Learning in the outdoors can involve:

• Adventure activities that make you take more risk than you would in your everyday life, like caving, rafting, abseiling or jet boating.
• Physical pursuits that develop your levels of physical fitness or teach you new physical skills, like tramping, rugby, hockey, athletics or swimming.
• Team exercises that build trust between members of a group and encourage you to work together as a team, like problem solving tasks, blindfolded treks or team triathlons.

Outward Bound
One of New Zealand’s most established outdoor education providers is Outward Bound, a charitable organisation with its sights set firmly on the facilitation of personal development through outdoor recreation. Based near Picton, Outward Bound offers courses which challenge participants to push themselves physically and mentally in the beautiful setting of the Marlborough Sounds.

The founder of Outward Bound International, of which The Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand is a member, was Kurt Hahn, who said: “We are all better than we know.” The challenge, then, is to discover the potential we all hold and take what we learn in the outdoors back to our learning, working and living environments.

Who can benefit from outdoor education?
Getting out of the classroom teaches kids to work together as a team, to trust their peers, to push themselves physically and to overcome mental obstacles. In an age when an ‘obesity epidemic’ is sweeping the world, it can also teach children and young people the value of an active lifestyle. Not surprisingly, it can do all these things for grown-ups too; many corporate organisations recognise that a healthy team is a happy and productive one. Obstacle courses, fun days, team activities and group sports outside the walls of the office are valuable activities for any workplace.

What will I get out of it?
You may be working your heart, lungs and limbs, but adventure activities and outdoor learning can bring about changes in your mind too.

• Self development: You may find you have greater confidence, self-esteem and motivation when you challenge yourself and succeed.
• Social skills: You may grow in confidence socially too, as you interact with team mates, learn more about work colleagues and build new relationships.
• Values: You may learn to become more considerate, take on greater responsibility and leadership roles, and be supportive of people who are struggling.
• Environmentalism: You may gain an increased affinity with the natural environment as you explore the great outdoors.

What can I expect from an outdoor education course?
While you’ll definitely be challenged physically and mentally, one of the most important aspects of outdoor education is safety. Your own wellbeing, and that of your team mates, should always be paramount. When you register for an adventure learning course, make sure the provider has appropriate safety procedures in place, employs trained and experienced instructors, and provides supervision at all times.

Choose your adventure!
Widely recognised as one of the world’s top adventure travel destinations, New Zealand offers an abundance of outdoor activities. Choose your challenge from a wide range of outdoor adventure activities, including sea kayaking, canoeing, bush craft, tramping, caving, diving, high rope courses and horse riding. Courses are available from providers throughout New Zealand.

Adventure activities and outdoor education offers more than just a thrill and a racing heartbeat; it can be the key to newfound courage, overcoming fear, improving relationships and developing new skills. Whether you’re 14 or 54, there are outdoor courses to suit your needs and lessons to be learned outside the classroom.