The 1st National Deaf Youth Camp – April 2005 at Finlay Adventure Park, Cambridge – was supported and organised by DEAFinitely Youth Group (DYG). It was founded in 2000 to host the 2nd Asia-Pacific Deaf Youth Camp, and it went on to support the 1st NDYC with 25 participants and 5 different workshops. 77% of the participants were sponsored by the NZ Federation for Deaf Children.
This video contains edited footage from the 5-day camp with over 120 photos. The camp logo was first advertised as a competition. The winning logo, selected by the Camp Committee, would ensure that its designer gets to go to the camp for free! Henry Clark, of Hamilton, designed the winning logo, which was proudly displayed on the shirts, programme book, and the DVD. DYG believed that having a camp for Deaf youths nationwide would provide many benefits such as:
- Exchanging and educating ideas, issues and experiences facing Deaf youth
- Increase contact and develop better networks for Deaf youth in NZ
- To meet Deaf youth from all over NZ
- Acquaint the community at large with the needs and interests of Deaf youth
- Gain confidence and self-esteem so that Deaf youth can become better leaders in their own communities
- Enhance Deaf youth pride in Deaf identity, culture, history and language
- And of course, to make some new friends!
