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

Citizen Science The New Zealand Bird Atlas

By Guest Author|2022-09-24T07:55:49+12:00September 24th, 2022

What's one simple and easy way you can help with conservation? Whether you're lounging in your backyard or out for an overnight mission in the bush, noticing and logging the bird life around you on the eBird app has a profound impact. Dan Burgin, NZ Bird Atlas Team, takes readers step-by-step into how they can begin 'Atlasing' on the eBird app and develop competency in their bird identification skills.

Outdoor Community blog

Video Paddling the Sinbad Gully: Part II

By Guest Author|2022-09-22T05:20:14+12:00September 22nd, 2022

In Part II of their adventure, three mates continue on their three-day winter whitewater mission in Fiordland.

Outdoor Community blog

Video Paddling the Harrison River: Part I

By Guest Author|2022-09-22T08:50:12+12:00September 16th, 2022

Oddly for these three mates, the depths of the southern winter seem to inspire thoughts of overnight whitewater missions. And this year was no different . . .

Outdoor Community blog

Whitewater Kayaking Top Choices for Whitewater Huts

By Shaun Barnett|2022-08-15T10:51:19+12:00August 15th, 2022

After asking paddlers from Whitewater New Zealand about their favourite huts for whitewater kayaking, Shaun Barnett shares their top choices along with a few of his own.

Outdoor Community blog

Video Paddling the Albert Burn

By Guest Author|2022-07-14T15:59:04+12:00July 14th, 2022

Three mates enjoy a wonderful day out, exploring a beckoning gorge amongst the incomparable Otago Alps. No helicopters needed for these guys, as they commit to a walk-in mission on the lower gorge of the Albert Burn, Lake Wānaka, Aotearoa New Zealand. Paddlers: Ewen Rodway, Michael McDonald, Ruari Macfarlane. Film by Ewen Rodway [...]

Outdoor Community blog

Volunteering Revegetation of a Club-Owned Pine Forest in Natives

By Guest Author|2022-06-18T12:35:32+12:00June 18th, 2022

When a friend of the early Otago Tramping Club (now OTMC) gifted them a large block of land in 1930, it came with one requirement: protect and preserve the skyline hills as an asset for future trampers and walkers of Dunedin.

Outdoor Community blog

Volunteering for Biodiversity How I Became a Trapper

By Guest Author|2022-06-02T15:06:14+12:00June 1st, 2022

While trapping began as a way for Marcia to bond with her teenager daughter, it evolves into her own personal project. In this honest account of what it takes to be a trapper, Marcia pushes past her comfort zone to overcome challenges and develop backcountry skills.

Outdoor Community blog

Volunteering for Biodiversity Is it Just Giving Back?

By Guest Author|2022-05-30T11:55:22+12:00May 30th, 2022

While volunteering in conservation requires a generous sacrifice of time and effort, Tony Walton of the Auckland Tramping Club shifts the perspective from ‘giving back’ to ‘receiving back’ and shares the many rewards he has gained from his time as a volunteer.

Outdoor Community blog

Volunteering What is ‘Volunteering for Biodiversity?’

By Daniel Clearwater|2022-03-21T16:36:10+13:00March 21st, 2022

What does it mean to 'Volunteer for Biodiversity?' As this year's Outdoor Community Campaign and celebrated activity, Dan Clearwater outlines the many practical ways you and your club can get involved.

Outdoor Community blog

Training Grant First aid refresher

By Guest Author|2022-02-18T12:35:24+13:00February 7th, 2022

Need a first aid refresher? Christchurch Tramping Club member, John Kerkhofs, provides a quick, helpful guide to remembering the basics after the FMC Training Grant funds his club's first aid course.

Outdoor Community blog

Volunteering for Biodiversity Adopt a Plot

By Guest Author|2021-12-02T10:53:05+13:00December 2nd, 2021

Do you want to take the next step in volunteering and make conservation a lifestyle? Mary Jowett shares how the 'Adopt a Plot' scheme allows volunteers to take ownership over a plot of land and save its native vegetation without the use of spray.

Outdoor Community blog

Volunteering for Biodiversity Arthur’s Pass Calling

By Guest Author|2021-10-25T11:15:03+13:00October 25th, 2021

Gerald Bruce-Smith reports on pest-busting in the South Island’s first national park, Arthur's Pass.

