5 minute read
Outdoor Activity Fund
WORDS LEAH MACLEAN & SARAH FORD, RECREATION AOTEAROA
Recreation 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. Specifi cally for projects that increase engagement in the outdoors for Asian and Pacifi c 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 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).
FAR OUT, DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START. BEING ON THIS CAMP HAS HELPED ME DEVELOP MY SOCIAL AND SPEAKING SKILLS TO SPEAK AND MAKE FRIENDS MORE CONFIDENTLY. THIS WAS THE BEST CAMP EXPERIENCE EVER - NOXX (AGE 14)
The second weekend was spent camping on Mokoia Island where the rangatahi had a chance to connect to their whakapapa and to Te Arawa.
Weekend three of the journey involved more gruelling sea-kayaking on Lake Rotomahana and Lake Tarawera. This experience taught the group about positive reinforcement and positive mindsets.
The fi nal weekend was a three-day mission around Mount Ruapehu, where the biggest learning came in the form of teamwork and moral support. OUTCOMES TWPT found that their selected cohort responded well to the challenges of this wānanga and that their achievements resulted in self-confi dence and positive mindsets. Based on feedback from the rangatahi some of the key outcomes were: • Resilience and improved/increased leadership capabilities • Everyday life skills learnt and ready to be utilised outside of the Te Arawa Journey • A desire to support future rangatahi in the Te Arawa Journey programmes • Leadership is about the “We” and not “I” YOUTHTOWN CHRISTCHURCH: OCEAN TO MOUNTAINS CHALLENGE ($14,149) PROJECT Youthtown’s Ocean to Mountains Challenge is a week-long outdoors experience designed for Pasifi ka youth, aged 10 – 18. The aim of the programme is to increase opportunities for young people to experience nature in an authentic and meaningful setting.
Youthtown ran two Ocean to Mountains camp in March. Through connections with the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Education, Youthtown were able to promote their project through the schools and select a strong cohort of youth to attend the camps (12 girls and 11 boys). The camps were designed to be hands-on with plenty of team building, learning, and leadership opportunities.
Youthtown partnered with members from the Department of Conservation, Rod Donald Trust, and Joseph Langer Trust to ensure a strong connection/link to the environment and environmental learnings. OUTCOMES Youthtown reported that the camps were big learning opportunities for the participants and the organisers. Some key outcomes and learnings included: • Bonding sessions were important for the participants to connect and feel safe • In Pacifi c culture it is typical for the older kids to look out for the young;
Youthtown saw this in action and noted a positive impact on the group • Giving participants choices was key in fostering a positive environment • Almost all the of the participants commented on a new sense of confi dence and were excited about meeting new friends of diff erent ages • The participants developed a new appreciation for their backyards • Most participants wanted a second camp
CLIMBING STRUCTURES NATURE INSPIRED PLAY
PARK FURNITURE WATERPLAY & SHADE INCLUSIVE PLAY FITNESS EQUIPMENT
