Youth Award Grant Four Years to Gold
From a weka invasion to endless blisters, Phoebe Squire and four classmates earn their DOE Gold on the Queen Charlotte Track in the spectacular Marlborough Sounds.
From a weka invasion to endless blisters, Phoebe Squire and four classmates earn their DOE Gold on the Queen Charlotte Track in the spectacular Marlborough Sounds.
Time for Gold! Zander Groenewald from Otamatea High School in Northland completes his Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition around Taranaki Maunga.
“For a group of neuro-diverse students, the biggest challenge can be getting the opportunity to take part in outdoor adventures.” After five years in the making, nine neuro-diverse students from Wellington East Girls’ College head off for their biggest adventure yet – a six-day ski and snowshoeing trip to the Cardrona Valley. Unit Leader, Leonie King, shines light on the students’ barriers to entry and the preparation required to complete their Gold DOE's Hillary Award.
'No growth occurs when comfortable' becomes the guiding mantra for five Youth Award Grant recipients. Flexibility and persistence prove essential during their DOE Gold Qualifying Journey, as they respond to ill trampers and an emergency helicopter rescue along the Pinnacles.
"Journey – a long and often difficult process of personal change and development." For these four FMC Youth Award Grant recipients, they draw upon their strengths and honestly address their shortcomings to come together as a team to support one another, as well as look after fellow trampers on the Tongariro Crossing Northern Circuit.
A second attempt and an alternative route pays off for these four Duke of Edinburgh qualifiers. After a flooded track and health problems forces the group to turn back on their first try, they persevere and successfully complete their next tramp with lots of fun and skill building along the way.
Winter tramping and a roughly polled track presents these FMC Youth Award Grant recipients with new challenges, as they complete their Duke of Edinburgh Gold tramp along the Two Thumbs range from Mesopotamia to Tekapo in four days.
As a Youth Award Grant recipient, Harri Pickett embarks on a snowy Kepler Track and faces the tough decision to turn around when conditions become unsafe.
A crew of Silver Duke of Edinburgh qualifying students comes prepared with a contingency plan for every weather scenario, as they embark on the Tararuas and experience many of the elements that an alpine climate has to offer.
Despite high river levels cancelling their canoeing trip, this adventurous group of DOE Gold qualifiers bring a whole new meaning to 'carpe diem.' With their extra time, they tackle whitewater rafting, rock climbing and canyoning, even climbing Mount Ruapehu with ice axes.
From sunshine to high speed winds of over 100 km/h, a week-long rafting trip teaches Youth Award Grant recipient, Harry Brenton-Rule, to be prepared for every scenario in the backcountry.
What’s the hardest part of any tramp? A return to civilization. The Glen Eden Venturers tackle over 80km along the Rees Dart Track and while feeling reluctant to rejoin society, they become inspired to take their knowledge and train young scouts in backcountry skills.
Well known for being one of the muddiest tramps, Brianna Loan learns firsthand the frustration (and fun) of being stuck in the mud with mates. As a recipient of the FMC Youth Award Grant, she and her team share laughs, forge friendships, and together face a crucial safety decision when the weather turns.
For her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition, student Veronica Amey and mates tramp, bike, and kayak the Queen Charlotte Track, where they discover the magic and beauty of exploring their own country.
What do you do when a fellow tramper gets an injury? FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Dylan Barker, heads into Kaweka Forest Park with mates and learns firsthand how to face backcountry challenges, as well as how a good crew can make for a great trip.
FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Jessica Hydes, embarks on her Duke of Edinburgh Gold qualifying expedition joined by family and friends. She reflects on her five-day mission and how motivation and goal setting plays a key role during her tramp.
With the threat of being cancelled just hours before departure, a trip to Tarawera Falls started out rocky for these FMC Youth Award Grant recipients. But after three days in the backcountry, they learned that “a trip is worth a little bit of chaos.”
Students from Otamatea High School work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award by ascending towards the clouds and climbing Mt Taranaki. Next up for these trampers is Gold level status.
Four friends set out on their Silver qualifying journey only to be tested by weather, thereby demonstrating their maturity in choosing safety over the finish line.
As recipients of the FMC Youth Award Grant, eight students from St. Peters College brave the Humpridge Track in rain-soaked conditions and make lasting memories along the way.
Five students from St. Matthew’s College and qualifiers for the Duke of Edinborough’s Hillary Award Gold share highlights from tramping the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk — a 46 kilometre track in Te Urewera, the homeland of the Tūhoe people.
Despite a wet forecast, Henrietta Haskell and six other candidates of the Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award strive for Silver on the next level of their Adventurous Journey.
‘Five tough wahine’ from Northland come full circle. No longer 'wee little Bronzies,' they complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award with a journey that incorporates the area they visited when they first began their DOE Adventurous Journey.
With the help of a FMC grant, a crew of high school students from Northland head south to complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award Gold Adventurous Journey.