Camp EPIC YAAY (Natt McLean and Abi Pratt, New Zealand, 2023) is a short film presented in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. It addresses themes of camp life, group activities, workshops and achievement involving teenagers and young adults with congenital, intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities. The film celebrates participation, friendship and practical skills while highlighting the creativity and resilience of its participants. Simple and upbeat, Camp EPIC YAAY sits comfortably within the festival programme as a work that honours ability and community. Ideal for audiences seeking an affirmative, down-to-earth portrait of young people learning, laughing and taking part together.
Hi I'm Abby. Hi I'm Nat. Hi I'm Joseph. Camp EPIC, it is abbreviated for Experiences, Peer Support and Independent Challenges. Thank you to our funders Olive Tree, Eastern Central Community Trust and Capacity Capability Building. This is what we made happen as a team. We started planning six months ago before camp. Leading up to camp the two months prior was planning, more planning and you guessed it, more planning. We took 15 young adults and youth with disabilities up to Highland Homes Christian Camp by bus where we discussed the meaning of Camp EPIC and how it relates to them. Over the time of camp, which was three days, two nights, we did multiple workshops. Some of them were an overview of enabling good lives, EGL approach, vision and principles, Camp KAWA, which means rules and turning aspirations into goals and smart goals. So what you want to do is get on the pyro to get up and then to get over. Get on the trampoline and walk over. Once you've gotten over the trampoline, you come to this trampoline. One, two, three. And then you're off. It's fun. It's not. Watch in here. Calvin's going to show you how it goes. And it's going to be the call by the centre. Quick march. Left, right, left. Right, right. Hands up. Hi-ho. Hi-ho. It's off to lunch, we go. We also did a range of activities. These activities were the shooting range, a seesaw where we worked as a team to try and balance it out, a low ropes course, the EGL Amazing Race. In three small teams, we did 12 tasks that were both physical, mental and trivia that challenged us all. We also completed a Burma trail, and in our free time, we provided a water slide, the use of the campgrounds, and we also had a sensory room set up. Lying on the high ropes and my other highlight is making new friends. I can do lady ships. I have lots of support. Yep. It feels pretty safe, so... Awesome. Other people's stories on their story journeys and that, yeah, it was quite interesting. My highlight? Playing the amazing race game. I enjoyed the balancing. Yep. The trampoline. And the Burma camping. 13. 13. I lost. I enjoyed a lot of things. There were a lot of things I looted as well. Meeting new people. Meeting new people and I enjoyed myself. It was fun. I like the way we sort of worked together as a team, and I sort of, I really enjoyed it. You know what I've really enjoyed this weekend? I've really enjoyed getting to meet you. Yeah. And getting to know that there's a whole lot of diverseness. Yeah. Diverseness. We've made up a new word today, see? We can make up new words. And that, you know, as a team, we all make one body and we can all make something work. And I want to congratulate the team for the work that they've done. Joseph and, I'm sorry, Abbey and Matt. Congratulations, guys. Thanks, Abbey. Good work, guys. Camp Epic is made accessible for a wide range of disabled people. Camp Epic is made accessible for a wide range of disabled people.
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Camp EPIC YAAY by Natt McLean and Abi Pratt (2023)
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Camp EPIC YAAY
by Natt McLean and Abi Pratt - INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARIES
