| The Crusader Union of Australia | |
| Abbreviation: | Crusaders or CRU |
| Formation: | 1930 |
| Purpose: | To nurture church membership and train young Christians |
| Headquarters: | Eastwood, New South Wales |
| Locations: | Galston Gorge, |
| Region Served: | New South Wales &<br>Australian Capital Territory |
| Membership: | independent school students |
| Leader Title: | Executive Director |
| Leader Name: | Gary Hill |
| Num Staff: | 71 permanent staff, 50+ casuals |
| Num Volunteers: | 900+ |
The Crusader Union of Australia (Crusaders or CRU), is a Bible-based, interdenominational, non-profit Christian youth organisation. It has three main areas, CRU Camps, which includes: CRU Holiday Camps, CRU Study Camps and CRU Day Camps, Summit Educational Camps and Schools Ministry (made up of CRU School Groups and CRU Resources). CRU's frontline ministries are supported by two campsites (CRU Galston Gorge Camp & Conference Centre and CRU Lake Mac Camp & Conference Centre), and a Training Division.
Crusaders was founded in 1930 in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia by Howard Guinness,[1] a man keen to strengthen Christian work among school students in independent schools. He saw voluntary groups as a key to achieving this. The first Crusader Camp was held in 1930. In 1934 CRU was founded in Western Australia. From small beginnings in four schools, CRU has expanded to serve 185 Independent schools in New South Wales and the ACT.
The Crusader Women's Fellowship, began at Roseville Park in 1939. The land for the Crusader site at Lake Macquarie NSW was donated by Leslie Parr in the 1940s and in the 1950s Paul White mortgaged his home to buy land at Galston Gorge site for £600. These sites are where the majority of CRU Camps take place.
In 1955 CRU merged with Scripture Union in all states except NSW. During the 1960s CRU became a Registered Company Limited by Guarantee to meet legal requirements. Initially established in Sydney's CBD, the office relocated to Strathfield in 1988, then Eastwood in 1993. The Crusader Union of NSW became the Crusader Union of Australia on 23 May 1990 and the Crusader ‘eagle’ logo was introduced in 1997. The CRU Camp brand was trademarked in 2002. In 2020 the 'eagle' logo was phased out and replace with the current stylised letters.[2]
CRU run many different types of camps, including holiday camps for children in Years 3-12, study camps for Year 12 students and Day Camps during the school holidays for children in Years K-12.
Formerly known as Summit Educational Camps. Over 100 school camps are run each year, providing outdoor education to over 7,100 campers and training about 20 ministry trainees, called ‘Summit trainees’.
Six full-time staff and four ministry associates address over 100,000 students each year in 185 independent schools across NSW and the ACT. There are also Christian groups across Australia using CRU resources. The following schools have internal CRU Groups or Christian groups supported by CRU operating in them:
CRU's ministries are supported by two residential campsites: CRU Galston Gorge Camp & Conference Centre, located in Galston Gorge and CRU Lake Mac Camp & Conference Centre, located in Lake Macquarie with water-based activities and its own sailing fleet.
CRU Galston Gorge is located 45 minutes from Sydney's CBD in a bushland location. The majority of the CRU Study Camps are run at this location. CRU Lake Mac is located in Lake Macquarie, 60 minutes from Hornsby or Gosford.
CRU is a Registered Training Organisation (NTIS No. 90717) offering training in ‘Apply First Aid’ (formerly Senior First Aid).