The 2025 Cape York Leaders Program Annual Camp took students from across Cape York to the vibrant Gold Coast for five days of adventure, leadership and personal growth. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, CYLP brought all students together and set them up for a successful year boarding at the best secondary schools in Queensland.
With a mix of body boarding, high ropes course, big swing and rock climbing students pushed themselves to new limits. For Shinead Crawford Naylor from Hope Vale, the high ropes course was a defining moment
“What I liked at the camp was the climbing because at first I was scared to climb because it was so high up, but then people encouraged me to go up so I tried my best and I went all the way to Level 3,” she said proudly.
The Disco Night was a chance for the leaders to let loose and celebrate the friendships they had built throughout the camp. On the last night, the spotlight was on student creativity as campers took to the stage for the Talent Show. Whether it was singing, dancing or comedy, students stepped outside their comfort zones and embraced the challenge of performing in front of their peers.
Elise Port from Coen shared how much she enjoyed being encourage to try new things and perform on stage.
“My favourite thing about the camp was doing the talent shows with people you don’t really know. You’re coming together to get to know each other more,” she said.
During the camp, students participated in dedicated sessions with their Student Support Officers, where they focused on goal setting and planning for the year ahead. These workshops encouraged students to reflect on their strengths, identify areas for growth and map out personal and academic goals to guide them through their school year.
The 2025 CYLP Annual Camp was a perfect blend of adventure, leadership and fun, with students walking away feeling empowered, connected and ready to take on the school year.
El’Leija Creek from Coen summed it up: “The thing I enjoyed the most about camp is probably giving everything to go because it’s my last year so I’m trying to make the most of it.”
The post Cape York leaders take on the Gold Coast appeared first on Cape York Partnership.