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.

The post KidsCan Youth Council appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

Some of our fav tramps:

Christchurch

Port Hills

Southern Alps

Tongariro National Park

Central North Island

Hunua Ranges, Auckland

What’s your favourite?

The post What’s your favourite local walk or hike? appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

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.”

The post “Being outdoors brought inner peace” (and other quotes) appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

Aorere College prefects, soaking up the stunning view at the trig point of Ōmanawanui Track, one of the walks in the Waitākere Ranges.

The post Aorere College prefects appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

The post #Serenity appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

Our instructors Peter, Joe and Oli took five students from Rutherford High School on a ten-day Journey.

Here is a short slideshow of their photos, including hiking, camping and bush skills, river crossings, mountain biking, team building activities, cooking together, as well as goal setting, group discussions and “chur bro” conversations.

A “chur bro” is an acknowledgement to another person in the group about something good that they have said or done, or something positive about that person. Most of the students mentioned afterwards how much they enjoyed the “chur bro” conversations!

The post Rutherford Journey photo slideshow appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

FEATURED HIKE:

Montgomery Peak walk. A intermediate-level hike with stunning views of Akaroa Peninsula, 2-hour return.

HIKE DESCRIPTION:

The hike starts with the Giant Tōtara Walk, a short 5 minute walk in Montgomery Scenic Reserve which will take you to a huge forked lowland tōtara that is over 2000 years old. The track continues past the tōtara and winds up steadily through forest and then north through open grasslands and regenerating bush. The track then turns and climbs steeply up a gap in the bluffs and over boulders. It reaches open tussock tops before eventually climbing onto Montgomery Peak, with stunning views down into Akaroa Peninsula and Akaroa Harbour.

MORE INFO:

Department of Conservation website

Giant Tōtara Walk: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/banks-peninsula-area/things-to-do/giant-totara-walk/

Montgomery Peak walk:

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/banks-peninsula-area/things-to-do/montgomery-peak-walk/

HAVE YOU DONE THIS WALK?

We would love to hear about your experience! Do you have any advice or recommendations to share?

WHICH WALK SHOULD WE FEATURE NEXT?

What is your favourite hike? Anywhere around New Zealand! Short or long, day trip or multi-day hike, let us know!

The post FEATURED HIKE: Montgomery Peak walk appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

What is an “Inspire” adventure therapy programme?

“Inspire” is a series of day trips using outdoor adventure activities to build health, wellbeing, confidence and connection.

You meet up every Wednesday for a day of adventure, every week for six weeks.

One week might be mountain biking, then next kayaking or rock climbing or hiking or surfing! Never done those activities before? No worries! All skill levels welcome, as long as you have a moderate level of fitness and a willingness to give it a go!

This upcoming programme (Term 1) starts 16th February 2022, every Wednesday until 6th April.

(Check out the PDF below for more details)

Want to apply?

Just get in touch with our lovely programme manager, Anneke, on 027-397-3057 or anneke@adventurespecialties.co.nz. She will have a quick chat with you, about what you’re looking for, plus fees for the programme, then you go from there!

What is Adventure Therapy?

Check out our post here about adventure therapy, but it is basically like seeing a therapist … just waaaaaay more fun!!!

More info:

The post Apply now for our Christchurch adult “Inspire” adventure therapy programme appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

FEATURED HIKE:

The stunning views from the Omanawanui Track, located at the southern-most point of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, overlooking the Manukau Harbour and Whatipu Beach in Auckland. This is a reasonably steep uphill-downhill-uphill-downhill walk, but the spectacular views are worth the effort! It takes a few hours, depending on whether you do a loop or just head to the trig and back. You can start at Whatipu Beach carpark or Mt Don McLean. Definitely one of the most breath-taking walks in Auckland. ⠀
⠀
Check out more info https://tramper.nz/7567/omanawanui-track/ and https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/trip/omanawanui-track-waitakere-ranges-regional-park/

The post Featured hike: Omanawanui Track appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.

Searching through the photo archives, I found some these photos from 2013.

Young people having fun outdoors, experiencing the exhilaration of achieving something special, learning about teamwork and feeling on top of the world.

A lot has changed since then, but also not much has changed!

The post Flackback to 2013 appeared first on Adventure Specialties Trust.