Tombacamp is all about safety, nature and learning. Through climbing, hiking, paddling, canyoning, camping, participants experience incredible growth through a variety of fun activities.

However, all adventure activities, including those offered by Tombacamp, have inherent risks. Some of the inherent risks that exist in our camp environment are considered a necessary and valued aspect of our programs. Having reasonable, communicated, and calculated risks encourages personal responsibility, increases self-confidence, builds judgment, and leads to a sense of accomplishment.

Our goal is to transform your children into risk managers. Yes, we want to lean into Risk, but we are committed to managing the big risks and remaining “challenge by choice” for campers.

We believe in fostering a Growth Mindset, not a fixed mindset – it’s much more important to have a great time than it is to “reach the top.”

Tomba camp was born out of desire to give students a love of outdoor activity and to ensure the future care-taking of our planet. With declining youth participation in sports, decreasing physical education budgets in schools and increasing screen time, We a need not just to get kids outside, but to set them on a trajectory of lifelong outdoor adventure and stewardship. Being active outdoors is not only good for kids physically.Outdoor experiences are powerful and empowering.They are punctuation points in our lives that shape our confidence and character.

At our basecamp '‘Jacaranda lodge’’, we deliver a holistic outdoor program that pushes the students comfort zones and promotes self-knowledge in a fun and safe environment. Our camp activities include rafting, kayaking, rappelling, boat tours, caving, canyon exploration, survival skills training, bike tours and cultural tours at ancient historical sites. Our aim is to teach children to appreciate the present moment, nature and help them develop inner knowledge and new skills!

Many parents recognise the importance of risky play yet still worry about the possibility of injury. At Tombacamp, we also recognise the benefits of risky play, and it’s our job to appropriately manage the risks and teach kids to intelligently navigate risk.

WRITTEN PROTOCOLS

• Proactive risk management plan

• Critical incident response plan

• Detailed Staff Manual with specific activity protocols for all sports

TRAININGS & CERTIFICATIONS

• Staff have at least have Community First Aid and CPR certifications. Many have additional certifications

• Staff get thoroughly background checked

• Staff who drive complete a professional driver training

EQUIPMENT

• All equipment is thoroughly inspected and updated accordingly

• Personal flotation devices are worn during all paddle days

• We source kid sized equipment for all activities and ensure that all campers are outfitted with properly fitting gear for their adventures

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

• We maintain low staff to participant ratios

• We involve campers in the process of learning how to assess risk, including:

  “Environmental Briefings” – instructors guide campers through a process of identifying and decreasing the risks in changing environments.

  “Teachable Trail Moments” – instructors (and campers) look for opportunities to practice the skills of risk assessment and positive decision-making.

• Programs and activities are age and ability appropriate

REFLECTION & LEARNING

• We maintain an active and informed Risk Management Committee consisting of Tombacamp leaders and instructeurs.

• We approach risk management with humility; we analyse individual incidents and trends and improve trainings, protocols, and programming as needed

Every summer, we collect extensive data on any injuries and incidents that may occur. We are proud that our rate of incidents is consistently lower than the rates of other sport programs and camps.

HERE’S HOW WE DO IT

• We hire the most committed, experienced instructors around.

• We use professional-caliber equipment, so campers learn how successful mountain biking, kayaking and climbing are supposed to feel

• We transport campers to authentic local recreation areas they can keep coming back to explore

• We teach campers solid skills—not just the basics of adventure sports, but how to use sound judgment and problem-solving in all aspects of their lives

• The campers who attend our summer day camps, overnight camps, school programs and events come away filled with confidence, enriched with newfound skills and launched into a lifetime of empowering outdoor adventure