Edmund Rice Camps
Encyclopedia
Edmund Rice Camps is a charitable volunteer organisation closely associated with the Congregation of Christian Brothers
, and inspired by the work of Edmund Ignatius Rice
. Edmund Rice Camps works to provide opportunities for recreation, challenge and growth to young participants and families for whom there would otherwise be no such opportunities.
in Melbourne
, Australia
, in January 1981, as a form of community outreach for the students of Parade, and as a way of sharing the extensive resources of Parade left unused during the Australian summer. These first camps catered for two groups of children: one for at-risk boys from Melbourne, and another camp for refugee children who had escaped with their families from Communist Vietnam
.
Persons associated with the Christian Brothers helped to spread the concept of these camps to other states of Australia and overseas. The first Edmund Rice Camp in Tasmania took place in January 1985, and the first beyond Australian shores was held near Dunedin
, New Zealand
in May 1991.
as well as in New Zealand
, South Africa
, Ireland
, England
, and the United States
. Camps funded by these permanent groups have taken place in Kenya
and Tanzania
, and the first Edmund Rice Camp in Kolkata
, India
took place at the end of November 2006. As of October 2008, ERC Tasmania was fundraising to support a similar initiative in Ghana
.
Two fundamental characteristics of Edmund Rice Camps are the one-to-one ratio maintained between volunteer 'leaders' and participants on camp, and the importance placed on the need for volunteers to reflect on their on-camp experiences.
, not-for-profit groups (and hence are not owned by the Christian Brothers as such). There are exceptions such as the Edmund Rice Camps in Townsville, Queensland
, where ERC is a ministry of the Diocese of Townsville. In countries where the movement is tiny or quite informal, the whole impetus for the running of these children's camps is in the hands of individual Christian Brothers and Edmund Rice Volunteers and has no independent legal status. 'Edmund Rice Camps' in Tanzania
and Kenya
, where the Christian Brothers are highly active, are two examples.
Another exception are the camps based in Cork
, Ireland. Four Irish camps (namely those in Dublin, Kilkenny
, Waterford
and Omagh
)co-operate on a national level through a National Executive Committee working closely with the Christian Brothers, the Cork "Edmund Rice Action Camps" are run under the auspices of the Presentation Brothers
, the other congregation founded by Edmund Rice.
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
, and inspired by the work of Edmund Ignatius Rice
Edmund Ignatius Rice
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
. Edmund Rice Camps works to provide opportunities for recreation, challenge and growth to young participants and families for whom there would otherwise be no such opportunities.
History of the Edmund Rice Camps
The first two 'Edmund Rice' camps took place at Parade CollegeParade College
Parade College, Bundoora, Victoria, is an Australian Roman Catholic all-lads high school, run under the auspices of the Congregation of Christian Brothers.The school was founded by four Christian Brothers in January 1871...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in January 1981, as a form of community outreach for the students of Parade, and as a way of sharing the extensive resources of Parade left unused during the Australian summer. These first camps catered for two groups of children: one for at-risk boys from Melbourne, and another camp for refugee children who had escaped with their families from Communist Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
Persons associated with the Christian Brothers helped to spread the concept of these camps to other states of Australia and overseas. The first Edmund Rice Camp in Tasmania took place in January 1985, and the first beyond Australian shores was held near Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in May 1991.
Edmund Rice Camps Today
Relatively autonomous Edmund Rice Camps organisations are now active in every state of AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as well as in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Camps funded by these permanent groups have taken place in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, and the first Edmund Rice Camp in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
took place at the end of November 2006. As of October 2008, ERC Tasmania was fundraising to support a similar initiative in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
.
Mission
The volunteer leaders on the camps are young adults from the community. The participants on an Edmund Rice Camp come from diverse backgrounds and situations, but all benefit from an involvement with the camps. Participants are invited to attend Edmund Rice Camps based on referrals from a range of sources including schools, government agencies and other organisations. Referrals arise in a variety of circumstances. These may include social, economic or emotional hardship. Alternatively, participants may simply benefit from a break in their normal lives.Two fundamental characteristics of Edmund Rice Camps are the one-to-one ratio maintained between volunteer 'leaders' and participants on camp, and the importance placed on the need for volunteers to reflect on their on-camp experiences.
Organisation
The status of Edmund Rice Camps worldwide varies, for there is no worldwide structure, but rather a series of localised and largely independent volunteer groups. The majority of these organisations are incorporatedIncorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
, not-for-profit groups (and hence are not owned by the Christian Brothers as such). There are exceptions such as the Edmund Rice Camps in Townsville, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, where ERC is a ministry of the Diocese of Townsville. In countries where the movement is tiny or quite informal, the whole impetus for the running of these children's camps is in the hands of individual Christian Brothers and Edmund Rice Volunteers and has no independent legal status. 'Edmund Rice Camps' in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, where the Christian Brothers are highly active, are two examples.
Another exception are the camps based in Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland. Four Irish camps (namely those in Dublin, Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
and Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
)co-operate on a national level through a National Executive Committee working closely with the Christian Brothers, the Cork "Edmund Rice Action Camps" are run under the auspices of the Presentation Brothers
Presentation Brothers
The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local businessman, Edmund Ignatius Rice, now Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice....
, the other congregation founded by Edmund Rice.
External links
- ERC Victoria http://www.ercvic.com
- ERC Tasmania http://www.erctas.org.au/
- ERC New South Wales http://www.edmundricecamps.com/home.html
- ERC Queensland (QLD) http://www.ercqld.org
- ERC South Australia http://www.eddiericecamps.org.au
- ERC South Australia Site map (http://www.eddiericecamps.org.au/sitemap.php)
- Edmund Rice Camps New Zealand