A Stage for Christ at Victoria’s Performing Arts Camp

Enthusiastic, can-do attitudes and a love for creative expression are the norm at Victoria’s Performing Arts camp (PAC) for children in years four to ten.

Campers dive into one of four streams – drama, dance, music or the newly introduced senior stream for returning students in years nine onwards – busily preparing for the parent showcase at the end of camp.

While the focus is on performing, no prior experience or artistic skill is required to thrive at PAC.

Camp co-director, Emily, explains the heart behind the program:

“Christ, creativity and community is our motto. We want to be Christ focused, to encourage creativity in every aspect and to build an uplifting community.”

This approach has empowered even the most reserved of campers to create and perform their chosen crafts with confidence.

This year’s highlight was a worship song written as part of a workshop and performed by a group of campers. The performance was so moving that other campers, leaders and even parents joined in for a communal time of worship during the parent showcase.

But the parent showcase isn’t the only performance at PAC.

Each night, the leaders stage a musical for the campers that thoughtfully ties in biblical themes, followed by small group Bible studies to engage faith-based conversations.

“We have verses for each scene in the musical,” smiles Emily.
These moments of Bible engagement often lead to meaningful discussions among the campers.

Emily recalls how her senior stream girls explored the importance of baptism, while Penny, the other camp co-director, heard a year nine boy ask his leader, “how do I make sure my faith doesn’t become stale?”

PAC isn’t just an outlet for creativity. It’s an inclusive environment where common passions are used to share the love of Christ and build one another in the gifts that He has given.

As one camper summed up their experience on camp:

“I learned that I don’t work under my own strength, it’s God who is the one that gives me strength.”

Camps like PAC are only possible because of your faithful and prayerful support. Please continue supporting SU’s camping ministry so more children, young people and their families can discover life in God’s big story at su.org.au/donate