Leaders Development Camp

14th - 16th August 2026

Woodend Christian Camp

124 Woodend Beach Road

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What's this Camp?

Exactly what it sounds like! Our Leaders Development Camp is a chance for everyone who leads (or wants to lead) at Kids Camps, or youth groups. LiTs, Cabin Leaders and Support crew come and get together, learn, hang out and enjoy a weekend at Woodend all for only $95.


This sort of camp is a unique event somewhere between a leaders training day, teens camp and a leaders hangout at Woodend.


Got Youth Group on Friday? Sport or work on Saturday? Playing guitar at church on Sunday? It's all good! There are no campers to look after and no need to race back to camp, so feel free to join for as much as you can.



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Supporters

A massive thank you to the businesses and organisations who have supported our 2026 Leaders Development Camp!

Our Speakers

Part of this weekend will include growing our knowledge and skills as leaders, and we have some top notch speakers to help us do that.

Saturday Speaker

Aimee Visser

24-7 Youth Work

Aimee has worked with young people since she was a young person herself and loves encouraging them to see their unique potential and purpose. A mother of five precious tamariki, she has a heart to see all those who work with our rangatahi to stand shoulder to shoulder, bringing their skills and gifts in unity to ensure that no young person slips through the cracks. She and her husband Marcel have a heart for emboldening and strengthening our future generations.

Sunday Speaker

Alan Aitken

Riccarton Community Church

Elder, management consultant, former CDN Trust Manager, all around church leadership guru.


Al will be leading 2 sessions, one aimed at everyone leading in Christian spaces, Overcoming disappointment with others, and for people in, or considering being in, minstry work Winning within an Organisation - How to make your senior pastor like you.

Saturday Workshop

Paul Humphreys

TREGA

Paul is an all around legend in Outdoor Education and Adventure based learning. He's coming to run 2 sessions at camp "More than just dodgeball - running games with purpose" and "Leading while someone else is leading" if you want to make the games you run more epic, and help other people to do the same Paul is the man to learn from.

Saturday Speaker

Emma Robinson

Jesus Time

Emma felt called to create and encourage a community of people to spend time with Jesus through the Bible in the way God created them, which she is doing through Jesus Time.


She is excited to open up the conversation on what it looks like to spend time with Jesus and create content, tools and resources to help us all grow in this. 


Emma will be running an elective looking at how we connect and spend time with Jesus, and showing off some of her awesome Jesus Time material.


Sunday Speaker

Hannah Cossey

Leadership Coach, Canterbury Youth Services

Hannah will be familiar to everyone who has been to Southern Easter Camp, Xtend or Southern Youth Leaders and shes bringing her epic insights on leadership and following Jesus to camp.



How to be the kind of leader people see Jesus through and How to catch and have good conversations: Both in small groups and 1 on 1s

Saturday Speaker

Brett Hitchens

CDN Board and Teacher at Emmanuel Christian School

Brett loves Christian camping and has been a camper, leader, and speaker at Curious Cove since 1978. He is married to Sandy and they have 4 adult children. He graduated teachers’ college in 1996 and spent 7 years teaching before beginning as a youth pastor in Ashburton and Nelson. Brett now teaches Yr9/10 Christian Studies, Te Reo, Science and Math at Emmanuel Christian School.


This year he will be sharing epic tools for connecting with people and having amazing conversations.

Saturday Speaker

Sandy Hitchens

Doors of Hope, Neufeld Aotearoa

Sandy lives in Christchurch, New Zealand She is married with four adult children. She has over 30 years experience of working with children and young people across a number of various roles including church based programmes, youth leadership, preschool music programmes, perceptual motor programmes and counselling at Doors of Hope.


Sandy will be running and elective looking navigating those big emotions which our young people have.

Camp Activities

While we are learning and having fun this weekend, Woodend has some epic activities we will be doing and our friends at Word of Life will be bring some of their toys as well. (Please note these activities are subject to change.)

Word of Life Toys

The epic team at Word of Life will be bringing some of their cool toys. Depending on the weather it could be inflatables, or archery tag, or some of their other amazing resources.

Go Kart

Campfire

Photos and other media from camp