JumpStart Tasmania

March 14th -19th, 2027

What is JumpStart?
Jumpstart-Web_LOGO

An Awesome 5 Day Teaching Camp

God’s Word + mandatory fun!

JUMPSTART is a 5 day dynamic and directional teaching camp aimed at Christian home-educated teens between 15-17 years.

This camp is uniquely designed to provide solid foundational Bible teaching, contemporary apologetics, and to address some key life issues that Christian youth may be facing today. Jumpstart also offers a variety of planned recreational activities, meaningful worship, and the opportunity to develop wholesome and lasting friendships with peers who love Jesus.

Spiritual foundations will be reinforced, friendships will be strengthened, and most importantly, one’s relationship with Jesus Christ ‘as our LIFE’ will be taught, nurtured and encouraged.

Jumpstart is not only about equipping the next generation in the Word and ways of God, but even more importantly to help them discover who Jesus Christ really is, and all He wants to be and do in their life!

“See to it that NO ONE takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to CHRIST” (Colossians 2:8)

Camp Theme 2027

Galatians

Finding True Freedom in Jesus Christ

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is spiritual dynamite! It was written to rescue believers from a distorted gospel and call them back to the cross of Christ alone.

At the heart of the letter is Paul’s defense of the gospel of grace against every form of legalism. We are justified by grace through faith, which means believers have spiritual freedom and are not under bondage to the dictates of the Old Testament Law, nor to any man-made laws or traditions as requirements for being Christian.

Paul soundly condemns anyone who would denigrate the grace of God and attempt to change the gospel. After giving his apostolic credentials and emphasizing that righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not the works of the Law, he tells the Galatians to stand fast in their freedom and not be “entangled again with a yoke of bondage”—specifically, legalism.

Christian freedom, however, is not an excuse to gratify the sinful nature; rather, freedom is an opportunity to love one another. The Christian life is to be lived in the power of the Spirit, not the flesh. The flesh has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), and as a consequence, the Spirit bears His fruit in the life of the believer.

Bottom line: Jesus plus anything ruins everything! Jumpstarters should come away with a clear sense of what is at stake in Galatians: whether we will trust a gospel of grace, centred on the cross and the Spirit, or a gospel of human effort clothed in religious language.

Speakers

DaleEpp Profile

Dale Epp

JumpStart Director

Originally from Canada where he worked in construction by day and played in a ‘heavy metal’ band by night, Dale has been with the Capernwray ministry (formally Torchbearers International) for nearly 30 years. He and his wife Patti first spent several years on staff at His Hill before moving to NZ in 2003 to pioneer and lead the Bible school there for 11 years.

Dale is a regular guest teacher at several of the Torchbearer Bible Schools, and is also a self-employed builder in NZ. He is the Founder and Director for Jumpstart - a growing camp ministry in NZ and Australia aimed at home-educated teens. Dale and his wife have 2 adult children.

geoff-w-1024x1024

Geoff Westlake

Worldview Australia

Geoff is the Biblical Foundations Coordinator for Worldview Australia, teaching young people to think and live from a Biblical worldview.

Previously a labourer, diesel fitter's trades assistant, and truck driver, Geoff served as an ordained minister in the '80s & '90s, and has specialized in outreach since then. School religious education incursions, church-based outreaches, adventure camps, with teams of volunteers, including WVA's Youth Leadership Camps.
And in 2003 he & Sally began Cheers Neighbours Network, a suburban volunteer outreach in Perth's north, while raising four (now adult) children, on a small bush-block with a menagerie of chickens, parrots, dogs, etc.
Geoff teaches about Jesus: ​what we know, how we know, and why it matters, from first-hand experience, science, history, archaeology, & seeing how different believers live out the same Biblical faith. He speaks in ways most Aussies appreciate, and has seen many come to trust Jesus for themselves. ​

"Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” - Colossians 1:28

Location & Times

Camp Banksia - Tasmania
Pitcairn Street
Port Sorell,
TASMANIA 7307

March 14th - 19th, 2027

Pricing

The price represents incredible value for money and includes all accommodation, meals, teaching sessions and activities.

