OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FUND FUNDING PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN OUTDOOR RECREATION WORDS LEAH MACLEAN & SARAH FORD, RECREATION AOTEAROA
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ecreation Aotearoa are funding projects that promote diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation, and last year we awarded 12 organisations with funding from the Outdoor Activity Fund. The purpose of the fund is to enhance diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and to connect people with their culture through the outdoors. For Māori, we support projects that engage Māori as Māori in outdoor activities. For non-Māori, we support projects that help to overcome barriers and enhance accessibility. Specifically for projects that increase engagement in the outdoors for Asian and Pacific people, and for people with disabilities. Encompassed within all projects, we want to support those that encourage young people and families to engage in outdoor activities. Funded projects have ranged from wellbeing and leadership camps, growing and building on outdoor accessibility and equal opportunity, and encouraging passion and respect for the outdoors. Over the last year, these 12 groups have been working hard on planning and delivering their projects. While some projects have been disrupted by Covid-19, there have still been some fantastic
outcomes from projects that went ahead. Read on for some of the highlights.
OUTWARD BOUND: SOUTHERN CROSS COURSE ($10,000) PROJECT In early February, 14 young people aged between 18 and 25 travelled to the Outward Bound School in Anakiwa to attend the 21-day Southern Cross course. The group included young people from organisations such as the Baha’i community, Refugees as Survivors, Youthline, Ngāti Whātua, NZ Chinese Youth Trust, and the Muslim Association. Participants were put through their paces with a series of physically, mentally and emotionally challenging activities. Activities included kayaking, hiking, sailing, high ropes, rock climbing, and a half marathon. Prior to the trip, participants were asked to document their goals and outcomes for the course. The Outward Bound team discovered some common objectives among the group. Students wanted to learn how to work collaboratively, explore cultural diversity and identity, make new connections, and identify goals for the future. OUTCOMES Outward Bound were proud to report
16 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020
that their 2020 Southern Cross intake responded well to the tasks set out for them, achieving a sense of community, resilience and identity. In their feedback, participants showed their gratitude for the experience and the instructors witnessed incredible growth in each student. Throughout the course, the group displayed many acts of compassion, resilience, leadership, honesty, determination and discipline.
TE WAIARIKI PUREA TRUST (TWPT): TE ARAWA JOURNEY ($8970) PROJECT Te Arawa Journey is a longstanding outdoor pursuits and life-skills programme open to rangatahi aged 10-15 years. The programme seeks to develop rangatahi into leaders and encourage understanding of oneself and one’s whakapapa through outdoor activities and challenges. Over four weekends throughout February and March, Te Waiariki Purea Trust (TWPT) and their group of rangitahi embarked on a journey of self-discovery. Weekend one saw the group plan for a trip to Maketu where they went seakayaking and attended a noho marae. The goal for this trip was to “set the scene” and make connections with their fellow rangatahi (whakawhanaungatanga).
