UPCOMING YOUTH CAMP: Our North Island IGNITE youth camp is now open for applications! Keep reading for more details …

WHAT: IGNITE is an adventure therapy youth camp, where we combine ADVENTURE (kayaking, bush walking, high ropes, etc.) with THERAPY (like group activities and facilitated discussions, one-on-one chats with our caring instructors), with time and space built in for rest, reflection, and spending time outdoors in nature with its proven therapeutic benefits.

WHY: This camp is aimed at young people who might be struggling at the moment – maybe with anxiety, stress, depression, or other mental health challenges.

WHERE: We will be based at an adventure camp in Ahuroa (north of Auckland) with one overnight camping trip during the week (there is also a South Island camp, check our website for more info).

WHO: Young adults (aged 15-18 years old). We have extremely limited spaces so please get in touch sooner rather than later! Our staff will include a qualified mental health professional and one or two highly experienced outdoor instructors.

WHEN: The IGNITE camp happens most school holidays. The next one is during the September school holidays. Five days of fun! Monday 25th – Friday 29th September 2023.

Find out more about the IGNITE camp on our website:
www.adventurespecialties.co.nz/programmes/ignite-north-island

Come join us on an adventure!

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

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UPCOMING PROGRAMME

Ignite adventure therapy youth camp for 15-18 year olds.

Do you want to build confidence to try new things? Do you want to feel more comfortable with other people in a group setting? Want to learn better ways to cope with stress and anxiety? Are you wanting to feel better about yourself and more hopeful about your future?

Adventure Therapy can help with all these things … and it is fun too!

What’s happening?

Join us as we head off for 5 days and 4 nights of adventure in the stunning native bush of Ahuroa, north of Auckland. It’s during the school holidays (3-7 July 2023).

What will we do?

We will combine outdoor adventure activities (like tramping, kayaking and a high ropes confidence course) with group therapy activities like team-building exercises, facilitated group discussions, one-on-one sessions, space for personal reflection, and simply being outside in nature with its proven therapeutic benefits.

Outcomes

We use this combination of outdoor adventure plus therapy activities to help you work towards these positive outcomes:
> Increased self-worth,
> A better toolkit for building hauora (health and wellbeing),
> Stronger whanaungatanga (kinship or community belonging),
> A greater hope for a future with purpose, and
> Stronger taha wairua (spiritual wellness).

INTERESTED?

Find out more on our website:

www.adventurespecialties.co.nz/programmes/ignite-north-island

Or contact Brenda, the programme co-ordinator:

Email: office@adventurespecialties.co.nz (attention: Brenda)

Phone: 09-837-6033

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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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Boost your mental health!

Win a spot on our ‘Inspire’ Adventure Therapy wellbeing programme in Auckland (valued at $1975).*

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Comment on this post or tag a friend
2. Like/follow Adventure Specialties Trust (@adventurespecialtiestrust) on Facebook or Insta
3. Like/follow Julia Grace (@juliagracenz ) on Facebook or Instagram
By 1st May and go in the draw to win!

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.

‘INSPIRE’ ADVENTURE THERAPY PROGRAMME

The ‘Inspire’ programme is run by Adventure Specialties Trust for Auckland-based adults who might be struggling with mental health challenges, like anxiety, stress, depression or burnout. It is facilitated by a qualified mental health professional and an experienced outdoor instructor with the goal of building your health, wellbeing, confidence and connection.

The programme starts on 10th May 2023 and runs every Wednesday (9am – 3:30pm) for 8 weeks. Read more about the programme: www.adventurespecialties.co.nz > Programmes > Inspire

JULIA GRACE

Julia Grace is a New Zealand professional speaker and award-winning singer and songwriter.

In 2022, she won “Breakthrough Speaker of the Year” and “Educator of the Year” at the Professional Speakers Association NZ awards. She shares her journey with depression and anxiety to encourage people to care for their mental health, with the motto “Be Kind to Your Mind”.

Julia Grace says, “I love the incredible work of Adventure Specialties Trust. Getting outdoors + therapy = positive mental health!”

*Terms and Conditions apply. Winner must have an average level of fitness and be physically capable of taking part in the programme. Winner must be able to attend the programme in Auckland on the dates specified (see above). Winner must also meet with our mental health professional (can be online) to make sure the programme is suitable for them. Prize can only be redeemed if programme goes ahead (i.e. sufficient numbers). Prize cannot be exchanged for cash. Please contact Adventure Specialties Trust for more information (office@adventurespecialties.co.nz).

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UPCOMING PROGRAMME:

Inspire (Auckland)

Are you an adult (18+) in Auckland who wants to improve your health, wellbeing, confidence and connection to others?

Come join us on an adventure!

Once a week

Our “Inspire” programme is one day a week for 8 weeks

Every Wednesday
9am-3:30pm
Starting 10th May to 28th June

Activities

We will be doing Auckland-based activities!

Activities may include: biking, bush walks, coastal walks, rock climbing, abseiling, surfing, kayaking, coasteering, and caving.

Do any of those sound a bit scary? Don’t worry! Most activities are easy and fun, you don’t need any previous experience, and you only need an average amount of fitness (for example, doing a 1-hour walk).