All prices are in AUD.

$440.00 / person

$420.00 - for each member of same family (if more than 1 attending)

Register your interest even if cost might be a concern for you.  We need to gauge if there is enough interest to bring this camp to Tasmania.  Your help here would be greatly appreciated, so feel free to share this link if you think it would be a worthwhile camp for your teens!

Testimonials

  • All
  • Board of Reference
  • Campers
  • Featured
  • Parents

R. D.

Thank you for jumpstart. It's a blessing to my family, and I pray it continues a long time into the future.

K. P.

Thank you Dale you have put into making the Jumpstart weeks so successful. It’s a fantastic opportunity for HS teens to have an intensive week of bible study, discussion, reflection as well as just good fun being teenagers together. It must be a huge feat to organise all the aspects of it and a big commitment for you outside of your regular work and family. The Paterson family have certainly benefited greatly from these weeks, over the years, and with 4 teens now having all been,  and I am very appreciative.

S. P.

It was really awesome! The study is pretty intense, but there was a good mix of sport and other activities to break it up.. Yes, I do highly recommend it! 🙂

D. S.

My daughter had an absolutely fabulous time. She made some wonderful friends whom she hopes to keep in contact with. She really enjoyed the way in which the camp was run - it wasn’t too stressful like others she had been on, and she was really encouraged in her faith. She also says it was worth taking the week off school for, as she was reluctant to do so initially. It’s a shame you couldn’t run two a year or something similar.

A. J.B. (Australia)

This camp is such a blessing for homeschoolers. If you want your teens to connect with other Christian teens, look no further. We will definitely be sending our kids again, maybe even to one in another state.

Scott Brown

If you are the Christian parent of young adults in their teens, you are well aware of the superficiality of many youth ministries and programs in recent years.  It is increasingly difficult to find events that will challenge our children spiritually while providing fun and meaningful fellowship.

As a dad who has home educated seven children over a period of 30 years, and as a pastor/missionary of 33 years, I've been privileged to participate in scores of youth events and camps.   In recent years I have also served at several Jumpstart camps and I am delighted to tell you that I've never experienced a youth ministry that comes closer to a perfect bullseye every time!

You may have noticed that youth camps tend to excel at either recreation or education, but Dale and his team have somehow managed to master both. Jumpstart is a remarkable blend of fun, wholesome activities with meaningful, bibliocentric training.  The leadership team works tirelessly to make every minute count, whether on the field in a sport activity or in the classroom learning life lessons from God's Word.

Best of all (speaking as a homeschool dad), Jumpstart provides a rare opportunity for our students to be affirmed and encouraged as members of the homeschool community.  Sadly, our kids often feel that they are the oddballs in groups of peers who attend public schools.  But there is none of that at Jumpstart.  Everybody "gets it" so there is no need to hide or build walls, which only adds to the "free to be me" spirit that pervades the camp.

May I encourage you to do more than just send your child to Jumpstart for a week of fun, fellowship and foundation-building?  Please consider investing financially above and beyond the low cost of registration.  By giving generously you will provide scholarships for families who cannot afford to send their children to a life-changing event.  And your donations will help ensure the continuance of a ministry that is truly strengthening families in New Zealand.

Scott Brown
Director, Celebrate Messiah NZ

S. H. (Australia)

Highly recommend this camp! Definitely worthwhile sending your kids to. It's a small intentional camp that helps the kids connect with their faith.

N. T. (Australia)

If you're on the edge thinking about this can HIGHLY recommend it.

My son went to the NSW one and it was truly a huge blessing - he came back a different kid. Made some wonderful friendships. But mostly his desire to learn and get closer to God was so great to watch.

So definitely work checking out and signing your kids up for. Awesome bunch of leaders.

Contact

If you require any further information or have any questions or queries please call
Dale on +64 27 398 7099 or email register@jumpstart.nz

JumpStart Tasmania Registration