[Please note that the photos in this article are not from the RESTORE programme, to protect the privacy of the programme participants.]

The benefits of small groups include:

• Meeting other people who are in a similar situation to you,
• Getting to know them, making friends,
• Trusting others,
• Communicating your needs and emotions and ideas.

Especially for people who are anxious about social situations, it’s an opportunity to practice so many skills and really build confidence in a social setting.

All of these things are much harder to achieve in individual therapy.

We often find that one of the things the participants appreciate most is the peer support that comes from the group sharing their experiences and thoughts and ideas with each other.

Take, for example, our RESTORE programmes which have been running in Auckland and Christchurch this year.

RESTORE is for people who are off work for mental health reasons (like anxiety, depression, stress or burnout) and are on the Job Seekers benefit. We use Adventure Therapy to support them on their journey towards hauora (health and wellbeing).

Check out the feedback that we have received from the participants:

“It was comforting to learn that EVERYONE goes through stuff and everyone struggles from time to time.”

“It gave me a reason to get out of bed and have interactions with people outside my immediate circle. Being able to have meaningful conversations impacted my day positively.”

“It’s helped me realise that people do care and there are programmes that help bring change and help bring life back.”

“This programme has made me realise how important connection is for my wellbeing. Connecting with nature and people help to lift my mood and give me a sense of belonging.”

“This programme has made a difference in multiple ways: communicating with others, feeling better in nature, different ways to look at things, and feeling safer in the community.”

“I’m more positive, confident and clearer about who I am and what brings me to life. I’ve learned that I don’t have to be perfect and giving my best is fine. I’ve learned too that I have a lot to offer other people because of who I am. I have appreciated this opportunity. I am no longer suicidal, I have more hope and can feel joy, self-pride and gratitude.”

[This article is from our Christmas newsletter. Read the rest of the newsletter here (PDF)]

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One of KidsCan’s projects is the KidsCan Youth Council. It is a year-long scholarship programme which supports young people towards success, leadership and community
engagement.

The Youth Council is made up of ten students (aged 16-18) from all around Aotearoa New Zealand, who have been under-privileged or come from resilient backgrounds or who have benefitted from KidsCan programmes themselves. They are young people who have a desire to help others and want the opportunity to have a leadership role in their communities.

KidsCan partnered with us to create a 3-day outdoor adventure programme which focused on supporting the Youth Council students in gaining confidence and leadership skills, plus developing individual goals for themselves.

Our instructors, Nat and Joel, took the group kayaking and hiking around Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.

They also led the group in some leadership activities which focused on understanding different values and different comfort levels within a group. For example, they were asked questions like “How comfortable do you feel in deep water?” or “How much do you value time alone by yourself?” or “How connected do you feel to your culture?”

Seeing everyone’s different answers helped the students to understand how we all have different values and experiences, which, in turn, helps develop self-awareness as well as empathy and understanding for others.

After the programme, the students gave us some feedback:

“The group activities have helped me be able to talk and communicate with people I don’t know.”

“I’ve learned to be ambitious [with my goals]. It could pay off.”

“Our hike was so hard. It felt good to complete it, though.”

Ray, the KidsCan co-ordinator, gave this feedback:

“Kayaking was a youth fav. There was a good balance of education, skill, ease, exploration and playfulness. The hike was incredible and a great challenge for the youth. [The instructors] both had a very relaxed nature which made it easy for youth to feel comfortable and safe around. Good safety and risk management. I look forward to working with Adventure Specialties Trust again!”

This article is taken from our December 2023 Christmas newsletter.

Click here to read the rest of the newsletter.

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Here are some quotes from the young women who attended:

• Discovering your strengths and building self-worth;
• Taha Hinengaro (wellbeing of the mind) and self-kindness;
• Taha Wairua (spirituality), awe and wonder, connection to the land and to nature;
• Whanaungatanga (family and community), our support networks, repairing and strengthening relationships;
• Tools for building hauora (health and wellbeing), managing anxiety, recognising glimmers of joy, mindfulness, gratitude.

FIND OUT MORE

Want to find out more about our INSPIRE programme? Or come along next time? Find out more about INSPIRE Auckland and INSPIRE Christchurch. Want to learn more about Adventure Therapy? Read about it on our website or pop in for a chat and a cuppa at our Auckland or Christchurch offices.

Read the rest of our Christmas newsletter

This blog post is from our Christmas newsletter. Read the rest of the newsletter online (PDF).

The post Teenage Girls + Mental Health appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

Thank you, West City Sports Academy, for this wonderful feedback about our partnership with your alternative education programme.

The post Feedback from West City Sports Academy appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

One of the most rewarding parts of this job is reading the feedback from participants, after they have finished one of our programmes.

These quotes are from several different programmes over the last few months (Feb-May 2023). They are Level 2 Outcomes, which means the programmes are longer than a day (either a series of day programmes or a longer 10-day or 21-day programme). The activities ranged from surfing to rock climbing, hiking, camping, and more.

Find out more about our Adventure With Purpose programmes on our website: https://www.adventurespecialties.co.nz/adventure-with-purpose/ or pop in to our Auckland or Christchurch offices to have a chat and a cuppa!

