With the festive holidays for a lot of families for another year, the school holidays continue throughout January, and parents begin to think about how they can entertain the kids for another four weeks.

Far North Coast (FNC) Hockey and NSW Regional Youth Holiday Break Program are putting on a Summer Holiday Hockey & Multi-Sports Camp for one week in January.

FNC Hockey's Sharon Maher told the Lismore App children five and over will enjoy five days of sports with morning tea and lunch provided, as well as sporting equipment.

"They'll go through the whole Hook Into Hockey program. That's been the basic program for beginners for many years. It's very popular amongst schools. So, they'll do that Monday to Friday in the morning.

"Then, in the afternoon, they'll have a variety of sports, including baseball, table tennis, Taekwondo and tennis. We've also got planned a novelty carnival with buckets of water on one afternoon and a water games activity on another.

"We have massive sprinklers on the turf, which we use throughout the day just to cool the kids off. The kids really enjoy it.

The cost is $75 for the week for kids 5 to 11, and it is free for kids 12+, thanks to funding from the state government under the NSW Regional Youth Holiday Break Program.

Sharon would like to have made it free for everyone; however, that is the funding she received and the conditions that were included.

"It's good because 12 years and older are a very hard group to actually reach and connect with, and to promote things like this to. So, we're quite happy to do that. And it gave us the basis to invite the younger kids as well. It gives them a great introduction into community sport, whereas a lot of kids feel intimidated starting out in sport on their own. So, it sort of covers that gap.

"It's also great for parents because it's holiday care as well, and it's relatively inexpensive. Morning tea and lunch are included every day.

"Monday and Friday, we have barbecues, a sausage sizzle and then burger day on Friday, and in between that, we have sandwiches or hot dogs."

"It is really good value. The kids have loved it in the past. We've had some great reviews."

This is the first time FNC Hockey has held this event at this time of year, but they are still expecting about 60 kids to register and enjoy a week of fun and sport.

If you are concerned about the qualification of staff, their team includes lead coaches, trainee coaches, FNCHI parents, volunteers (with appropriate Working with Children Checks), and First-Aid and Child Safety Officers.

THE DETAILS:

• Dates: Monday, 20th January to Friday, 24th January 2025* (9am – 3.30pm)
• Venue: Hockey fields behind Lismore Workers Sports Club, 214 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah
• Free - Children 12 years and older
• $75 – Children 5 to 11 years

To learn more or to book your child/children a spot in the Summer Holiday Hockey & Multi-Sports Camp, click here.