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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Thank you, Foundation North, for funding the purchase of our new mountain bikes so that more young people can experience the joy of being outdoors!

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THANK YOU RECREATION AOTEAROA! For funding some amazing programmes over the last few months: Big Brother Big Sister and Upside Youth Mentoring in Auckland, plus Active Muslim Explorers Camp and Big Brother Big Sister in Christchurch.

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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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This stunning photo was taken by the talented Cole Yeoman during the 11-day “E3 Canterbury” wilderness journey earlier this year. At that point, Day 2, the group of Year 12-13 students and 3 outdoor instructors (plus Cole) were on the St James walkway in Lewis Pass, Canterbury, somewhere between Cannibal Gorge hut and Christopher hut.

E3 is a partnership between Adventure Specialties Trust, Scripture Union NZ and A Rocha. The E3 programmes are based on the belief that wilderness experiences are significant – helping us understand ourselves better and deepening our relationships with others, with God and with God’s creation. Find out more on the SUNZ website (https://www.sunz.org.nz/youth/e3/)

More photos to come!
: Cole Yeoman

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We took a group called “Mums on the Move” out kayaking with Instructor Caitlin. Isn’t it a stunning location? And they even got to hang out with some seals!!! 

#betterworkstories

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Check out this 17-second video of a favourite coasteering spot called “The Washing Machine” at Tāwharanui Regional Park in Auckland. It’s called the Washing Machine because it’s the sweet spot between several rocks where the waves come in from multiple directions and wash the group around in circles (extra spinning added for laughs!) while staying basically in the same spot.

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Experience nature and wildlife, up close and personal.

Get out of the city, breathe the fresh air, explore the great outdoors, cook outside, camp beneath the stars.

Join us on an Adventure Therapy youth camp – IGNITE North Island or South Island – during the July school holidays.

IGNITE YOUTH CAMP

NORTH ISLAND

For teenagers aged 15-18

Puhoi (north of Auckland)

Monday 3rd – Friday 7th July 2023

>>> IGNITE YOUTH CAMP

SOUTH ISLAND

For young women (aged 14-18)

Queen Charlotte Sound (departing from Christchurch)

Monday 3rd – Saturday 8th July

Find out more on our website: www.adventurespecialties.co.nz/programmes

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Below are a selection of photos from a recent Kings College programme in the Central North Island (CNI)

Photos taken by Instructor Nathalie – thanks Nat!

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The stunning views from Cape Brett / Rakaumangamanga on the Cape Brett Track in Northland. Our 10-day Journey with Kaipara College students finished at this incredible location, next to the Cape Brett lighthouse.

More info about the Cape Brett Track:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/cape-brett-and-whangamumu-area/things-to-do/cape-brett-track/

More info about the Cape Brett Lighthouse:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/cape-brett-lighthouse
https://tohuwhenua.nz/te-tai-tokerau-northland/r%C4%81kaumangamanga-cape-brett

Rakaumangamanga, which stretches back into Te Pēwhairangi (the Bay of Islands), is of particular spiritual and traditional importance to Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) Māori. The light reflecting off the crystalline rocks below helped guide the earliest ocean voyagers to a safe landfall in this new homeland.

The Cape Brett lighthouse is noted for its spectacular cliff top location. It operates using a giant clockwork mechanism and is the last complete example on site in New Zealand. Visitors from Paihia arrive by walking (8 hours), or water taxi (35 minutes), or both, and can experience the lighthouse lifestyle by overnighting in the keepers cottage now repurposed as a DOC hut. See Cape Brett Hut.

The Cape Brett lighthouse was first lit on 21 February 1910 under the watchful eyes of Robert McIver (Principal Keeper) and Frances Earnest Lee (Assistant Keeper). The light proceeded to act as a guide to vessels for the next 68 years until the tower was decommissioned in 1978. A replacement light still functions here today.

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