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Our Story
Our story starts in the glam-rock 1980s with two kiwi legends, Lyndsay and Glenda Simpkin, who had a passion for people and for the wild spaces of Aotearoa. Both of them were youth workers and keen adventurers, so they knew the life-changing power of taking young people into the Great Outdoors.
They looked high and low to find a youth agency that shared their vision but, when none could be found, they did what any kiwi with a great idea would do. They erected a shed and voila, Adventure Specialties Trust was born.
Fast forward 40 years: Adventure Specialties Trust is one of New Zealand’s leading providers for outdoor education, wellbeing programmes and Adventure Therapy. We have over 20 full time staff based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Ōtautahi Christchurch and we have won numerous industry awards. So if you are ready for a life changing adventure, jump in and join us on an adventure!
40 YEARS
Leaders in Outdoor Education, Adventure Therapy and Wellbeing programmes.
20+ FULL TIME STAFF
Experts in their fields
2 CENTRES
In Auckland and Christchurch. Winning a number of industry awards.
Accreditation
Why choose Adventure Specialties Trust?
We invite you and your group to step into the wilderness with our passionate and capable crew of outdoor and “life” adventurers. We will take you on adventures that will unearth the potential of each and every participant.
Helping people conquer obstacles, challenge themselves, build confidence and improve wellbeing is what we’re all about.
Our job is to get alongside and provide the motivation required to cultivate character and extend horizons. Experiential learning in the Great Outdoors is one of the greatest transformative powers there is.
Whether you’re with our Christchurch team, filling your lungs with crisp South Island air, or submerging yourself into the gushing central North Island streams with our Auckland team, each of our programmes provide the experiences and mental tools people need to feel empowered, emblazoned with courage to take control of their lives and relationships. We know they’ve got it in them.
How do we know this?
Heck, we’ve been providing adventure and wilderness experiences across New Zealand’s rocks, rivers, mountains, caves and coasts for more than 40 years.
We are leading the way in wellbeing-focused programmes and Adventure Therapy, so you can be assured that your group is facing each challenge in very capable hands.
Through our relationship-centred, strengths-based, down-to-earth approach, we aim to meet each individual wherever they are at. Taking the time to understand each person’s needs, so that we can tailor a programme that will unearth and maximise both the individual and group’s collective potential.
So what are you waiting for?
Our Vision
Lives Inspired By Adventure!
Our Mission
To respond to community needs by providing purposeful adventure, which facilitates therapeutic outcomes and personal growth.
Our Values
We are guided by our Christian faith, which places the love of God at the centre of all that we do. This is expressed by the following values:
WE ARE HOPEFUL
Change is possible for everyone. We are optimistic, we are confident and we use a holistic, strengths-based approach which supports hauora, “the winds of wellness.”
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER
We practice mahi tahi. We encourage each other and our participants. We grow community partnerships and collaborate to achieve shared goals.
WE ARE ADVENTUROUS
Outdoor adventure will transform lives. We use healthy adventure and a connection with te taiao, the natural world, to nurture growth and learning.
WE ARE INCLUSIVE
Everyone is welcome. We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We practice equity, respect and manaakitanga.
WE ARE SAFE
We embrace physical, emotional, social and cultural safety. We continually invest in our team and our resources to ensure that everything we do is high quality.
“Always remember: you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.”
— A. A. MILNE