This winter, over 500 year 12 students will swap their video games, shopping expeditions, TV veg-outs and home study regime for a week at a Crusaders HSC study camp. But study camps are more than just a route to good marks " they are a route to the good news.
Meet David Forward. The 21-year-old St Thomas', North Sydney member who will lead his fourth Crusaders HSC study camp next month. He also attended three study camps in the one year as an HSC student in 2003 so he knows the value of them all too well.
"It was awesome. I made a whole lot of new friends and got a lot of study done. It was one of the best parts of Year 12," David says.
More than the important social aspect, however, study camps immerse Year 12 students with gospel content with daily Bible talks and Christian leaders who facilitate discussions about Christianity.
"The study camps themselves have a lot of Christian content. There is singing, talks in the morning, and leaders who facilitate discussion and get along side the kids," David says.
"As a leader on the camps you get to meet new young people and be a witness among them. There is a significant proportion there who don't know God so it's a great opportunity."
A proven history
Crusaders have a rich history of running highly successful HSC Study Camps, with the first camp being run over 40 years ago.
In 1964 the first HSC Study camp was run with a vision for helping young people from Years 10 to 12 gain confidence and motivation with their study.
Former headmaster of Pittwater House High School David Lloyd directed many of the camps in those early days.
"Back then there was nothing else quite like study camps. I directed eight or nine and they were the best thing I ever did," he says.
A friendly format
Each HSC study camp consists of a six or seven day program of supervised, individual study.
For many years, both parents and students have seen the benefits of the camps which include no "home life' distractions such as visits to the fridge, internet surfing or messaging and general procrastination.
All students are guaranteed a minimum of six hours supervised study each day, a practice examination, study skills tips and tutorials and the opportunity to share notes with other students.
Added to this, when students do take study breaks they're rewarded with a built-in social life as camp provides an instant group of friends and plenty of outdoor activities.
Like all CRU Holiday Camps, HSC Study camps are led by teams of volunteer leaders, many of whom are school teachers. Students receive personal tuition or participate in seminars run by professional teachers and tutors in a wide range of subjects.
The HSC study camps have proved so successful that Crusaders has seen an increase in camper numbers of almost 70 per cent in the past 10 years.
Andrew Morell who completed the HSC at William Clarke College in 2006 is one of many campers who valued the study camp experience.
"There were great leaders, I got to see all my friends and I got study done. Otherwise, I would have been home alone studying," he says.
Great gospel opportunities
However, it isn't just the opportunity to study hard and make new friends that make these camps worthwhile for students. They also hear an interactive and relevant Bible talk each day and participate in a discussion group.
As Year 12 is a time where students make many big decisions, HSC Study camps give them an opportunity to make the biggest decision of all " to follow Christ.
Heather Cook who completed the HSC at the Tara Anglican School for Girls in 2006 says the study camps contained the perfect mix of activities in the lead up to her exam period.
"It's a great time of fellowship, fun and study, and a great balance of time for God, leisure and work," she says.
While one cannot easily measure the impact that Crusaders HSC Study camps have had on the thousands of students who have attended them since their beginnings, over time many positive reports have filtered back from ex-campers about their experience.
The Rev Simon Manchester who is now senior minister at St Thomas', North Sydney is an ex-camper who attended a study camp at Galston in 1970 "for all the wrong reasons'.
"I went because I was invited, thought it would be fun and knew it was co-ed. I sat in the back row listening to talks which increasingly showed me I was not a Christian," Mr Manchester admits.
"It was a fear of judgment which made me go forward and seek help and find the forgiveness of Jesus Christ on this camp. I thank God for Crusader camps."
As a leader and former student, David can confirm that even non-Christian kids are open-minded to hearing the gospel presented on study camps.
"A lot of the non-Christian kids have Christian friends or family, have some interest in or know things about Christianity and find it a great opportunity to ask questions and explore further," he says.
"There are a few who are a bit stubborn, but that is to be expected. Usually the Christian content is well received."
Crusaders Executive Director Gary Hill is excited about the opportunities that HSC Study Camps bring.
"We have a great chance of helping around 900 students in their HSC year to improve their study, but even more so, we have the chance to share Christian community and biblical teaching with these same students," he says.
"To build relationships with them that last well beyond the camp" is very exciting."
