your child do better in school, as well as in their career after they've grown and graduated. At holiday camp, children work alongside peers towards common goals in a variety of ways. Activities including board games, three-legged races, egg drops, and even debates can help your child learn to trust those around them to achieve their goals.

## Membership in a Strong Peer Community 

Throughout holiday sports camps and other summer camps, children become members of a community that consists of their peers and their crew leaders. They share similar experiences, which can boost their confidence and social skills. On top of that, being a member of a strong peer community can help your child learn to encourage others, which contributes to their ability to act as a team leader, as well as to their overall social skills. 

## Gaining Resilience

While every child is different, those facing daily struggles at school, at home, or during extracurricular activities may find it easier to stand up for themselves or cope with their emotions after attending a school holiday camp. The emotional skills learned at camp can be transferred to their school life, such as facing challenges with confronting other children or making friends at school.

The confidence your young one can gain in a holiday camp for kids can help them overcome adversity and learn to cope with uncomfortable situations more effectively.

## Building Memories that can Last Forever

Looking back on childhood is a pleasant experience for many adults, and for those who feel nostalgic about their younger years, summer is often among the fondest of memories. Registering your children in holiday camps for kids will provide them with the chance to make special memories with new friends they'll cherish for the rest of their life.

Whether you're interested in school holiday camps that take place before and after school, Camp Australia provides tailored options to benefit your child physically, socially, and emotionally.

Children are at the heart of everything we do, and with activities that are specially designed to help develop their confidence and resilience, your child is sure to love the programs offered in [Rocketeers by Camp Australia](https://campaustralia.com.au/rocketeers).














School holiday camps can benefit kids in more ways than one. Learn about the skillset, leadership qualities and team-building skills children can gain!

The Benefits of Holiday Camp for Kids

Service NSW has released an exciting new initiative (The BASC Voucher Program) that gives all families access to a $500 voucher, per child, that will contribute towards the cost of Before School Care, After School Care and Vacation Care.

Starting 28 February 2022, families can claim their voucher via the Services NSW app, or by visiting the [BASC voucher landing page on their website](https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/basc-voucher).

The **good news** is that you are eligible to use this on all Your OSHC and Rocketeers services.
The **great news** is that the voucher only discounts the gap fee, so if you're claiming CCS then the voucher will go even further!
The **best news** is that your child now has the chance to experience even more engaging, tailored activities, and spend even more time hanging out with their friends after school, at no extra cost to you!

Read below for a handy list of Frequently Asked Questions.

**Who is eligible to claim the BASC Vouchers?**

All families with a child enrolled in an OSHC service in New South Wales. If you're not already registered, it's not too late, simply [visit our Parent Portal](https://pp.campaustralia.com.au/), or download the app, and register free with Camp Australia now!

**What services can the BASC Vouchers be used for?**

The vouchers can be used to cover the cost of your parent gap fee for Your OSHC (before and after school care) and Rocketeers (vacation care) sessions.

**How do I claim my voucher/s?**

Claim your eligible voucher/s from Service NSW between 28 February and 30 September 2022. You can do this via the Service NSW app, or by following the [verification steps on the Service NSW website](https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/basc-voucher).
Once your voucher/s has been claimed, you need to redeem your voucher with Camp Australia (or a participating before and after school care service) by 31 December 2022.

**How do I redeem my BASC voucher/s with Camp Australia?**

Eligible Camp Australia families will be sent instructions on how to claim their $500 vouchers on 28 February 2022. If you register after this date, we will send you an email within 24 hours of the completion of your registration.

You will have until 30 September 2022 to claim the voucher via Service NSW, and must redeem your voucher with Camp Australia by 31 December 2022.

**What happens if I haven’t used all $500 of the voucher at 30 June 2023?**

Any unused value on the BASC vouchers at 30 June 2023 will be repaid to Service NSW on 01 July 2023. 

**How can I see the balance of my voucher/s?**

You can see the balance of your voucher/s on your statements. Alternatively, you can call Customer Care to query your voucher balances.

**Can I claim the voucher with multiple OSHC providers?**

No, you can only claim the voucher with one OSHC provider.

**What time period can the vouchers be used for?**

Vouchers can be used to cover out‐of‐pocket costs between 28 February 2022 and 30 June 2023.

**Can I access the voucher without doing it through the internet?**

You can apply for your voucher at a local Service NSW Centre or Mobile Service Centre. If you are successful in your application, you will be able to print your vouchers there. Once you have your voucher, simply follow the instructions above to redeem it with Camp Australia.

**How does this work between separated parents?**

As per Education NSW website: "Only one voucher can be issued for each child. This means that the first parent to apply for the voucher is the parent who will be issued the voucher for that child, and we encourage parents to come to an agreement in relation to how to use the voucher in their circumstances."

**Where can I go for more information?**

For any questions, reach out to the Department of Education's BASC team at [bascreform@det.nsw.edu.au](mailto:bascreform@det.nsw.edu.au) or on 1300 244 145.

Did you know that all families in NSW can claim a $500 voucher, per child, to contribute toward the cost of Before Care, After Care and our amazing holiday program?!

News & Blog

Articles related to Rocketeers

Holiday Action during the Summer Holidays

Extraordinary School Holiday Adventures with Rocketeers

The Benefits of Holiday Camp for Kids

[NSW] Everything you need to know about Service NSW $500 OSHC Voucher for families