Magic in
Matamata

2020 was the fourth consecutive year Ignite Sport has taken a team of young people away to Sports Camp, and the second year attending the Totara Springs Camp in Matamata. A team of 26 young people and 8 leaders took on the challenge of the weekend, which included a Saturday of sport from 6am until midnight. It has been such an awesome opportunity for us to take this team of students who are from a range of schools Ignite Sport works with across the region. Sports Camp gives us the privilege to continue journeying with these young people and it was fantastic to have 15 new young people join the team this year.

While the focus for the team is not solely on sporting success we managed to make the finals for 6 different sporting events; Women’s Hockey, Men’s Indoor Hockey, Men’s and Women’s Volleyball, Netball and Croquet (where we managed to come away as the champions).

Overall the weekend was a mix of impressive sporting ability, a supportive team environment and a growing Ignite family which made Sports Camp 2020 a massive success.

Here is some of the feedback from the young people who attended camp:

• I enjoyed meeting new people, creating new bonds, and being a part of a fun-filled and energetic environment. I enjoyed the thrill of getting up early and going to sleep late because the whole time between waking up and bedtime we were either playing sport, supporting each other, eating kai or chilling together.
• I personally enjoyed meeting new people, playing sports at a high level and intensity, bonding with others and the connection that was gained from it all. I valued how Ignite created a family atmosphere, it definitely made it much more comfortable for us and new participants. 
• Getting to meet new faces and bonding like an entire family throughout the weekend. Also, watching each individual own the sport they play and watching those come out of their comfort zone and playing new sports that they’ve never played before.

We are looking forward to growing together and continuing to keep relationships with this awesome group throughout next year and are excited to camp again in 2021!