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Gain practical work experience and advance your professional development in a range of skills that will enhance your CV, contribute to future job opportunities and develop your global citizenship with immersive experiences. Sugar Bay is the first and only American-style summer camp in South Africa. We have over 21 years of experience in providing a safe and fun holiday destination for children and teens. Sugar Bay Resort adheres to the American Camping Association's (ACA)'s stringent industry standards which regulate more than 15 000 summer camps and have the highest standards worldwide. We are proud to be the only South African Camp that is a member of this association.

 

Under the guidance of professional mentors, you will gain a new perspective on life and learn how to create a future filled with excitement, adventure, and purpose. Our programs are open to over 17-year-olds; high school graduates, gap year students, university students, and graduates, or anyone taking a breather between careers. Men and women. No prior experience is necessary. No fitness level is necessary. 

Our courses:

Pro-Counselor Master Class (3-months)

Spend 3-months at Sugar Bay Holiday Resort the first and biggest summer camp in South Africa, learning from our most experienced counselors and experts how to facilitate activities and run a summer camp. Some of the course content will include First aid, Surf Life Saving, ropes and abseiling, intro to deck-handing, swim instructor training, obtaining your Code R skippers license and so much more. As part of the 3-month course, you will have one-week practicals where you will work at Sugar Bay during one of our school holiday camps or school tours as a counselor. It will be possible to do an additional 3-month internship if you are not able to do the 6-month option now. See the list below for full details of course content.

Pro-Counselor Master Class Plus (6-months) - A holistic career internship experience

Let's be honest experience is everything! Spend 3-months at Sugar Bay Holiday Resort the first and biggest summer camp in South Africa, learning from our most experienced counselors and experts how to facilitate activities and run a summer camp. Some of the course content will include First aid, Surf Life Saving, ropes and abseiling, intro to deck-handing, swim instructor training, obtaining your Code R skippers license and so much more. Spend another 3-months working with our most experienced facilitators as a counselor at Sugar Bay Holiday resort. This will give you the opportunity to gain invaluable practical experience and further training that will enhance your CV and contribute to future job opportunities. You will also have more time to work on your fitness and preparation time to complete your Surf Lifesaving Course. If you perform well during these 6 months you could have the chance to be appointed as a permanent pro-counselor at Sugar Bay Holiday Resort for the rest of the year. See the list below for full details of course content.

Sugar Bay International Academy, Pro-Counselor Master Class

Course Details:

TRAINING, EXAMINATION AND INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION

  • Emergency First Response Qualification - Primary and Secondary Care, for adults and children, including AED training

  • Surf Life Saving Qualification

  • SAMSA Skipper Code R Licence 

 

EXCURSION EXAMPLES: 

  • Big Five Game Reserve & Reptile Park

  • Attending a campout. Running a campout

  • Adventure races & scavenger hunts in and around Zinkwazi – through roads, forests, paths and lagoon.

  • Boat cruises and bridge jumping

  • Day trips to a variety of venues in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa for races, sports and events eg: SUP in Durban & Skate park

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ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND IN-HOUSE CERTIFICATION:

  • Advanced Medical Emergencies for Children

  • Deck-hand and Boating (Preparation for Working on Yachts – Boat Launching, Handling & Loading, cleaning, Towing a Skier, Jetbike driving, Engine Trouble Shooting and repair. Practical Skipper Hours)

  • Teaching (Teaching Practicals on lesson planning, Voice Projection, Timing, Communication and Lesson Content)

  • Child Psychology (including Discipline, Motivation, age group communications skills, recognising and dealing with common behavioural problems and Symptoms such as ADHD and ADD)

  • Ropes and Abseiling Supervisor Training

  • Swim Instructor Training – Swim safety training

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HEALTH AND FITNESS:

  • Regular Personal Fitness Assessments

  • Daily Training in a variety of disciplines (e.g. Swimming, Cross fit, Yoga, and Running) as well as extreme sports (e.g. Lifeguarding, Paintball, Surfing and SUPing). The focus is on discovering and developing new skills rather than showmanship of existing talents.

  • Mental training (Effort, Grit, Resilience, Determination and Stamina)

  • Travel to, and Entry into one or more Sports Competitions/ Tournaments or events eg: Midmar Mile, Trail runs, Adventure and Obstacle Races)

  • Studies in Personal Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle (e.g.: Time- and Stress-Management)

  • Plant to Plate (hands-on vegetable planting, harvesting and preparation)

  • Outdoor Cooking courses (beach bread, pizza making)

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SOFT SKILLS:

  • Psychological Support by a professional counseling psychologist (monthly)

  • Bi-weekly sessions: Workshops, Guided Meditations, Journalling and Daily Reflections to help students find purpose and direction in life.

  • Fundamental principles of being a Better Person (Etiquette, Kindness, Integrity, Honesty, Dependability, Self-awareness, Responsibility, Accountability, Positive Thinking, Creativity, Innovation, Coping with Change, Self-correction and taking Criticism)

  • Leadership and Teamwork: Different styles, characteristics, advantages and approaches to leadership, Principe’s of Humility, Strategic Planning, Solution-orientated Thinking, Communication Skills, Critical Thinking and Collaborative Teamwork

  • Career and life management (Identifying and developing a passion into a Career, diving into short and long term option).

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LAND: TUITION IN HOW TO DO AND HOW TO INSTRUCT:

  • Flow arts (Poi Spinning, Fire-Staff, Dancing, Singing and Drumming)

  • Hiking and navigation

  • Arts and crafts (Drawing, Painting and Artistic Expression using different Mediums and Materials)

  • BMX and Skating (Skills and Tricks on different Surfaces, Ramps)

  • Jacobs ladder, king swing, climbing walls, crate building and high ropes course

  • Paintball and Airsoft and Assault Course Training

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BEACH: TUITION IN HOW TO DO AND HOW TO INSTRUCT:

  • Fishing & Raft Building

  • Snorkeling in the pool and ocean

  • Kayaking

  • SUP (Flat water, yoga, ocean)

  • Surfing and Body Boarding

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MINIMAL THEORY AND MAXIMUM EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN OUR HIGH-  STAKES BUSINESS GAME COVERING:

  • Social media (Photography, Videography, Journalism and Media with practical experience in writing blogs, taking and editing data and the production of film clips).

  • Hospitality Business and Event Managing (Tourism, Event Planning, Project Management, Public speaking, MC’ing and Presentations)

  • Working and Earning Money as a Sugar Bay Counselor

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REAL AFRICAN BUSH EXPERIENCES IN:

  • Marine Biology (Marine Ecology & Ecosystems, Tides, Ocean Life, Rock-pools and Conservation)

  • Big Five (Game Drive and Animal Interactions in Snake Park)

  • Birds, Trees and Plants (Species identification and Studies)

  • Astronomy

 

HUMANITARIAN WORK:

  Participation in a variety of philanthropic projects – Swim Safe Workshops and teaching at underprivileged school

 

BASIC INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT & SKILLS WITH PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

  Workshop Best Practice (Layout, Safety, Housekeeping)

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