Patricia Ave meets TAC OE

So we recently introduced the Pat Ave crew to what its like to be on an Outdoor Ed trip. With the help of some amazing Year 10's we took the Pat Ave students on a bike trip from Cambridge to Karapiro on the cycleway and a spot of Waka paddling.

There were plenty of smiles, crazy bikes and lots of splashing.

Here's how they got on

Year 10's go Kayaking

Sunburn, bombs, swimming, and kayaking were had by all recently on our annual trip down the mighty Waikato.

Here's an edit of the adventures

Year 12 Cycle Tour

So the Year 12 students recently set off on a cycling extravanza, galavanting around the Coromandel.

In groups of 3 or 4 they set off from Waitoa to Bowentown finally realising what they had got themselves into. A relatively flat day with some longboarding and resting.

The next day saw a few more hills from Bowentown to Whangamata, but all groups smashed them. Getting into Whangamata at around lunchtime. This then made time for plenty af skating (from Taylor), kayaking (from Cullum) and some touch.

The third day was hilly and short again from Whangamata to Pauanui. This was also our first spot of moisture from the sky.

And the infamous 4th day was saw them battling up the Kopu-Hikuai hill then slogging across the Hauraki plains into a solid souwester.

Here's an edit to sum up their exploits.

3OED's final trip

Lots of up hill, plenty of down hill, some jumping, and plenty of crashing and tree fending.

The first day was lead by Brady, James, Odette and Talia. This saw us heating a little using the shuttle bus to take us up to Billy T and Huckleberry hound. George managed to crash in the first five minutes.

Day 2 was FULL of riding! Manaia and Mr Oliver missioned right up to Billy T again and crammed in 2 hours of solid riding, while the rest slogged up Direct road to bounce down Hot X Buns.
Since everyone was pretty wrecked we took a casual (not) mission up Rainbow mountain (45 mins of solid uphill). Mitch Mitch Mitch Mitch Mitch Mitch Mitch.The ride down was definately worth it.

To re-energise a few of us loaded up on all you can eat indian (toilets were not pleasant)

The final day we missioned up W2K and the head land loop.

Here's a video of our escapades

LG's in the Pouakai's

We recently had our second tramp in the Pouakai ranges of Taranaki.

Jake was ready with his seedy version of Rhy's fanny pack, Kayden ready with his trusty pack, Max all prepped for anything, and the girls fired with with the most positive attitudes.

This trip was somewhat different, with plenty of sunshine and no rain at all. It did take them 20 minutes to workout how to leave the carpark, but once we set off they were off.

Day 2 saw plenty of steps, so up we stepped to Henry peak then a quick bush bash mission down at Pouakai hut to earn a chocolatey treat.

We then did a mission into the gorge of Bell's Falls but couldnt get to the lip, so since we weren't wet enough Georgea and Taylor decided we might mission up the creek back to the hut. Great mission.

They all set up their tents and bivvy's in the light wind after a little bit of lip dropping when they found out we had to walk back the same way from Bell's Falls

The last day saw some good walking times and excellent navigation, and some good old fashioned rock throwing.

Here's some pics.

Creeking mission

"I look my best in the morning"

Cheesy group shot at Henry Peak

Rest time

Rock Throwing

Year 10 Rocking

We recently had (what I think) was one of the most successful year 10 trips to date.
Both classes just climbed and climbed and climbed.

Here's some pictures to show how they went

Zamien with chilly fingers

Lunging

 

Rumbles topping out

McTurk practicing his coiling

Cracking up

 

When will we learn?

The girls actually climbing

 

Tramping in the Pouakai's

We recently had our first of 2 tramps in the Pouakai ranges of Taranaki. OR's class wasn't sure what to expect but they all seemed ready for anything (or so they thought).

Rhys ready with his fanny pack and trusty knife, Shane ready to go at it alone as the rest of his group ditched him, Chester all prepped with gear that he may or may not grow into, and Ngaire doing a good job of leaving her glasses behind.

The trip started off nice and chilled (nice pun) with gusty winds blowing stuff away, including Shane's chocolate bar to his disgust. We made our way down to our first bivvy spot relatively quickly.

Day 2 saw plenty of steps, so up we stepped to Henry peak then a quick bush bash mission down at Pouakai hut to earn a chocolatey treat.
They all set up their tents and bivvy's in the light wind. Then WHAM at about 3.30am the wind and rain came, and it stayed.

So a quick pack up in the morning (meant Bean couldn't have breakfast) and off we went to battle the HORRENDOUS weather. There was lots of shivering, some tears, bad words, and sketchy river crossing.
The class was amazing Callum and Shane were our stand out helpers when people needed to cross streams or climb cliffs, Bean was our Speedy man, Odette, Dannielle and Micaela were the only 3 to bivvy both nights, Rhy's was our trusty Bear Grylls with his fanny pack, we saw a bossy side of Chester (don't get on his bad side he'll waste you with some Lancewood jousting sticks), Hamish and Danny were a carabiner schemers, Jayden, Paul, Cam, and Ngaire were there too.

Here's some pics.

Rhys ready for anything! Bum flap and Fanny pack in check

Lets get warm

The boys Humble abode

I don't think much sleep was had

A lull between two peaks is a...

A bit of Nav

Happy faces?

What kind of tree grows in your hand? A palm tree

I think I can see where to go?

How does my hair look?

Im not small the marshmallows just big

A spot of snap

Must've been early on the last day, there are still smiles.

3OED Alpine Trip

We recently had TAC Outdoor Ed's first ever alpine trip. I guess the Year 13's didn't know what to expect, but they turned up with the 2 components necessary for a successful Alpine trip, plenty of food and warm clothes (although not sure if that much sauce was necessary).

There was a little bit of walking, plenty of digging, lots of shivering, some pee collecting, and some table traversing, not much sleep though.
The following morning saw sunshine and some cranky people, but with some sliding in the sun spirits picked up.

Here's a quick edit of our new trip.

LG Year 12 MTB

Just got back from 2 days biking with Mr Leong's Year 12 class.

2 very different days. The first day saw us covered in mud, repairing bikes in the rain and slogging it around Rotorua. The highlights had to be Mr Oliver riding straight into a ridiculously deep puddle and ending up swimming in it, Chisolm having to ride back down hill because he thought he could ride in Jeans, and Chenae riding past hundreds of trees without crashing into them.
After being covered in mud we headed to a nice natural hot spring and soaked the aching muscles before the next day (Cayden you'll keep).

the following day was the complete opposite, with the sun shining and bikes working like they were suppose to we lapped the tracks at Craters of the Moon, with 60km hill giving us a bit of a hiding.

Here's a clip of how we got on

Aspirations?

Something to aspire and work for

Or maybe this?

Kiwi Games from Twelve Productions on Vimeo.

Promotional Video

Here's a promotional video I've thrown together to try and entice the intermediate kids to get excited about Outdoor Education.

Cheers to the Year 11's

Let me know what you think

Maungatautari

The year 10's recently had their quarterly trip into the outdoors. And they are showing very good promise.

The first group got to the top on a chilly day in record time. Although it was cold many of them were warmed up from the inside out due to their appalling language. The chilli's were a hit.
Some whinging was had but all in all they were very prepared and snappy walkers.

The second group were just as quick lapping up the walking/climbing and of course the chilli's. Some were having more chilli's than others. Once down the bottom we had a look in the southern enclosure and bumped into a guy herding a couple of Takahe ready to mate in the aviary.

Here's some pictures from the 2 trips

Herewini about to warm up with a chilli

Group 2 at the Rocky outcrop

Chef de Troy

I don't even know what to say

The pond

I can still see you Tino

Posers

Smiling now

Check out the 2 loners

No we weren't smoking in there

Group 1's group shot

Im pretty sure beef farted in here

Year 11 MTB Action

With a couple of options on where to go on our MTB trip, we decided to roll with the always inspiring Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua.

Here's a mash up of both year 11 classes ripping it up.

What goes up must come down

We're now getting stuck into our climbing with a couple of missions to Castle Rock at Wharepapa South and a cheeky trip to Harvest Rock in Otorohanga.

Mr Leong's Year 12's saw Taylor and James seemed to not stop climbing most of the day and the Sean's talked about how good they were at climbing just about as much as they were climbing. Regan and William were the motivators keeping everyone's spirits high even with the gloomy weather.

Here are some pics of them lapping it up.


Mr Oliver's Year 12's had a hot sunny day where they were out to try and impress Whangarei girls. Mixing it up between climbing and abseiling, the class worked hard all day. Troy was are head assessor on the abseil, and I think we even saw Drenai there (great to see).

A Farrelly sized climb

Is it a bird or a plane?

"I could climb that one"

Everybody's smiling

"Did you see that crazy Woman!!"

Easy does it

"I hope this holds"

How do my legs look in these pants?

I Wonder if Chenae's smiling?

Race?

Mountain Biking coming soon....