Primary School

The Primary School Hikoi experience builds on and supports the ‘Nature Day’ experiences already embedded within the learners weekly rhythm. We create settings and challenges for learners to practise and demonstrate their Green School New Zealand Licence-based outdoor skills both on and off site. We regularly utilise the wider campus, Oakura River in addition to local reserves (Ratapihipihi, Mangamahoe and Lake Rotokare).

Primary School Example - Day walk on a track in the Kaitakes.

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Middle School

The Middle School Hikoi experience takes shape both on and off campus. We create environments for learners featuring challenges allowing them to practise and demonstrate their Green School New Zealand Licence-based outdoor skills. We link our Hikoi experience to service in outdoor environments, considering sustainability practises, whilst also allowing space for the learners to discover more about who they are. An example of one place we frequent is Rotokare Reserve, which is great for tramping, camping, kayaking and solo adventure.

Middle School Example - Navigational experiences in the Kaitakes.

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High School

High Schoolers journey into the outdoors with a focus on the Leave No Trace principles. Learners consider risks (like weather), planning, navigation. Adventures go beyond the Taranaki region into the central north island underground, through virgin forests, meandering rivers and lakes. Alongside these experiences the HS learners have the opportunity to progress through the Duke of Edinburgh Award; developing positive habits, skill development, and a sense of adventure.

High School Example - Overnight off-track experiences in the Kaitake ranges, Pouakai ranges and Maunga Taranaki.

Below are some examples of the excursions taken by GSNZ learners.

Solitude (Year 9)

Learners develop an appreciation of self reflection and review through a solo experience - self reliance, supporting transitioning through adolescence

Caving

Learners explore a limestone cave system near Awakino Gorge; while underground they navigate their way through various passages. One of the focuses is recogninsing human impacts and participating in some cave restoration of speleothems.

Timber trail

Learners explore parts of the Pureora Forset Park in the Central North Island. Some choose to Mountain Bike and others choose to tramp/hike. One of the focuses of the journey is to see the historical impacts of humans on a Podocarp Forest Park by following a similar route that earlier settlers cut through the virgin stands of Native Trees; like Totara and Rimu. This was also used as a qualifing journey for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.

Warricks Traverse

After a night in an Alpine Lodge Learners traverse Warwick’s Castle (the distinctive crescent-shaped formation on the east profile of mount taranaki as seen from New Plymouth) - scramble, climb, and decend across the spine of the rocky crag, before descending back down through the native forest. During this Alpine experience above the bush line - the learners consider the environmental impacts on the the fragile environment for flora while tramping and climbing above 1500m.

We assess the Hikoi and Outdoor Education experiences in collaboration with our learners. We consider their individual goals, challenges and experience of growth.

During all GSNZ outdoor adventures we apply the following principles and goals to the learner experience.

• Leave it Better Than You Find It

• Connecting with Nature

• Developing skills

• Building confidence

• Challenge by Choice and Challenge of Choice