Why You Should Nominate A Young Person for National Leadership Camp

National Leadership Camp 2023 is fast approaching! The four day camp for Year 10-Year 12 students provides a unique opportunity to empower young people, equipping them with essential skills and qualities that will set them on a path of success and positive impact. As parents and teachers we play a pivotal role in shaping the lives of young individuals and preparing them for a successful future. In an increasingly complex and dynamic world, nurturing their leadership skills and personal growth becomes paramount.

Values, service, grit and vision are the foundation to an authentic leader. Each day at National Leadership Camp is framed with a theme per day to dive deep into how we can lead ourselves and lead others. In this article, we will explore the reasons why parents and teachers, like yourself, should nominate the young people in their lives to pursue the transformative four days at Burn Bright’s National Leadership Camp.

In this article, we will explore the reasons why parents and teachers, like yourself, should nominate the young people in their lives to pursue the transformative four days at Burn Bright’s National Leadership Camp.

1. DYNAMIC AND INTERACTIVE PROGRAM

What sets National Leadership Camp apart is the small group experience enabling discussion and reflection guided by our team of mentors. This unique opportunity allows students to unpack the highly engaging keynote speakers, interactive seminars and outdoor team challenges that make up the remainder of the program.

2. our speakers

Each year National Leadership Camp welcomes a number of keynote speakers to share their experiences as leaders from different spheres and walks of life. Past speakers have included Robyn Moore, Lifeguard Maxi, Hannah Darlington, Nathan Strempel, Matt De Groot, Lisa Griffiths, Pip Russell, Matt Purcell, Nathan Hulls, David Koch, Barnaby Howarth, Mike Baird, each bringing unique wisdom to share with delegates. 

The people, the mentors, the programs, the activities, the atmosphere. It was honestly unreal. Thank you to everyone from Burn Bright. You've changed my life. Truly.

3. CULTIVATING ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS

National Leadership Camp is designed to cultivate vital life skills that will benefit young individuals throughout their lives. From building resilience to problem-solving and teamwork, participants engage in experiential learning activities that foster the development of essential life skills. By attending the camp, young people gain a competitive edge and acquire tools that will help them navigate challenges and thrive in their personal and professional endeavours.

4. FOSTERING SELF-CONFIDENCE AND EMPOWERMENT

Building self-confidence is crucial for young individuals as they navigate the complexities of adolescence and transition into adulthood. The Burn Bright National Leadership Camp provides a nurturing environment that encourages participants to step out of their comfort zones, understand their own leadership journey, and express themselves authentically. Through activities that celebrate individual strengths and promote personal growth, attendees gain a strong sense of self-worth and empowerment, laying a solid foundation for their future leadership endeavours.

5. ENHANCING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Social and emotional intelligence are vital for navigating relationships, building strong connections and excelling in various aspects of life. The Burn Bright National Leadership Camp offers a rich environment for young people to develop these critical skills. Through collaboration, team challenges, and reflection sessions, delegates learn to understand and empathise with others and navigate diverse social dynamics. These skills are invaluable for fostering healthy relationships, leadership and emotional well-being. 

6. INSPIRING A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND VISION

The Burn Bright National Leadership Camp encourages young individuals to explore their passions, values and goals. By engaging in activities that promote self-reflection and purpose-driven decision making, participants gain clarity on their aspirations and the impact they want to create in the world. The camp ignites a sense of purpose, fuelling young minds with motivation and vision to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.

7. BEING PART OF OUR BURN BRIGHT COMMUNITY

The impact of the camp extends well beyond the camp experience itself. Participants become part of a supportive network of like-minded individuals, allowing them to collaborate, exchange ideas, and support each other’s growth. 

The Burn Bright National Leadership Camp offers a truly transformative experience for those who attend. As parents and teachers, it is our responsibility to nurture and empower the next generation, equipping them with the tools they need to succeed and make a positive impact. By nominating young people for the Burn Bright National Leadership Camp, we provide them with an invaluable opportunity to grow, lead and thrive. 

