A diverse and exciting program designed to keep everyone interested and busy throughout their stay, balancing plenty of action, learning, social and free time.
WEEKS 1: Orientation
Orientation is a bit like your first week at college. You will get to know the local area, learn local customs and culture, get to know your program mates, and really absorb the plan for your program.
WEEKS 2 - 4: Hiking, climbing & PHEC First Aid Training
Start your journey into the vertical world with an introduction to rock climbing & abseiling equipment, techniques and get hooked! Your days will be spent camping with loads of climbing day trips, swimming, socialising and games.
You’ll also begin developing technical skills in navigation building on your existing knowledge of equipment, weather, and nutrition, then introduce you to essential training in group management, risk analysis, and leadership.
On the fourth week participants will undertake PHEC (pre hospital emergency care) First Aid training. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, participants will receive an internationally recognised qualification. This course is known as "the beast" of first aid training and is the industry standard for adventure industry professionals. It's delivered by leading outdoor safety and emergency care professionals who we have worked closely with for a number of years and is ideal for those who are looking to lead groups in an outdoor environment. Participants become familiar with the use of advanced emergency care equipment such as oxygen, defibrillators and BP cuffs as well as other resuscitation techniques.
WEEKS 5 - 6: Further hiking, rock climbing and SWIFT water rescue training
At this point of the program, we take it up a notch. It’s time to test your limits and push those new skills. We take you to a few more challenging locations where you’ll have to pull together as a team to get through, and where you’ll really start to see the value in ensuring processes are followed and back-up plans are in place!
Hike Module Two covers: Multi-day hiking, camping, nutrition, leadership, navigation, flora and fauna and natural interpretation skills
Rock Module Two covers: Lead climbing, top-roping systems, abseiling, transitions and clifftop safety
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 First Aid qualification, and it will instill in you a general sense of confidence around water.
WEEKS 7 - 10 Leadership
Hike Modules Three and Four: are when you start practicing leading your group, trip planning and gaining some mileage for your logbook! A couple more multi-day adventures await
Rock Modules Three and Four: again you will start leading your group, route planning, safety assessments and risk management. A couple of awesome road trips to find the best hidden crags!
WEEKS 11- 12 Client days and assessments
CRUNCH TIME!
Time to complete logbook requirements to enable you to sit your upcoming NZOIA Bush and Rock Leader assessments
We will set you up with leadership days to run hiking and climbing excursions, from trip planning, safety, pickups, equipment, working with clients, and leading groups!
Get some real experience with what it takes to plan, risk assess and successfully lead a day expedition
Assessments take place in the final week of the program, a 2 day Bush Assessment and a 2 day Rock Assessment. We have an amazing 98% pass rate, so if you have put in the time and energy - by the end of the program you will
be a certified NZOIA Rock and Bush Leader
To top off your 12 weeks with us we host an epic graduation dinner.
For those looking to stay on in NZ and seek employment we provide plenty of support and assistance to get you hooked up with our industry partners.
WEEKLY BREAKDOWN
Each week will include*
- 5 days of Technical Training
- 1 day of Self-Directed Learning
- 1 day for Admin or as Free Day
*The order of days will change each week and as your training progresses. This is simply a general outline.
This is a sample itinerary. Modules may occur in a different order due to weather conditions or scheduling requirements
