Here we have our tertiary taster day, where you'll learn about how you can have a career in the outdoors. 

Your day will start just before 9:30am at Adventure Works HQ in Avondale. Then it's your day experiencing high ropes with our instructors and current students. 

Then you'll get back to our base at 4pm, where our parent's evening will start at 4:30 and run until roughly 6pm. 

You'll need waterproof/outdoor clothes and a bit of kai, and a keen can-do attitude. 

Spaces are extremely limited, so get in quick - you can sign up with the link below!

Weekly structure:

Each year is 36 weeks including 6 weeks breaks.

Monday to Thursday on campus 9 AM to 4 PM

Fridays off (self directed study)

Mid year break is two weeks plus two mid semester breaks (Do not always coincide with school holidays)

Students are encouraged to participate in personal trips gaining experience over the duration of the course.

​Qualification outcomes:

• Demonstrate technical competency and judgment across a range of outdoor activities while operating in familiar and unfamiliar outdoor environments.
• Integrate principles of health, physical and psychological performance to enhance competent and safe participation for self and others in a range of outdoor activities.
• Role model and integrate the principles of kaitiakitanga, sustainability and environmental action while operating in a range of outdoor contexts.
• Role model respect for the tikanga and kawa of local iwi and/or hapū and other cultural groups while operating in a range of outdoor contexts.
• Apply teaching, learning and leadership theories and practices to programmes of learning and skill development that meet the needs of participants in outdoor activities.
• Plan, prepare and instruct or guide participants in a range of outdoor activities while maintaining safe, ethical and professional practice in familiar and unfamiliar outdoor environments.
• Instruct or guide a range of outdoor activities that are consistent with the safety management system of an organisation, including being able to assess and manage an emergency care situation in an isolated location.

Work experience:

During the course students will have the opportunity to build networks, relationships and greater understanding of work opportunities that are available through practical industry-based work experience. Students are encouraged to seek and arrange work experience businesses and activities that they have a personal interest in. You will be supported by the course coordinator to achieve the best outcome. Future employers in this region are supportive of this program and encourage students to participate in work experience. The work experience is included as part of the course completion.

Equipment:

We provide all the specialist equipment including:

• Sea kayaks
• Mountain bikes
• Camping equipment such as tent and gas cooker
• Rock Climbing equipment

You will need the following items within four weeks of the beginning of the course:

• ​Fleece, wool or poly-pro clothing
• Three-four season sleeping bag and sleeping mat
• Large pack (approx. 65 Litres or larger)
• Waterproof raincoat/jacket with hood
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhat
• Head torch and batteries
• Swimsuit​​

​Course related costs that we cover are:

• Transport to and from off-site events (transport departs from AdventureWorks, students must get themselves to AdventureWorks each day).
• The use of technical equipment 
• Accommodation during off-site events.

Course related costs that you will need to pay for include:

• Clothing that students need to provide for yourself (see the Equipment List below for what AdventureWorks can provide).
• Food during all activities.
• Transport to and from AdventureWorks.

Courses in the Certificate:

• 401 Hauora/Well-Being in the Outdoors
• 402 Rock climbing
• 403 Fundamentals of Safety
• 404 Sea kayaking
• 405 Kaitiakitanga in the Outdoors
• 405 Mountain biking
• 407 Leading in the Outdoors
• 408 Adventure Skills 1

Courses in the Diploma:

• 501 Teaching, learning and leading in the outdoors.
• 502 Sea kayak
• 503 Leadership and Performance Development
• 504 Rock and ropes
• 505 Professional leadership development.
• 506 Tramping
• 507 Work-integrated learning
• 508 Adventure Skills 2

What you will learn:

You will learn a range of outdoor skills and cover a range of topics relevant to working in the outdoor recreation sector

• Tramping
• Weather Interpretation
• Environmental Education and Leave no Trace
• Sea Kayaking
• mountain bike
• High Ropes
• Risk Management
• Adventure Based Learning (ABL)
• Outdoor First Aid
• Leadership in the Outdoors
• Work Experience
• Communication
• Develop a connection with the natural environment 
• ​Career and progression
• Graduates from this qualification have progressed into a variety of roles.
• Outdoor instructor
• Adventure tourism guide
• Outdoor education camps
• Self-employment contracting to a variety of other outdoor organisations
• Administration and operational support
• Other ongoing professional development

Who teaches the qualification?

Ray Hollingsworth has been teaching outdoor instructors for decades. Previously running the Auckland University of Technology  Bachelor of Sport and Recreation, and the Diploma of Outdoor Recreation Leadership.  Now Ray is leading a team of staff including Rebekah Clews and contractors to deliver this high-quality and high-value programme.

Who is this qualification for?

​This qualification is ideally suited to people who are enthusiastic and early in their journey of developing skills knowledge and experience working as an outdoor instructor. Most of the students that we take our school leavers, however age is no barrier!

Industry supported and industry ready:

​We are not a normal tertiary training provider. Our business started as a outdoor education and outdoor recreation provider. We have grown now to include outdoor instructor training. Our students get the benefit of learning from tutors who are experienced in training and also current in the sector. They also get to be within an operational business often finding opportunities to get involved in work and gain experience on the job. Our regular instructor staff love having the students around in our students get to see what it's really like to be in the workplace because they are surrounded by every day