Nominate a young leader using the link below! To check out more information on National Leadership Camp click the button below or contact our team directly!

NOMINATIONS FOR National leadership camp
are still open!

READ MORE ARTICLES

EXPLORE BURN BRIGHT'S DIGITAL PROGRAMS

Continue your student’s leadership or wellbeing journey with our digital programs. Specifically designed to be flexibly implemented into your wellbeing or leadership programs, these courses can be completed at any time in any place, providing a self-paced option for students to explore in class or on their own. These modules include individual student logins, a teacher dashboard to track student progress and lesson plans with follow up face to face resources.

See what's happening in our world

START YOUR TEACHER TRIAL

JUMP RIGHT INTO A DIGITAL COURSE

Facilitator in Laptop Screen

I found Burn Bright in the midst of studying civil engineering at the University of Wollongong, just as I wanted a richer, deeper, more full experience of life.

Through Burn Bright, I have met many students and volunteers who are all seeking to find their place in the world. When we come together at NLC or SLC, no matter our age, we begin on the same page, of wanting to do good for ourselves, our community, and the world. And then we are thrown into a program that brings us closer to each other, our purpose, and how to bring forth this impact. It’s like having your cake and eating it too.

Volunteering with Burn Bright stoked a fire in me – It helped me feel comfortable in myself and made me realise life isn’t just about work, study, or productivity, but our relationships and how we connect with others along the way.

I have learned skills in videography, worked for a top-tier corporation in marketing, and most recently published a book called “18 and lost? So were we” 

I have a passion for storytelling, bring loads of energy wherever I go, and am dedicated to helping young people move through the initiation of leaving high school and going into the ‘real world’. 

The best part for me is being able to stay connected to the latest generation growing through high school. To see them grow, expand and express more of themselves is like watching an artwork paint itself. It’s magic.

I am Simon Thurston, a Kiwi based in Perth. I work as an Instructional Designer and in my spare time I enjoy reading, running, and board games.

Since my initial connection to Burn Bright I have been onboard with their mission. Burn Bright’s focus on building the capabilities enables students of all ages to see how they can shape their world through connections with others and their own self discovery.

Seeing others grow, learn, and open up is what keeps me coming back, to help others realise their potential and how they can influence their future and their community is a definite highlight. It’s infectious, the atmosphere when they run a program or camp is welcoming, exciting, emotional, and rewarding all in one.

WHERE SHOULD WE SEND THIS?

5 ACTIVITIES TO BRING ENERGY INTO YOUR ONLINE CLASSROOM

Hi, friends! I’m Kelsie, a psychologist from central QLD working in private practice. I got involved with Burn Bright officially in 2016, but the journey started long before that. I attended the National Leadership Camp (now hosted annually by Burn Bright) in 2009. It had such a profound impact on me that I returned as a mentor and volunteer. Those connections ultimately lead me to joining the Burn Bright team as an adult.

When I transitioned from facilitating with the Burn Bright team to working as a psychologist, I was so grateful for an incredible foundation of skills (particularly facilitation, communication and interpersonal skills) along with a strong grounding in positive psychology that Burn Bright integrates into their ethos.

I can’t imagine my life without volunteering for Burn Bright. I have met some of my dearest friends through the Burn Bright crew. I’ve found that volunteering for BB is rewarding, humbling, and often brings as much personal growth for the volunteer as it does for the young person.

From a professional perspective, I love that Burn Bright programs/camps support the adolescent individuation process by providing an exciting and supportive environment for teens to explore their own sense of self, personality, identify and values alongside other young people.

Imagine this POV: you’re back at school wanting to figure everything out and fit in – and you find
yourself in a room with amazing music that uplifts you and hooks you in. You meet the team of
dynamic, interesting, caring facilitators whose own friendships inspire you. Their facilitation skills bring about amazing light-bulb moments and lessons that light a fire inside you… It makes me want to feel that for myself again. The next best thing, for me, is volunteering for the team who passes that on to other young people.

