Our Christchurch team got together a few weeks ago for a 2-day staff training event (which happens once each term). Instructor Peter described it like this:

“April ran a session up at Sign of the Bellbird on pūrākau [Māori myths and legends], looking at the Māori place names of the local areas that we travel to on our programmes. Then we headed out to Little River and stayed the night there. Then I ran a session on flax weaving, looking at the tikanga [Māori customs] around it and methods of rope-making. Then we had a workshop on how to integrate these learnings into our Adventure Therapy/Adventure With Purpose programmes, before heading back to the office for adrenalin training.”

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A whole bunch of Adventure Specialties Trust staff (including instructors, adventure therapy clinicians, contractors, interns and our Safety and Training manager) went on a 5-day “Kayak Block Course” where they got a chance to practice a wide range of kayak-related skills and also programme-related skills (like leading groups, facilitating conversations, etc.). But it looks like they had way too much fun to call it work, don’t you think?!?

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“It was a teambuilding exercise,” says Peter the instructor. “The brief was that each team had to make a rigid raft using both kayaks and come up with a team plan, before racing to the Avon River, paddling downstream, getting out on the far side, opening an envelope and completing the challenges on it, before paddling back upstream to their start point, ensuring that the envelope stayed dry the whole time.”

“Afterwards we talked about leadership – who showed it and how and then tried to define what leadership, in essence is. We talked about how it’s essentially an influence on an individual/group and this influence can be positive, negative, or sometimes we can even have no influence. We discussed how that means we could show leadership/influence through simple things like encouragement or support and how this could translate into other areas of life and their future careers as youth workers.”

This was an ABL [adventure-based learning] session with some first- and second-year Praxis students. Praxis is an education provider specialising in youth development. Each year, our interns study youth work through Praxis, then they come and do their practical work experience with us. Win-win!

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The Adventure Specialties Trust whānau

At our annual Staff Retreat, Pāhāōā marae, January 2023

Back Row (left to right) (kinda)

Tanya Laybourn (trustee), Papa Wii (marae host), Amy Horn and baby Lillian, Andy Balcar, Reuben Biggelaar, Oli George, Nathalie Nasrallah, “Sheriff” Inys (marae host), Kerryn Rothery, Dave Moss, Reba (Rani’s partner), Matua Sam (marae host), Joelle (Jeff’s daughter), Rani Harris, Brian Knolles (chair of Board of Trustees), Isaac Bayldon, Tim Wills (CEO), Joe Scott

Front Row (left to right)

Jack Wilson, Anita Sword, Anneke Beardsley, Patrick Seifert, Peter Ross, April Heath, Brenda Lewis, Charlotte (Jeff’s daughter), Anna Swanney, Caitlin Gillespie, Helen and Elise Lappin (Jeff’s wife and daughter), Jeff Lappin, Bex Charteris.

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Our annual staff retreat was held at the stunning Pāhāōa marae in Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty. We were hosted by the lovely Andrea (one of the Trust’s previous trustees) and her whānau and hapū (community). Some of the staff had stayed at the marae on a previous retreat, but for others, it was their first experience of marae-style communal living.

This year’s retreat focused on learning more about te ao Māori, to help us progress in our bicultural journey. As well as sharing our pepeha with each other, we also learned about the pōhiri (its importance and history) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship), we did some raranga (flax weaving), learned some new karakia (prayers) and waiata-ā-ringa (Māori songs with actions). Plus we did a bit of fishing/gathering of the local kaimoana (seafood) and listened to stories of the pakeke (elders) growing up on the marae.

All of this added to our previous learning of the value of whakawhanaungatanga – intentional relationship building. This theme came out throughout our various meetings and conversations where we kept arriving at the same place – “people first”.

On our last day, we helped prepare a hāngī, then shared a meal with the community. Ngā mihi nui (a big thank you) to the incredibly generous locals who shared a bounty of delicious crayfish with us, such a treat! Andrea shared with us that her hapū takes enormous pride in providing kai and kaimoana from the local region: their fishing, the bananas and fruit they grow, the vegetables from their gardens, the pigs and deer which provide meat, and more. A vision of sustainability and generosity.

Thank you so much to Andrea, and also “Sheriff” Inys (Andrea’s mum and leader of the marae), Matua Sam, Whaea Mihi, Whaea Ramere, and the Pāhāōa marae and surrounding community for their hospitality and generosity. It really was a staff retreat that we will remember for years!

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There are two possible explanations for this photo, which one do you think is correct?

1. At our recent staff training retreat, the instructors practised zipline rescues (how to rescue someone stranded along a zipline).

2. Staff training is actually just a great excuse for cuddles.

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Twice a year, the staff at Adventure Specialties Trust gets together for staff training.

There are over 25 of us, instructors and management and contractors, spread across Auckland and Christchurch. So it’s definitely a mission to get everyone in one place, but it’s also a ton of fun!

This winter, we converged in Huia, in the beautiful Waitakere Ranges of West Auckland.

The 5 days of training included things like:

• adrenaline training (a workshop with a trained medical professional to learn when and how to safely use an adrenaline injection on someone)
• a photography workshop (learning how to take better photos on your phone so they can be shared with you here!)
• a hike along Omanawanui track, with stunning views of the west coast and Manukau harbour
• a kayak adventure with discussions about how to be environmentally friendly and sustainable with our oceans
• deployment practice, for those instructors that need to work on skills within a specific activity, e.g. rock climbing
• playing kī-o-rahi (a traditional Māori ball game)
• learning several waiata (Māori songs) to sing at upcoming events like conferences, etc.
• and lots more …

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