Adventure Guide Program - 6 weeks, Queenstown NZ

Hike, Rock, First Aid + Swift water rescue

WHAT IS AN ADVENTURE GUIDE PROGRAM?

An Adventure Guide Program is the first step in your dream of becoming an outdoor adventure guide. Your time on this 6-week course will be split between practical and theoretical training, while you explore Queenstown and gain qualifications!

This program gains participants the following qualifications:

Pre-hospital Emergency Care Qualification (PHEC)
Swift Water Rescue Safety Level 1 Certificate

Do you have more time available? Check out our 12-week option!

WHY CHOOSE THIS PROGRAM?

This 6-week outdoor guide program is ideal for those who are keen to explore some of the best backcountry that the South Island has to offer, as program participants hike, climb and camp throughout the Queenstown, Wanaka and Fiordland regions. This 6 week program has been designed to accommodate those that are unable to commit to our full 12 week Adventure Guide Program and has been split so that participants spend two weeks climbing and two weeks hiking.

Time will be split between intensive practical and theoretical training. You’ll also spend time training in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care first aid and Swift Water Rescue. All this will give you a good insight into the adventure industry, and strong foundations to become a confident outdoor adventurer. While this is an Adventure Guide program, it's not all about the outdoors and outdoor pursuits. There will be sightseeing and touring; personal development; community and social events; free time and plenty of opportunity for exploration.

Adventure Guide Program Queenstown, New Zealand

WHY QUEENSTOWN?

You’ll love your stay in Queenstown – it’s a great place for hiking mountains, swimming in lakes and rivers, pub crawls, live music, locals food and drink specials, frisbee golf and fireside chats.

But Queenstown is not only famous for its sheer beauty but for the vast amount of adventurous activities available for eager travelers! Pretty much every adventurous outdoor activity you can think of is available in Queenstown. Past participants have enjoyed spending time Bungy Jumping, Cliff Jumping, mountain biking up Coronet Peak and Luging.

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?

Whether you are looking for a glimpse into what the Adventure tourism industry could offer, or just an awesome educational opportunity to live in one of the most amazing places on earth, this Adventure Guide Course is an epic and rewarding way to spend 6 weeks in New Zealand. Gain skills you'll use your whole life as a hiker, climber and lover of exploring untouched regions. Bring on the adventures!

Includes

6 week adventure tourism training Program based in Queenstown, New Zealand
6 weeks shared accommodation
6 weeks food allowance
All climbing equipment, program related transport & travel
Qualified & experienced technical instructors
Pre-hospital emergency care qualification
Swift Water River Rescue Level 1 Certificate
Rock Leader training (2 modules)
Bush Leader training (2 modules)
Modules on guiding and leadership skills, critical incident management & technical skills
Live, learn, socialise and join the thriving resort community of Queenstown

Prerequisites

English Language Fluency
Be 18-35 years old at time of commencement
Moderate fitness is recommended. All professional development and training is provided
Have a passion for travel, adventure, & tourism
A desire to accept challenges, a thirst for knowledge, a love of outdoor activities or for our natural environment
Be a social team player that enjoys helping others discover adventure!

Reviews

Katherine's reflection of the Adventure Guide Program

Katherine, Colorado USA

September 2018 "I walked away with some really good friends, and some great skills that I anticipated learning, and some that I didn't anticipate learning!"

Curtis summarises his Adventure Guide Program experience

Curtis

September 2018 I found Pure Ex through a facebook ad. I took a shot at signing up and 100% do not regret. I was part of the Sept 2018 Adventure Guide Program, where I met 12 new friends and explored the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. I totally recommend Pure Ex to anyone whose looking for something new and exciting. If you're a nature lover, Pure Ex is calling your name!

Stacy's time in New Zealand

Stacy, Michigan USA

March 2018 If you love the outdoors and being active, traveling and furthering yourself, I reckon the Adventure Program through Pure Exploration is for you! I really enjoyed the chance to experience New Zealand like a local and not a tourist and having the chance to get off the beaten path. The instructors were awesome, knowledgable and very legit! I look back at where I started, what I accomplished, and where I am now within that 3 months and it is crazy!

STRUCTURE

A diverse and exciting program designed to keep everyone interested and busy throughout their stay, balancing plenty of action, learning, social and free time.

WEEK 1: Orientation

Orientation is a bit like your first week at college. You will get to know your program mates, and really absorb the plan for your program.

Your Pure Exploration program leader will lead you on tours, challenges, games and practical tasks to help turn you into a team, learn ‘how things are done round here’ and help you find your way around town!

WEEK 2: Hiking

Professional guiding is a little different to what most hobby outdoors people think - a lot more involved than just the skills required for the sport! You’ll learn about risk assessment, leadership theory, nutrition, weather analysis and group dynamics among much, much more. This module includes some classroom elements to introduce theoretical components of professional instructing & guiding. This short stage is followed by full-on practical tasks, challenges and field assignments.

WEEK 3: Climbing

Start your journey into the vertical world with an introduction to rock climbing & abseiling equipment, techniques and get hooked! Your days will be spent with loads of climbing day trips, swimming, socialising and games.

This will also lead onto our Rock module two!

Rock Module Two covers: Lead climbing, top-roping systems, abseiling, transitions and clifftop safety

WEEK 4: Stepping up our Skills

This week we will really advance our Hiking skills taking on Module two.

Hike Module two covers: Multi-day hiking, camping, nutrition, leadership, navigation, flora and fauna, interpretation

WEEK 5: PHEC First Aid and Swift Water Rescue

On the fourth week we undertake Pre Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC) training for five days. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, participants will receive an internationally recognised qualification. PHEC is known as “the beast” of first aid training and is the industry standard for adventure industry professionals. Participants become familiar with the use of advanced emergency care equipment such as oxygen, defibrillators and BP cuffs as well as other resuscitation techniques.

Two days are also spent in the water, with our custom SWIFT water rescue training. This course will teach you the skills needed in order to read and understand water patterns, water safety, rules and regulations, environmental and cultural practices, as well as how to conduct river rescues. It’s a great course to compliment the PHEC qualification, and it will instill in you a general sense of confidence around water.

WEEK 6: Practice what you preach!

In our final week we have time to really challenge ourselves in both hiking and climbing as well as having an EPIC wrap party!

NOTES

This is a sample guide to what you can expect to do on the program. Please note that treks, locations and the order in which the activities occur may be subject to change, due to seasonality, operational requirements or health & safety.

WHAT'S NEXT?

We have a number of other exciting programs in a range of countries that you may be keen to experience. These include:

Expedition Leader Program - For those keen to push their skills in high alpine regions, and begin to specialize in altitude and advanced technical hiking. A global course that finishes in the Himalayas

Outdoor Instructor Program - This is an accelerated, practical immersion program, which offers a unique pathway from training to employment in the outdoor industry.

Adventure Guide Program Patagonia - Perfect for those looking to develop hiking and climbing skills further, in the Patagonia region.