My start at Burn Bright is one of the best cases of one door closing and another door opening. After losing my job at a local pub while on uni holidays, I started looking for new opportunities that were different and decided to volunteer. Searching for opportunities, I found working bees, community driving and nursing home visits, but the chance to become a National Leadership Camp intern stood out. Over nearly six months, I worked with the team to pull off Burn Bright’s first National Leadership Camp, and had an absolute blast in the process. After camp, I started working for Burn Bright while studying, doing anything and everything — data analysis, hiring strategy and even picking up furniture.

Finishing up working for Burn Bright in 2019, I am still actively involved with the Burn Bright volunteer community. I’ve found that the emphasis placed on investing in your relationships, understanding your values and making an impact allow you to be accepted for you. This has given me the tools needed to make the difficult decisions that life will inevitably throw at you. Besides all that, I’ve had a ton of fun and formed life-long friendships with people I may have never crossed paths with otherwise. “Get involved — you’ll change your life for the better and make life‑long friends in the process”.

I am a health science student from Perth wanting to get into the mental health realm of occupational therapy. In the meantime, I work as a barista and supervisor at a beachside café. In my spare time, I love to play netball, be around my friends and I have just gotten into crocheting. I went to Perth College where I was lucky enough to go to the first Perth College Leadership Camp in 2018 as a student and absolutely loved it. What really drew me in was the atmosphere that was created, the open conversations, and the lasting relationships formed.

Since then I have been a mentor for the Perth College Leadership Camp in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and had the opportunity to go to the National Leadership Camp in 2019. When Burn Bright comes to Perth I also love helping out at their programs as much as I can.

Volunteering for Burn Bright has given me so much that I could never have imagined. I have learned so much about myself and I have so much more confidence in myself and my abilities that I know I wouldn’t have had if I wasn’t exposed to the amazing opportunities volunteering for Burn Bright has given me. Before being involved I would never have seen myself being a mentor, role model, and facilitator to students, but now I can confidently say that I am, and I have made an impact on others that I am proud of. I have also made so many meaningful connections to so many amazing people from all around Australia through Burn Bright. I get asked quite a bit why I keep coming back to my old school to volunteer and it’s simply because I was given this amazing opportunity to be a part of the Burn Bright programs and if I can help facilitate that experience to someone else then why wouldn’t I?

I was born in Perth and moved to Sydney in my early 20’s to continue work as a youth worker and surfboard maker. This was followed by 30 years working in IT as a computer programmer.

Following retirement in 2016 I searched for an organisation that was aligned with my values of servant leadership and service, especially in the youth space. This search led to Burn Bright where I am now volunteering one day a week and mentoring at the National Leadership Camp. Volunteering with Burn Bright gives me a great deal of hope and confidence in the next generation of leaders. It is a pleasure to be a part of the Burn Bright family.

I have been married to Denise for 41 years and we both very much feel part of the Burn Bright team.

When not at Burn Bright you may find me running along Manly beach, riding my mountain bike or indulging in my passion for photography.

ENQUIRE ABOUT A PROGRAM

DIGITAL INDIVIDUAL COURSES

WHERE SHOULD WE SEND THIS?

5 TIPS FOR MAXIMISING ZOOM ENGAGEMENT

WHERE SHOULD WE SEND THIS?

FAMILY WELLBEING CHALLENGES

WHERE SHOULD WE SEND THIS?

DREAMING BIG - TOOLS FOR INSPIRED FAMILIES

WHERE SHOULD WE SEND THIS?

20 QUESTIONS TO DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR YOUNG PERSON

Hi! I’m Rosie, a 20-something full-time public servant, part-time Tassie tourism advocate.

I am passionate about seeing young people succeed, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than watching them become the next generation of change-makers.

I have been a champion of the ethos and work of Burn Bright since its inception in 2014, and consider them to be the leading experts in their field. By delivering impactful leadership and wellbeing programs to students across Australia, they offer the knowledge, skills and engagement to invoke lasting positive change in school communities.

The Burn Bright team are dedicated, inclusive and values-driven, which is why I love working with them.

WHERE SHOULD WE SEND THIS?

5 MESSAGES TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEAD