Hillary Outdoors

On 14  April, 4 heads of school from Ōtaki College, Jessica Ngan, Caleb Smith, Hannah Thompson and Siena Vidulich, were privileged to participate in a 7 day outdoor leadership programme at the Hillary Outdoors Education Centre. This programme required us to work together, bond with new people, overcome fears and interact with nature. The following activities were done within the 7 days; abseiling, rock climbing, cave diving, kayaking, and high ropes, low ropes and plenty of tramping. 

Caleb:

"The Hillary Outdoors camp was one of the best ways I could think of doing over the school holidays. We got to do a mixture of tramping, kayaking, rock climbing and abseiling. It was a great way to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I am very grateful that such an amazing experience was opened up to me."

Siena:

"I thoroughly enjoyed the 7 days I spent at Hillary Outdoors doing activities and overcoming challenges I probably never would have chosen to do. This camp threw me into the deep end mentally and physically. We bussed up to National park and were thrown together with a group of around 15 other random kids from all across New Zealand. We didn't have any phones or technology which proved to be a challenge in itself but was really a blessing in the end. We were forced to communicate and spend real quality time getting to know one another which was one of my favourite things about the trip, we met all different kinds of people from different upbringings which was so interesting.  

Each day we were pushed out of our comfort zones doing various activities. I loved experiencing that beautiful part of the country and all its perks. We got to do so much while we were there, starting each day bright and early and ending the days with a big sense of accomplishment. Whether it be rock climbing to the top of a rock wall up by the ski fields or tramping for 8 hours through the bush with packs on you always felt so good at the end. 

A big highlight for me was the 2 day overnight exhibition, this pushed me alot and really showed me a different side of myself I didn't know existed. Not being able to shower and living out of our packs was difficult at times but taught me so much. 

Sleeping in a cave along with 7 other girls with nothing but our sleeping bags underneath the glow worms would definitely have to be an unforgettable experience. 

It was really cool to see a group of kids who didn't know each other in the beginning grow close and create friendships overtime and I think this trip is an incredible opportunity to make friendships and learn vital people skills. It was also a highpoint for me just chatting to the instructors at Hillary, hearing their stories and learning things off them. 

All in all I had a great week and am so glad I got that opportunity because it truly teaches you so much and grows your confidence. I would recommend this to all the up and coming heads of school who have the opportunity to apply for this scholarship, it's so worth it."

Jessica:

"Hillary Outdoors gave me the chance to experience and try something that I'd never thought I'd ever be able to do. Our journey was a mission, it was tiring but yet so fun at the same time. I still can't get over the fact that a small person like me, carrying a big pack, made it over and through those tall mountains. That was definitely something I found challenging, but the little moments between just made everything seem so worthwhile to remember.

My personal favourite activity during the 7 days would definitely be the Rock climbing on day 3 and sleeping under a cave filled with glow worms on day 6. During the rock climbing course it took about 3 attempts for me to finally make it to the top of the first rocks I tried to climb,determination pushed me to the top. Day 6 (the last night) we got to sleep under the glow worms, It was like looking at stars but up close. Overall I felt proud that I managed to make it through, but also pushed my boundaries and limits. I’d like to thank the Ōtaki college and the people within who made this adventure possible!"

Hannah:

In the short time I was with Hillary Outdoors it managed to open my eyes and make lifelong memories for me that I'll value and cherish. For a girl that hates outdoorsy stuff, early mornings and nights, and being away from my phone, this was an experience that made me forget about all of those things(maybe not so much of the early mornings). For me, this programme allowed me to step out of my comfort zone in many aspects of life. For example, it pushed me out of my social comfort zone as we were put into cabins and groups with complete strangers. Over the course of a week, you wouldn't have known we had just met each other as we turned into good friends almost instantly. Learning about each other's backgrounds and experiences was a major highlight in my stay here, as we were all of different ages with different paths in life. But of course, one of my main highlights at the programme was definitely sleeping under glow worms on our last night. This was such a surreal moment for me that I didn't take for granted, waking up multiple times in the night just to look at them, but that could also be because I was sleeping on hard rock in a cold cave. Although this was my highlight of the trip, I can't help to mention all the other activities such as caving, abseiling, rock climbing, high ropes, tramping, and of course the jump off the fort which made me reconsider all my life choices. Without the amazing people involved (including our instructor Josh) I wouldn't have enjoyed this experience as much as I did. I'd like to thank the college for rewarding me with this wonderful opportunity and would thoroughly recommend it to anybody!

The College would like to thank the Concrete Doctors and the XŌtaki Alumni Trust for providing scholarships to the Hillary Outdoors Education Centre.