Outdoor Community blog

Family Bikepacking 300km with a Toddler

By Guest Author|2021-10-14T13:52:50+13:00October 8th, 2021

Travelling with a toddler always has its uncertainties. But travelling 300km by bike while towing a toddler is a next level adventure. For this brave family of three, the experience is even better than they imagined.

Outdoor Community blog

Trapping For Health, Welfare and Nature

By Guest Author|2021-10-25T11:10:07+13:00September 23rd, 2021

After realising they need a near miracle to significantly reduce the pest population in their region, a generous donation and a team of volunteers arrive on the scene.

Outdoor Community blog

Volunteering Getting More Than You Give

By Guest Author|2021-08-21T09:53:17+12:00August 20th, 2021

'There always seems to be more to gain no matter how much you give.' Guided by this philosophy, Cath and her partner become active volunteers in the trapping community in Southland. After relocating to Central Otago, the pair are introduced to a new landscape, as well as the wildlife and pest diversity that comes along with it.

Outdoor Community blog

June 2017 Applied Tramping

By Guest Author|2021-07-21T14:39:05+12:00July 21st, 2021

What is 'applied tramping?' Esther Pothuis, from Holland, joins the Palmerston North Tramping & Mountaineering Club and discovers a new way of hiking in the Ruahine’s Pohangina River.

Outdoor Community blog

Training Grant Outdoor First Aid Course

By Guest Author|2021-06-13T14:22:26+12:00June 7th, 2021

Funded by the FMC Training Grant, Sue Weller and the Christchurch Over Forties Tramping Club (OFTC) learn outdoor first aid skills to better equip themselves and save lives in the backcountry.

Outdoor Community blog

Family Tramping Backpacking Mums in New Zealand

By Guest Author|2021-05-19T13:02:56+12:00April 19th, 2021

As an outdoor enthusiast, Italian-born tramper Barbara Zennaro comes to New Zealand ready to embrace a new style of tramping, one that is different from the more 'catered' hikes with which she grew up. With her partner and little one in tow, she experiences true Kiwi hospitality and how tramping brings families closer together.

Outdoor Community blog

Training Grant Learning to Take the Lead

By Guest Author|2021-06-07T14:39:32+12:00April 14th, 2021

With support from the FMC Training Grant, once self-proclaimed 'fair-weather paddler,' Sheralee MacDonald, advances her skills and graduates to the role of 'mentor' after completing the PRANZ's intermediate packraft course.

Outdoor Community blog

Back to the Wild Part II: Old Ghost Road with an 11 week old & a 4 year old

By Sonia Barrish|2021-04-07T14:50:06+12:00April 7th, 2021

Torrential downpours, breastfeeding breaks, and promises of pizza ... all part of the adventure for this family of four trekking the Old Ghost Road. In Part II of their five day mission, they meet fellow trampers and improvise in the midst of temper tantrums and changing weather conditions -- creating a family memory that has their daughter already asking to go back!

Outdoor Community blog

Back to the Wild Part I: Old Ghost Road with an 11 week old & a 4 year old

By Sonia Barrish|2021-04-07T13:41:39+12:00March 31st, 2021

85km – 5 days – 4 nights – a 4 year old – and an 11 week old?! Sonia Barrish and partner take on family tramping like pros. They embark on a multi-day tramp with their new baby and toddler in tow, sharing many practical tips they learned along the way.

Outdoor Community blog

Family tramping Flying High on Dragonfly

By Emily Forne|2021-03-05T16:19:52+13:00March 5th, 2021

Adventurers Emily and Chris Forne take up the challenge that is tramping with a 20 month old again. This time exploring the East Matukituki and over Dragonfly Peak. There are some hurdles along the way but the effort turns out to be most rewarding...

Outdoor Community blog

November 2017 Pack-rafting

By Daniel Clearwater|2021-05-04T17:03:06+12:00March 4th, 2021

To run the rapid or to portage? In part of FMC's Outdoor Community campaign, Dan Clearwater shares key concepts for safe entry into pack-rafting such as proper gear, potential hazards, and what to do when you flip.

Outdoor Community blog

Back to the Wild Family Dinner at Pinchgut Hut

By Sonia Barrish|2020-12-22T19:50:13+13:00December 22nd, 2020

Is your family dinner night getting a bit stale? Sonia Barrish gets creative by hosting family dinner at a backcountry hut. Travelling with five adults and a baby, this crew has an overnight adventure at Pinchgut Hut.

Wilderlife

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