Media Release 25 July 2011

Weather Delays Break from the Quake

Mother Nature has created more disruption for Christchurch this week with the postponement of Youthtown's second week of Break from the Quake camps to the October school holidays.

Youthtown CEO Keith Thorpe says Youthtown made the decision to reschedule this week's Break from the Quake camps due to Air New Zealand flight cancellations and inclement weather in Christchurch and Auckland.

"The last thing we know Christchurch families will want is more uncertainty and stress," says Thorpe. "We would rather postpone our week-long camps to the October holidays than have to reduce the experience to a couple of days owing to bad weather.

"The safety of families trying to get to the airport in bad weather with uncertain flight schedules is also a key concern and a reason why we came to this decision."

Youthtown remains committed to providing a wonderful week-long experience for the second group of Break from the Quake campers and will reschedule the entire week of camps to the second week of the October school holidays (17-21 October).

"We'll be in direct contact with all families about rescheduling details and will make individual arrangements for families relying on Youthtown to take care of their children this week," says Thorpe.

250 young Cantabrians were expected to arrive in Auckland today for the second week of Break from the Quake camps.

The aim of these free Youthtown camps was to provide the opportunity for 500 young people aged 10-17 years to take a week-long 'Break from the Quake' during the holidays in various locations throughout the North Island.

"Last week's Break from the Quake camp was an amazing success and achieved exactly what it was meant to - putting smiles on the faces of Canterbury youth," says Thorpe.

"We're confident we can replicate this again for another 250 youngsters in the next school holidays."

For more information go to www.youthtown.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media