Basecamp® Holiday

A focused introduction to Basecamp®

The Basecamp® Holiday Workshop is a three-hour, psychologist-developed anxiety workshop for children aged 7 to 13.

It uses a carefully selected section of the same stories, activities and materials used in the full 8-week Basecamp® program, adapted into a shorter and highly active school-holiday format.

Children learn through storytelling, creative activities, discussion, role-play and guided practice. The aim is to introduce practical anxiety-management ideas in a way that feels engaging, visual and approachable.

Who may benefit

The holiday workshop may suit children who would benefit from an introduction to:

• understanding what anxiety feels like in the body and mind
• talking about worries and fears
• recognising anxious or unhelpful thinking
• using simple relaxation and regulation strategies
• approaching manageable fears rather than automatically avoiding them
• building confidence using coping strategies at home and school

How we form the groups

Children aged 7 to 13 are eligible, but the advertised age range does not mean every age attends together.

We form each group with consideration of age, developmental stage and the children registered for that workshop. The exact age mix varies from session to session.

Groups are mixed gender. The exact gender mix cannot be guaranteed because it depends on registrations. Our priority is creating a group in which the activities, conversation and peer practice are appropriate for the children attending.

Small-group practice

Groups are intentionally small, typically four to six children. This allows children to share ideas and practise with peers while the facilitator can actively support participation and anxiety-management activities.

What children practise

The three-hour workshop draws from the broader Basecamp® program and focuses on a selection of core anxiety-management skills, which may include:

• understanding fight-or-flight responses
• identifying personal triggers and signs of anxiety
• expressing worries and fears
• challenging unhelpful thoughts
• practising relaxation and regulation
• considering small, manageable steps towards feared situations

A shorter version of the full program

The Holiday Workshop uses the same award-winning Basecamp® program materials as the 8-week version, but it is intentionally more concentrated. It provides a three-hour introduction and skills boost, rather than the repeated weekly practice, parent consultations and between-session learning offered in the full term program.

For children who need more time to practise, consolidate and apply anxiety-management skills, the 8-week Basecamp® Term Program may be the more suitable option.

Award-winning program resources

Basecamp® has received major Australian and international recognition, including from the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards, Australian Book Design Awards and Educational Publishing Awards Australia.

The holiday workshop draws on selected pages and activities from the same beautifully illustrated national-park-themed materials used in the full Basecamp® program.

Good to know before registering

• The advertised age range is 7 to 13 years, but groups are formed with consideration of age and developmental stage.
• Groups are mixed gender, and the exact gender mix cannot be guaranteed.
• The exact age mix depends on registrations for each workshop.
• This is the three-hour holiday format, not the full 8-week program.
• Some children with existing diagnoses or more significant anxiety, behavioural or developmental needs may require a brief pre-screening to consider whether the group format is appropriate.