‘Gap’ year with a difference

Completing a year-long internship at Tandara Lutheran Camp at Halls Gap in Victoria’s Grampians National Park is unlike any other internship.

The internship has been offered to young adults since 2014. It is an opportunity to serve others and focus on God during a year of personal discovery and growth. It involves learning about relationships, encouragement, conflict resolution, leadership, mentoring and listening. It is also an opportunity to acquire life skills to use as a springboard into a successful and satisfying future.

Tandara provides camping facilities for schools and families, as well as church and special interest groups. It also offers special ministry camps aimed at children and families, along with Christian Life Week (CLW) experiences for youths aged between 13 and 18, conducted by the Lutheran Youth of Victoria/CLW of Victoria. The interns play a major role in these camps, and have a chance to demonstrate their leadership skills.

The campsite also hosts the Lutheran women’s and men’s retreats in Victoria on an annual basis and partners with Lutheran Men of Victoria in an outreach camp for men aged between 18 and 50, called Men Led by God.

At Tandara, we see young people as an important part of the church, leading the future, and being springs of living water to the communities they move to after their internship year.

We pray that they will mature and grow in their faith and learn how to put that into action in serving the needs of the community and the church.

What the 2016 interns say

Chloe Maroske: We get many different groups through the camp: different denominational groups, family groups, craft groups, school groups, etc. As interns, we help run the camp, whether it be by cleaning, coordinating activities for groups, helping in the kitchen, or doing odd jobs. It is a great opportunity to be a witness to the campers for God.

Hayley Simons: No two days are the same as an intern – from cleaning to working the rope course metres in the air, you begin to expect not knowing what to expect. Every day is an opportunity to serve the Lord, and involves time for spiritual devotion to him. The study course is an awesome opportunity to grow in your faith. While this internship brings immense challenges, it also brings immense growth, from your character to your faith.

Sophie Jurecky: This year has been an incredible experience to learn not only about the workforce but to also grow in my faith. We have daily devotions and a service on-site the last Sunday of every month. We help by playing music, reading prayers, setting up and packing away for the service. People from the community join in and everyone is welcome. It is a great opportunity to be a part of a church community, within the Tandara community.

Lauren Krause: Every day at Tandara brings something new, exciting and challenging. God’s creation really is amazing and I feel so close to him here. The people in Halls Gap are very welcoming and I have made many new friends. Even though we’ve had tough times, God has pulled us through. I have learnt so much and I hope to continue on this journey and never stop learning.

Darren Linke is the manager of Tandara Lutheran Camp.

The Tandara internship provides a Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology through Grassroots Training (ALC) and also a Certificate III in Sport and Recreation. Past interns have gone on to study university courses or further education in a range of areas, and some have served in youth ministry in their own communities.

This feature story comes from The Lutheran August 2016. Visit the website to find out more about The Lutheran or to subscribe.