In partnership with the Grassroots Trust, The Y is proud to deliver the 5th year of Sports Camps at Camp Adair. 16 schools kicked off Sports Camps 2026 over two weeks in June during part one, with more schools set to be involved this September for part two. Sports Camps is built around the belief that no young person should miss out because of financial hardship.

Sports Camps Evolution

What started in 2022 as a lower-cost alternative to traditional sporting competitions has grown into something much larger. Sports Camp began with 27 schools and 3 camps, offering tamariki and rangatahi the chance to try volleyball, rugby, golf and basketball in an environment built around participation rather than performance. Five years on, the programme has doubled in size to 47 schools and 6 camps in 2025 alone, with 2026 to be a similar scale, and the activity list has evolved just as dramatically. Annual student surveys have shaped each iteration, introducing kī-o-rahi, lacrosse, flag football, mountain biking, t-ball, dodgeball and even a manu competition.

Aside from Sport

The growth in numbers tells part of the story. But Sports Camp's impact runs deeper than statistics. While there are medals for winners, the Fair Play Cup is one of the most celebrated awards of the week - recognising teamwork, encouragement and respect above all else. Many schools choose to send students who will benefit most from the experience, not just their top athletes. Cultural and creative night-time performances are interwoven through the programme, making it clear that Sports Camp is about more than sport. It is about participation, creativity, collaboration, and giving every young person the space to find what excites them.

Sports Camp is an investment in safer, more connected communities - where young people are engaged, motivated, and proud of who they are. As the programme grows, so too does its impact on our youth, our schools, and the communities they come from.

Sports Camp is made possible through the generous support of Grassroots Trust, Potter Masonic Trust, Marion Ross Memorial Trust, Franklin Local Board, Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust, Gilmours, John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, Brougham Buses, Henderson-Massey Local Board, Papakura Local Grant, and New World Papakura.