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Rangatahi Backyard Adventures!

A group of young women from Middle School West, trying out a variety of different outdoor activities in their local area, one day a week over eight weeks.

WHY?

The whole programme was funded by Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa, through Sport Waitākere, with the purpose of giving students (especially minority groups) the opportunity to try physical activities that they might not normally get to experience, and to encourage them to continue to be active afterwards.

Here is some feedback from the students:
“Everything was new and fun and I want to do everything again.”
“When I first tried surfing, I really enjoyed it and am definitely going to do it again another time.”
“Inspired me to give kayaking a go because I love being in the water.”

ACTIVITIES

Kayaking around Lake Pupuke, surfing at Orewa, coasteering at Tawharanui, treasure hunting in the Northhead Tunnels, indoor rock climbing (wet weather option), a day hike from Mt Donald McLean to Whaitpu with spectacular 360 degree views of the Manukau Harbour, Whatipu beach and the Waitākere Ranges.

Our activities were all based in Auckland, within driving distance from their homes in West Auckland, which will encourage the students to head back to these amazing places with their friends and whānau.

FEEDBACK FROM THE INSTRUCTORS

“Went in Shakespear Regional Park to walk the TiriTiri trail, then went back to the van for lunch and played some ultimate frisbee. Had the group reflect on gratitude and share about things that they were grateful for and worries that were occupying their minds at the moment and making them forget to be grateful. Group stayed together while walking, guessed riddles, and took some time to be mindful of their surroundings. Good mood, lots of laughter.”

– Instructors Louis and Reuben

MORE FEEDBACK FROM THE STUDENTS

“I found that I love being outside with nature.”
“I’ve learnt that other opinions are necessary […] and working together will always win.”
“When we did rock climbing, it helped me rely and work as a team when climbing the wall.”
“We went out a lot and had some awesome views. This made me appreciate my surroundings.”

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EMPLOYERS, ARE ANY OF YOUR STAFF STRUGGLING?

The past couple of years have been hard and there may be people in your team whose mental health and wellbeing have been negatively affected by stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, etc. Here is a great opportunity to support your staff by sponsoring them to attend our INSPIRE Adventure Therapy programme.

FEEDBACK from employer Nick at Mallia Home Centre:

“As an employer that values our people, we were looking for courses or programmes that might bring out the best in our team. Inspire delivered big time! The staff member who we sponsored on this course transformed over several weeks from shy, quiet and withdrawn to confident, charismatic and enthusiastic. Not only did we see dramatic improvements in his work, we also saw how much happier he is as a person.”

THE INSPIRE PROGRAMME is for Auckland-based adults

who might be struggling with mental health challenges. It is facilitated by a qualified mental health professional and an experienced outdoor instructor with the goal of building wellbeing, confidence and connection.

WHAT IS ADVENTURE THERAPY?

Adventure Therapy combines easy and fun outdoor adventure activities (like kayaking, rock climbing, biking and coasteering) with group therapy tools like facilitated group discussions, space for personal reflection, and simply spending time in nature with its proven therapeutic benefits.

DETAILS:

Every Wednesday for 8 weeks
9am – 3:30pm
10th May – 28th June 2023
Auckland-based activities
Cost $1975 per person

Interested?

Check out more details on our website:
www.adventurespecialties.co.nz/programmes/inspire-auckland

Or contact Brenda, the programme co-ordinator:
(09) 837 6033 or office@adventurespecialties.co.nz (attention: Brenda)

Please note that T&Cs apply, including:
*** To take part in the programme, potential participants will meet with our mental health professional (in person or online) to make sure the Inspire programme is a good fit for you.
*** Participants need to have an average level of fitness to ensure that they are capable of taking part in the activities.

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One of our regular programmes is a 21-day camp with Year 10 students from Kings College in Auckland. The students spend the first nine days at a camp in Northland, learning bushcraft skills and doing team-building activities, like building huts together. The next five days, they work together on a sailing boat as they journey back to Auckland. Then the final section is based in Tongariro National Park, and includes a multi-day wilderness expedition that the students plan and lead by themselves.

Instructor Nathalie mentioned one theme that she has seen recurring in these camps. “A common lesson that the students leave with by the end of the programme is being open to hanging out with new people. Although they’ve spent the last year in the same form class with each other, sometimes it is only in these few weeks at camp that they students start to hang out with others that they may not have chosen to hang out with, and realised that there is something in common.”

“In their reflections, they mention no longer judging each other, being more open to getting to know everyone, even if they think there is nothing in common. They mention things like realising that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, together you’re stronger, and being more willing to trust others.”

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Thank you to Patricia from Mahitahi Trust who left some lovely feedback about one of our Adventure Therapy programmes with Mahitahi, working with adults going through drug and alcohol rehab last year.

“The outcomes seen within our rōpū [group] are:

• Stronger connections to peers and facilitators,
• Increased confidence,
• Increased self-worth,
• Increased motivation to achieve dreams and aspirations,
• Mana-enhancing.”

Find out more about Mahitahi and the amazing work they do within the Tamaki-makaurau Auckland community on their website: www.mahitahi.co.nz

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