Our staff

The programme is run by a highly experienced outdoor instructor and a mental health professional, so you will be well looked after, physically and emotionally!

Interested?

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

Or email Brenda, the programme co-ordinator
office@adventurespecialties.co.nz (attention: Brenda)

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IGNITE (North Island)

An adventure therapy camp for young people (15-18 years old).

If you (or a young person you know) are looking for ways increase your sense of health and wellbeing, find better ways to cope with stress and anxiety, and discover hope for your future, then this camp is for you!

We combine outdoor adventure activities (like tramping and kayaking) with therapy activities (like group discussions on different topics related to health and wellbeing, plus one-on-one sessions, space for personal reflection, and just simply being outdoors in nature with its proven therapeutic benefits).

Come join us! 18th-22nd April 2023, during the school holidays. More info on our website:
https://www.adventurespecialties.co.nz/programmes/ignite-north-island/

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Come on an adventure with us!

We are taking a group of teens (16-19 years old) on a 5-day-4-night adventure through the stunning Kaimai Ranges in the Bay of Plenty over 26-30 April 2022.

If you aren’t familiar with the term ‘Adventure Therapy,’ it is basically an outdoor adventure programme that uses therapy ‘tools’ (like team-building activities, facilitated group discussions, one-on-one chats, and time for personal reflection) to help participants with personal growth. It is perfect for anyone who might be struggling at the moment and just wants a bit of help. 

Check out more info at the link below, or email Brenda (brenda@adventurespecialties.co.nz) if you/your teen are interested in applying!

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Check out these good looking guest speakers!

Anneke and Dave are part of our amazing Adventure Therapy team at Adventure Specialties Trust and they recently attended the “Involve” youth workers national conference in Wellington.

Anneke and Dave led a practical workshop about a model of facilitation that we regularly use during our outdoor adventure programmes: the “What? So What? Now What?” model.

>>> What is the “What? So What? Now What?” model?

We create a challenging activity, then afterwards we ask the participants these three questions, to encourage them to reflect on the experience, draw out meaning, and create growth.

1. What? (What just happened? What were your actions, thoughts, feelings?)
2. So What? (What is the meaning and significance behind what just happened?)
3. Now What? (What is the relevance of this to you, to your group, to your future?)

During the Involve conference workshop, Dave and Anneke ran the ‘helium pole’ activity with the 80 workshop participants, to illustrate this model.

>>> What is the ‘helium pole’ activity?

Each group (4-10 people) is given a pole or long stick. The members of the group split into two lines, facing each other, with the pole in between them. Their task is to place the pole on the top of their index fingers and balance it there. Everyone must keep their finger touching the pole at all times. Then the team needs to work together get it down to the ground.

Sounds simple, right? 

But it takes a lot of patience, trust, teamwork, communication, and any other outcomes you might want your group to achieve. 

And as the name suggests, the pole can go up as if it is filled with helium!

You can also make it more difficult by adding a weight to one end of the pole.

Dave says, “The activity went off with a hoot, poles flying everywhere! One participant from each group got to facilitate the activity and then, afterwards, share their learnings with the rest of us.” 

>>> How can you apply the “What? So What? Now What?” model to the helium pole activity?

As an example, the group discussions included comments like:

1. What? “We noticed that we were all trying to speak at once and not listening to each other.”

2. So What? “This meant that our pole kept going up and not down. We needed to listen to each other and take turns, and then the pole began lowering when we worked together.”

3. Now What? “In challenging situations, we all need to talk together, listen to each other and come up with a plan.”

Outcome: a stronger team with improved communication!

>>> So how does all this tie in with your work at Adventure Specialties?

Anneke explains, “Models such as the “What? So What? Now What?” (and many other models of facilitation) really help to empower our programme participants to identify what it was that is meaningful, to identify the skills that were learned or practiced, and to reflect on how this understanding can help them in everyday life, or through very challenging times, or to celebrate success.”

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What is coasteering?

When I first started working at Adventure Specialties, I had no idea what it was!

I wasn’t even sure what the instructors were saying at first.

Co-steering? Whaaaaa?!?

Anyway, after asking around, looking at photos from our programmes, and watching this staff video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InsOe3LoDwo&t=37s), and (of course) asking Wikipedia, I slowly figured it out …

Firstly, it’s combination of the words “coast” (surprise!) and “mountaineering” (the activity of climbing a snow-covered mountain).

Coasteering is an outdoor adventure activity where you make your way around a section of coast, on foot and by water.

So it can involve walking, climbing, scrambling, swimming (normally with wetsuits and life jackets), jumping off rocks or waterfalls, climbing up rocks, diving, the occasional back flip … anything to get you from one spot on a coast to another, with maximum fun!

The appeal of it comes from travelling through the “impact zone.” The area where the tidal ocean meets the land, a high energy zone.

Both our Auckland and Christchurch branches include coasteering in our outdoor adventure programmes. I haven’t had the chance to try #coasteering for myself yet, but I’m definitely keen to tag along at the next available opportunity!

Have you tried coasteering? Or anything similar? What is it like?

– Bex

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