Kokoda Challenge Youth Program
Growing confidence, purpose & gratitude in young people
The Kokoda Challenge Youth Program (KCYP) is our original 9-month life skills program for 15-17 year olds, who are known as our ‘Kokoda Kids’.Â
KCYP is built around the Kokoda values of Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice, and focusses on training for a 96km Kokoda Challenge, a peak overseas hiking experience enduring the Kokoda Trail in PNG, and a 3-month community service project. Together, these activities set healthy boundaries and structure that carry our participants throughout their lives.
During the program, participants are mentored by volunteer leaders through weekly endurance hikes and volunteer community service. Throughout these activities, they learn the skills that build personal strength and resilience. Kokoda kids come from all walks of life which is an essential part of the transformative experience.
The ‘butchers, bakers and candlestick makers’ is a concept taken from the Army where a battalion is made up of soldiers who are very different to each other. Despite their different strengths and weaknesses, the group must work and learn together, in order to achieve their mission.
KCYP is a fully-funded program, available to any young person who seeks direction and motivation. They may be looking to make new friends, to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, or to simply challenge themselves.
We believe there is no difference between those who are expected to fail and those who are expected to achieve – except for opportunity and the right support.
Applications for 2026 KCYP are now open – click the link below to complete a full application.
Please note: Participants must be at least 15 years old when the program commences in April.
Experiential Youth Program for Aussie KIDS
What to expect
- Weekly training sessions throughout the first 6 months
- Participation in the 96km Kokoda Challenge hiking event as a team
- A peak overseas trekking experienceÂ
- Three months of fortnightly volunteer service to give back to their own local communities
- Learning about the WWII Kokoda Campaign with real-life lessons from our courageous Australian Diggers.Â
The program requires full commitment and dedication from both the participants and their parents. Kokoda kids are be rewarded with a much brighter outlook on life and an unshakable resilience for success in adulthood. Every KCYP participant will harness the qualities displayed by the Australian soldiers, also known as Kokoda Spirit.
The Experience
Of A Lifetime
KCYP’s Peak Experience
Our Kokoda Kids experience a powerful journey at the end of their program – the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. Over the September school holidays, participants immerse themselves in the history, culture, and natural beauty of the region, while honouring the memory of those who endured unimaginable hardship during WWII.Â
The peak experience is more than a trek – it’s a physical, emotional, and historical journey that shapes resilience, compassion, and perspective for life.
It honours our Kokoda diggers, while offering a culturally and historically-significant adventure of a lifetime. Kokoda Kids and leaders, alike, are pushed to their physical and mental boundaries, achieving things they may have never imagined possible!
This experience leaves our Kokoda Kids feeling as if they can conquer anything. Many say that after their peak KCYP experience, their perspective on life and way of approaching different challenges is changed forever.
The Journey
- Kokoda Village – where the journey becomes real – Standing at Kokoda Village, participants step onto the same ground as history. It marks the transition from everyday life to purposeful challenge.
- The Owen Stanley Range – learning resilience the hard way – Steep climbs and narrow ridgelines through the mountains demand grit, teamwork, and perseverance. Progress here is slow, earned, and deeply rewarding.
- Isurava Battlefield – understanding sacrifice firsthand – Visiting Isurava gives powerful context to courage, mateship, and service. The memorial creates a moment of reflection that resonates strongly with young people.
- Jungle villages like Efogi and Menari – community and culture – Time spent in remote villages exposes participants to different ways of life, gratitude, and respect for local cultures.
- Fast-flowing rivers and creek crossings – Regular river crossings turn challenge into adventure, requiring cooperation, awareness, and trust in leaders and peers.
- Owers’ Corner – finishing with pride and perspective –Reaching Owers’ Corner brings a strong sense of accomplishment. The Track ends, but confidence and maturity travel home with them.
If you’re interested in the program, apply below!
Commitment To Succeed
What Makes our program Different
KCYP stands apart from other youth programs for a number of reasons. It’s not a short-term program and spans nine months from April to January, meaning participants can develop over time. The program builds physical endurance over time, with ongoing mentoring, helping prepare participants for three unforgettable peak experiences:
- The 96km Kokoda Challenge in July
- Opportunity of a lifetime completing the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea
- A meaningful community service project in the final phase.
A Journey of Growth and Giving Back
The treks are not just physical challenges—they are mental, emotional, and historical experiences that stay with participants for life. After completing these adventures, participants spend an additional three months engaged in community service, gaining firsthand insight into the value of giving back. This stage often leads to career guidance opportunities and lasting community connections.
Graduation and Beyond
KCYP participants graduate in January, having met program commitments designed to foster self-discovery, resilience, and fulfillment.
Why the Duration Matters
The extended program period gives our Kokoda Kids the space to learn, make informed choices, build lifelong friendships, develop deep community ties, and truly thrive.
We Need Your Help
At Kokoda, we firmly believe that every young person should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. That’s why the KCYP is a fully-funded program, including everything from entry into the Kokoda Challenge event and the overseas Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. The only thing a participants needs is a their own pair of hiking boots – which will take them on many adventures for years to come!
KCYP is run solely from donations from generous Australians, just like you. Our Kokoda Challenge participants also contribute to this program through their fundraising efforts and we are deeply grateful to every persons who helps fund this life-changing program!
What to expect
MAKE LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIP BONDS
Meet like minded people with similar interests and values.
EXPERIENCING HISTORY AND CULTURE
A fully funded adventure in Papua New Guinea that will see you trekking the Kokoda Trail, visiting Isurava Battlefield, as well as immersing yourself in community and culture visiting jungle villages like Efogi and Menari.
DOING WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
20 weeks of Sunday bushwalks, mid-week training sessions, two-day overnight camp and participation in the 96km Kokoda Challenge.
TIME AWAY FROM TECHNOLOGY
Enjoy the great outdoors without feeling the pressure to document every second on your devices! We encourage our Kokoda Kids to take time away from their phones and enjoy every moment.
GAIN NEW SKILLS AND LEARN HISTORY
Learn more about navigation and the environment around you! You will also gain a deeper understanding of the history of the Kokoda Campaign.
GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY
3 months of fortnightly community service to learn the value of community, the true meaning of sacrifice and a chance to give back.
DISCOVER YOUR FULL POTENTIAL
Discovering a sense of purpose, forming life skills of responsibility and reliability, developing confidence and learning that you are capable of extraordinary things.
