Camp participation is slipping, permit processes can feel harder than they need to, and schools are asking for more outdoor experiences with fewer resources. So we pulled the practical threads together in one live Connect and Share Forum for the NSW and ACT outdoor industry, focused on what you can use right now to run better programs and grow demand.
We unpack fresh insights from the Australian Camps Association census, including what occupancy looks like nationwide, how dominant the school segment remains, and why shorter stays are changing the way camps plan programs. We also share the release of a new outdoor industry employment guidance resource for members, built to support both employers and employees with clearer expectations around working conditions, pay conversations, and career pathways across employees, contractors, volunteers, and trainees. If you’re managing staffing, training, or retention, this part is built for you.
Then we shift to access on public land, with Parks ACT walking through a new webpage that consolidates how commercial operators and organized groups can apply for permits across ACT parks and conservation areas. You’ll hear what the permit is really for, how processing works, what fees are waived for non-commercial groups, and when a multi activity permit can save time and admin. We close with a data rich update from the Office of Sport on the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in NSW, including participation trends, completion challenges, bronze changes that improve accessibility, and a clear signal from leaders that adventurous journeys are where support is most needed.
If you work in outdoor education, camps, guiding, adventure tourism, or youth development, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more operators and schools can find it.
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