enjoyed each other’s company. There were lots of laughs and everyone was really encouraging and supportive during the activities” says Mr Picard. Activation’s first GOLD programme for 2014 a success The Activation team at Upper Hutt City Council launched the first ‘Growing Old and Living Dangerously’ (GOLD) programme for 2014 last Wednesday at Camp Kaitoke. An excited group of local residents, aged 50+ took part in a morning of archery followed by an afternoon kayaking on the camp’s lake. “A number of participants hit the bulls-eye in the archery. It was fantastic to see the improvement over the morning as individuals gained confidence and mastered the bow and arrow,” says AJ Picard, Activation’s Community Recreation Advisor. The GOLD programme, previously run in 2007, has the aim of enabling and encouraging local residents over 50 to participate in fun and active social activities that are a little out of the ordinary. Another benefit of the programme is the social interaction and the opportunity to meet adventurous like-minded people within the Upper Hutt community. “None of the group had met before but they really
GOLD is a monthly series of events which enables mature residents to partake in activities they have never tried or perhaps even contemplated before such as rock climbing, ten pin bowling, snorkeling, and circus acts. Each day out includes two activities, lunch, and transport. The activities are located in Upper Hutt and throughout the Wellington region. “The programme is currently planned from January to June, but after receiving such positive feedback from the community and the first group of participants, we are keen to continue running it on a monthly basis after June,” says Mr Picard. “We have had requests to assist residents in ticking things off their bucket lists, things like sky diving, horse riding, abseiling, kart sport, and windsurfing”. Programme booklets (which include registration forms) can be downloaded from the Activation website www.activation.org.nz, picked up from H 2 O Xtream and Upper Hutt City Library, or posted out on request by calling Activation on 04 527 2857.
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