Outdoor Community blog

For magazine articles which correspond to the Outdoor Community manual, but don’t fit in any existing Wilderlife categories

Outdoor Community blog

Back to the Wild St James Walkway – with a Baby!

By Sonia Barrish| 2020-02-23T14:00:28+13:00 February 23rd, 2020

When Sonia Barrish and partner take their 1-year old daughter on her first multi-day hike, they came prepared with everything she might need. What they didn't prepare for, however, was Sonia becoming injured. In this edition of 'Back to the Wild,' their family learns the importance of carrying a Personal Locator Beacon in the backcountry.

Outdoor Community blog

Back to the Wild A More Natural Toilet Training Approach

By Sonia Barrish| 2020-01-26T14:31:20+13:00 January 26th, 2020

Sonia Barrish asks the question: "What do people in countries without nappies do?" By following her baby's cues, Sonia learns about a more natural approach to toilet training that's perfect for family trampers.

Outdoor dads When the kids are very little

By Daniel Clearwater| 2019-11-14T21:06:42+13:00 November 14th, 2019

I’m sure that fear of losing the freedom to get into the mountains is common among many keen outdoor parents. But rather than just waiting to see if that perceived ‘fate’ became reality, I proactively decided to adapt to this new life-chapter and embrace the opportunities that it held.

Outdoor Community blog

Decision making The Hill-Billy Brain

By Guest Author| 2019-08-25T14:56:08+12:00 August 25th, 2019

Ken MacIver relates the story and thinking behind his Back country decision-making checklist.

Outdoor Community blog

Mountain Families: In the Hakatere

By Guest Author| 2019-08-16T14:25:01+12:00 August 16th, 2019

What an absolute perfect winter's day in August, just after a fresh snowfall, spending time exploring the Hakatere Conservation Park.

Outdoor Community blog

Start 'em young Babes in Backpacks

By Maggie Evans| 2019-08-16T15:19:06+12:00 July 25th, 2019

Before becoming a mum, a big part of how I identified myself was as a long-distance trail runner and tramper. Not surprisingly, one of my biggest concerns about welcoming a little human into my life was not being able to get out and enjoy the backcountry as much or in the same capacity.

Outdoor Community blog

Success: It’s a matter of perspective

By Kimberley Davis| 2019-07-27T15:01:04+12:00 July 15th, 2019

If there’s one thing that going on an overnight tramp with an 18-month-old teaches you, it’s that success is simply a matter of perspective. Or, at least, that’s what we learned the first time we took our toddler with us to stay in a hut.

Outdoor Community blog

Fundraising Marlborough TC supporting the local Rescue Helicopter

By Guest Author| 2019-04-09T16:28:57+12:00 April 9th, 2019

Marlborough Tramping Club raised $2000 for the Nelson-Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust by hosting a screening of the NZ Mountain Film Festival National Tour.

100 Years Reminiscing

By Daniel Clearwater| 2019-04-04T13:18:58+13:00 February 25th, 2019

The Tararua Tramping Club is celebrating its centenary on the 3rd of July 2019, and one of its centenary events is a commemorative tramp.

Outdoor Community blog

Climate change How do you eat an elephant?

By Daniel Clearwater| 2018-11-01T11:10:55+13:00 October 1st, 2018

Or the giant pot of hut porridge which has been burnt by your tramping partner?

Family tramping With more than one pre-schooler

By Rebecca Gray| 2019-09-17T14:44:35+12:00 September 17th, 2018

Having more than one pre-schooler is no reason to not go tramping overnight as a family. Admittedly, it’s not easy, but then staying home with pre-schoolers isn’t easy either.

Outdoor Community blog

WTMC Big clubs getting bigger

By Daniel Clearwater| 2018-03-28T15:35:37+13:00 March 28th, 2018

The Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club is one of NZ’s biggest outdoor clubs, with a current membership around 600 which is steadily growing.

Outdoor Community blog

i TRAMP Rejuvenating a tramping club

By Daniel Clearwater| 2018-03-28T15:35:29+13:00 March 28th, 2018

Nearly 10 years ago, FMC did a 'focus on clubs' in the Bulletin; we got back in touch with Kelvin Shaw of the Napier Tramping Club to see what initiatives those FMC articles inspired have worked, and which haven't.

Outdoor Community blog

Photo comps: Just amateurs

By Guest Author| 2018-03-03T15:41:40+13:00 February 3rd, 2018

Sally Stockdale explains why her club began running a photo competition again.

Outdoor Community blog

Club systems Membership management

By Daniel Clearwater| 2018-04-12T15:50:28+12:00 January 12th, 2018

Find out what works (and doesn't work) for clubs big and small.

Outdoor Community blog

OUTC Getting up to Antics

By Daniel Clearwater| 2017-11-30T17:49:37+13:00 November 29th, 2017

What is the value in recording and publishing your club stories? We interviewed Tanja De Wilde, 2016 co-editor of the OUTC annual journal to find out.

Outdoor Community blog

Tiny trampers Take a kid tramping

By Daniel Clearwater| 2017-11-30T18:29:11+13:00 November 29th, 2017

How can clubs foster the next generation of tramping club members? Karen Griffiths decided the answer was to take a kid tramping

Climate change Tramping smarter

By Tania Seward| 2018-11-01T11:11:34+13:00 June 1st, 2016

Reproduced from the June 2016 FMC Bulletin, Tania Seward looks at how we can tramp smarter, reducing our carbon impact.