Programme Outcomes

OUR PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

At Adventure Specialties Trust, all of our programmes are designed with desired ‘outcomes’ in mind. Outcomes that participants will experience, as a result of participating in our outdoor adventure programmes.

FOCUS ON WELLBEING

All of our programmes focus on wellbeing.

As a framework for wellbeing, we use a Māori model of holistic health called Te Whare Tapa Whā (the house with four walls) which was developed in 1984 by Sir Mason Durie, a leading figure in Māori health and wellbeing.

Each of the four walls of Te Whare Tapa Whā (described below) is an important part of hauora/wellbeing. The wellbeing house is supported by the strong foundation of Te Whenua, the land, our connection to the natural environment.

TAHA TINANA / physical wellbeing

Our taha tinana allows us to feel healthy, energetic, motivated, and physically capable of pursuing activities that bring joy, connection, and satisfaction to our days.

How this looks in the outdoors: Outdoor activities challenge and strengthen our bodies, promoting fitness, resilience and confidence. Physical movement, especially outdoors in nature, supports overall health, wellbeing and energy levels.

TAHA WHĀNAU / social wellbeing

Taha whānau is about feeling a sense of belonging, connection and confidence in our relationships with others. It includes a belief that people can be kind, trustworthy and safe, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with others.

How this looks in the outdoors: Adventure builds teamwork, trust and belonging. Shared challenges strengthen relationships and provide a supportive space for growth, healing and connection.

TAHA HINENGARO / mental and emotional wellbeing

Our taha hinengaro allows us to feel balanced, hopeful, and positive about the future, with the capacity to navigate life’s challenges and celebrate its joys while nurturing a sense of self-compassion and self-worth.

How this looks in the outdoors: Time in nature reduces stress and enhances mental clarity, emotional resilience and self-awareness. Adventure activities encourage participants to challenge themselves which helps them develop courage and self-confidence.

TAHA WAIRUA / spiritual wellbeing

Taha wairua is about feeling a strong sense of self, identity, and connection to our faith, beliefs, culture, values, and purpose. It provides a foundation of meaning and direction.

How this looks in the outdoors: Being outdoors in nature fosters a sense of wonder, connection and purpose. Outdoor experiences deepen spiritual awareness, whether through faith, nature or personal reflection.

TE WHENUA / the land

Te Whenua is the foundation of Te Whare Tapa Whā. Connection to te whenua is about a sense of belonging in te taiao, the natural world, and drawing on that connection to support our wellbeing. It includes experiencing awe and wonder in natural spaces, fostering a sense of responsibility to protect and care for the Earth.

What are the Outcomes of our programmes?

At Adventure Specialties Trust, all of our programmes focus on hauora/wellbeing.

When we are designing our programmes, we use a wellbeing framework based on Te Whare Tapa Whā (the house with four walls). Te Whare Tapa Whā is a Māori model of holistic health developed by Sir Mason Durie. Each of the four walls (described below) is an important part of hauora/wellbeing, and we focus on these during our programmes.

How do we know if we have made an impact on our participants? At the end of our programmes, we ask participants to fill in an 'Outcomes Evaluation' form, so that we can measure the impact of our programme on their hauora/wellbeing. At the end of each year, we analyse the results to see where participants have experienced personal growth, and where we can improve our services to support them better. Read our annual Impact reports to see the stats.

TAHA TINANA / Physical Wellbeing

Our taha tinana allows us to feel healthy, energetic, motivated and physically capable of pursuing activities that bring joy, connection and satisfaction to our days.

TAHA HINENGARO / Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

Our taha hinengaro allows us to feel balanced, hopeful and positive about the future, with the capacity to navigate life's challenges and celebrate its joys while nuturing a sense of self-compassion and self-worth.

TAHA WHĀNAU / Social Wellbeing

Taha whānau is about feeling a sense of belonging, connection and confidence in our relationships with others. It includes the belief that people can be kind, trustworthy and safe, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with others.

TAHA WAIRUA / Spiritual Wellbeing

Taha wairua is about feeling a strong sense of self, identity and connection to our faith, beliefs, culture, values and purpose. It provides a foundation of meaning and direction.

TE WHENUA / The Land

Te whenua is the foundation of Te Whare Tapa Whā, the house with four walls. Connection to whenua is about feeling a sense of belonging in te taio, the natural world, and drawing on that connection to support our wellbeing. It includes experiencing awe and wonder in natural spaces and fostering a sense of responsibility to protect and care for the Earth.

GET IN TOUCH

Interested in coming on an adventure with us? We would love to hear from you! Get in touch with us for a chat about our outdoor adventure/wellbeing programmes.

CHECK OUT OUR ADVENTURES

Every week, we share stories and photos and videos from our recent outdoor adventure/wellbeing programmes. Sign up to our newsletter (at the bottom of this page) or follow us on social media: