Youth Award Grant Coastlines, Kayaks, and Shooting Stars: A Duke of Ed Gold Expedition
Eight students from Hamilton Christian School were awarded an FMC Youth Award Grant: a cash grant to go towards their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition.
MAGAZINE
“Itching for an adventure, five girls started a venture. Off to the Olivine Ice Plateau, where very few do go. But the weather would not play, so they decided to go anyway. They made new plans, they rationed their cans, until they made it to the land of snow. They had their fun, but their time was not done, I wonder what is next to come.”
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Training Grant Upper Clutha Outdoor First Aid
By the Upper Clutha Tramping Club On Sunday, August 10, 2025, the Upper Clutha Tramping Club held a full-day Outdoor First Aid Course in Wānaka, led by tutor Sam Worps from Peak Safety. The course was attended by twelve members, including both current and aspiring trip leaders, and was made possible through the [...]
Expedition Scholarship Solo Mission through Great Barrier Island
Five days. Solo. South to north across Great Barrier Island: through dense bush, up rugged ridgelines, and over its highest peaks. Liam shares his FMC Youth Expedition, an unforgettable tramp across one of New Zealand's most underrated wild places.
Youth Award Grant 55 kilometres through the Paparoa Range
By Natalie Bealing 8 December, 2025 | Youth Award Grant - Fielding High School students hit the West Coast's Paparoa Range for a four-day, 55-kilometre hike. The Paparoa Track is set in the Paparoa Ranges along the West Coast south of Westport. Our group consisted of [...]
Youth Award Grant Conquering Challenges through Tongariro National Park
By Micah Boyd, Jasmine Boyd, Rosie James, Evan Faithful, Amelie Nekrosius 1 January, 2026 | OTNZ Waikato/Whakatane High Schoolers set out on a challenging adventure through Tongariro for their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition. Our team of 6 set out for a 3-day hike in the [...]
Youth Award Grant Peaks, Pressure, and Partnership: A South Island Tramping Journey
By Denika Clooney, Lilly Andrews, Joshua Scheeper, and Chanelle Groenewald 11 December, 2025 | Youth Award Grant - Otamatea High School students learn the importance of leadership during their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition. Lilly In the early morning of the 11th of December, our qualifying [...]
Youth Award Grant 3 days in the Kaimanawa Range
By Sam Bell Youth Award Grant - Five Hamilton Christian School students head to the Kaimanawa Range for their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition. Read on to hear how their epic adventure unfolded... On September 19 2025, we headed off on our final Duke of Edinburgh [...]
Expedition Scholarship A Kid’s Adventure on the Greenstone-Caples Track
"My advice for any other kids thinking about doing a big tramp: 'Don’t let a bird steal your bag!' Aria Willson, aged ten, learns just how far she can walk after spending her FMC Youth Expedition Scholarship on a six-day tramp with her mum.
Training Grant Keeping Students Safe in the Backcountry
As students and outdoors enthusiasts, members of the Otago University Tramping Club dedicate their free time to more studying – this time learning Outdoor First Aid to effectively manage any backcountry emergency. Through the FMC Training Grant, strapped for cash students can learn outdoors skills while still affording their university fees.
Hut Keepers West Coaster’s Hut Crusade Sparks Nationwide Movement — and a New Film
Grassroots grit and quiet heroes take centre stage in a powerful debut film. A new feature documentary celebrating the quiet heroes of Aotearoa’s wilderness will premiere at the New Zealand Mountain Film & Book Festival late June. 'Hut Keepers' tells the story of a grassroots volunteer movement working to preserve some of New Zealand’s remote backcountry huts. When shifting government priorities threatened their future, a small group of trampers and tinkerers picked up hammers, chainsaws, and paintbrushes —and got to work.
Youth Award Grant Lake Waikaremoana Gold
Go for Gold! Seven students from Pukekohe High School eagerly embark on their last Qualifying Journey for their Duke of Edinburgh Gold award. Five days trekking around Lake Waikaremoana, the group experiences the joys of hut life and the sense of accomplishment that only a hard day's tramp can bring.
Youth Award Grant ‘Round Ruapehu
Faced with breathing difficulties, 85 kilometre per hour wind gusts and a reroute due to heavy rains, five students successfully navigate five days of challenges to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Qualifying Journey.
Outdoor Community Responsible Visitor Behaviour in Nature
New Zealand’s wildlife is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it. As kaitiaki and guardians of our land, we all have a shared responsibility to look after our place and help others to do the same. Developed during their recent Recreation Sector Hui, the Department of Conservation offers some simple things to remember when visiting our wild places.
Conservation A Cheeky Calendar for a Cheeky Bird
The Tasteful Nude Calendar is a story of a community coming together to protect a native bird in decline while having some cheeky fun along the way.
Abel Tasman Family Kayaking
Written by his two daughters, Andy Carruthers and family share their exploration of Abel Tasman National Park by kayak. With a backcountry bathroom ranking system, an attempt to sleep under the stars, and a serious debate about wekas, each family member reveals what excites them most about their trip.
Moonlight Trek Tongariro by Full Moon
How do you avoid the crowds on one of the world's busiest tramps? For Andy Carruthers and members of the NZ Alpine Club, Wellington, trekking across the Tongariro Crossing by moonlight grants not only solitude, but breathtaking views.
Youth Award Grant To Cross or Not To Cross
Ten teenagers set out for a three-day mission in Hakatere Conservation Park after receiving a FMC Youth Award Grant. With a challenging river crossing and inclement weather, these students apply their backcountry training to safely complete their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Qualifying Adventurous Journey.
Changes to Come Service or Solitude?
Does increased mobile coverage through SpaceX and One NZ mean the end of backcountry solitude? Or will enhanced communication result in more lives saved when lost or injured? Outdoor education student and backcountry enthusiast, Josephine Tarasiewicz, explores these challenging questions as New Zealand stands at a pivotal point of connection.
Youth Award Grant Sharing the Load
A group of five students share the role of team leader during their DOE Adventurous Journey along the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds. By stepping up to support each other during the tramp's most difficult moments, they persevere together through the mental and physical challenges of the terrain.
Nelson Lakes Tops Topo Twisting on the Ella Range
A veritable tarn-fest during a north-to-south traverse between Mole Tops and McKellar Stream leads to a perfect backdrop for two adventure photographers, Peter Laurenson and Shaun Barnett.
August 2019 A ‘Lazy’ Wind
In this throwback edition of Uncle Jacko's Cookery Column, Uncle Jacko examines the mechanics of backcountry pizza and aluminum fire-starters, while exploring the windy solitude offered by the Takitimu Mountains.
Tararua Tops Crawling to Jumbo
With a forecast for horizontal snowfall, Peter Laurenson and Shaun Barnett step into a powdery paradise to capture proof that the Tararua Range has mountains too. Despite moments of crawling on hands and knees through thigh-deep snow, Peter uses his years of skilled camerawork to illustrate the magic (and reality) of winter tramping.
Training Grant Being Prepared Through Outdoor First Aid
"Everyone with an interest in any outdoor activity should go on this course – it really is tailored to outdoor emergency situations and how often do we actually practice first aid in the backcountry?" Ten members from the Palmerston North Tramping and Mountaineering Club cash in on the FMC Training Grant and enroll in an outdoor first aid course to gain competency in responding to backcountry accidents.
Embracing the Wilderness My Journey into Adventure Filmmaking
Are you interested in adventure filmmaking? Grab your camera and start telling your story! Founder of 'Short Films Big Adventures' and outdoor enthusiast, Andy Carruthers, shares his journey from novice filmmaker to creator of a successful adventure film, Tararua S-K, featured on Apple TV and Air New Zealand's in-flight entertainment. From crafting an engaging story to filmmaking and distribution, Andy offers insider tips for aspiring adventure filmmakers.
