The Iona Community has had a presence at Camas for over fifty years. For many years, the Community ran summer camps for boys from Borstal (later List D schools) who came and lived at the centre alongside the Salmon fishermen. For many it was the first time they had experianced life outside the city, the vastness of nature and freedom to play and explore had a huge impact.
Over the years, and with the development of mainstream services the groups we take has expanded - Social Services, Education and Youth services as well as community youth projects and Church Groups. Camas is open and avalible to all although will always hold a bias to work with those most affected by poverty.
Our aim is to give young people an experiance of living in community, build stronger relationships and meet new people. The location and basic facilities here automatically lends to this - we have very limited electricity powered by our wind turbine and solar panels. This heats the water for the showers (needed after a cold raft building session) but means we have no lighting in the living areas, so we have candles. The evening entertainment is games and music around the fire. No mobile phones, no computer games.... bliss!
Most of our food comes from the garden, and we encourage young people to get out there, Garden sessions with our residnet Gardener show the simple process of growing, harvesting and then preparing food.
Key to everything we do here at Camas is an environmental focus, we feed this into most sessions we do. In the last year we have been able to offer the John Muir Award. This is an award which encourages young people to 'Discover, explore, conserve and Share' easy to achieve in their week with us.
Camas Activities include:
Kayaking, Abseiling, Hill walking, Raft Building, Wild Camping, Beach art, Juggling, swimming and games - lots of them!
Booking Details:
Open Weeks (these are weeks which we can offer full food and lodgings, but limited activities) 24th - 30th April, 1st - 7th May, 25th Sept - 1st Oct, 2nd Oct - 8th Oct
Activity Weeks (these are the standerd Camas weeks, fully staffed providing all activities* weeks run from Saturday to Friday) 29th May - 23rd July, 7th August - 10th Sept
Activity Week Prices:
Minimum charge - up to 11 - £2250
12 - 15 - £205 per person
16 - 20 £195 per person
21 - 28 £185 per person
Self Catering you could bring your group on a self catering basis, although please note we cannot allow use of our equipment (available 1st Nov - Easter 2011).
For Pricings for the Open Weeks and Self Catering please contact the Camas Coordinator Mary Ireson at camas@iona.org.uk or on 01681 700367
To check avalibility or book a week please contact Carol Dougal on abbey.bookings@iona.org.uk or on 01681 700404
*Activities are all weather dependent.
