INSPIRE is:

• An Adventure Therapy programme (read more about Adventure Therapy further down the page)
• One day each week (9am – 3pm) over a period of eight weeks during the school term.
• For a group of 8-10 young women
• Meeting together to go on a different adventurous activity each week.

• Young women aged 15-18
• Based in Ōtautahi Christchurch
• Who would like support with mental health and wellbeing
• Who are keen to try some fun outdoor adventures (beginner-friendly!) with a group of other young women

The activities will be in different locations near Ōtautahi Christchurch.

They could include sea kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling, walking, surf kayaking, high ropes, canyoning, caving or mountain biking.

If any of those sound scary, please don’t worry! They are all beginner-friendly, you don’t need any experience! Our instructors are lovely and will talk you through everything and make sure you are safe.

Challenge is definitely a part of our programme, and each activity or environment will challenge everyone in a different way. Challenge can be good for us! It is really important to us that you choose your level of challenge. For some, this will mean not going very high on a rock climb, or very hard on the surf kayaking. Maybe you would rather just sit and enjoy nature. That is ok, and we will make practicable efforts to allow as much choice in this as possible. We always try to make choices available and make it really clear where choices are not practically possible. (See the “Challenge By Choice” section below for more details about this).

We try to facilitate this programme as an opportunity for you to improve your wellbeing and we try to tailor it as much as we can to meet your individual goals.

Our general goals are working towards:

• increased self-worth,
• a better toolkit for maintaining your personal hauora (health and wellbeing),
• stronger connections with others,
• a greater hope for a future with purpose, and
• a stronger connection with who you are, your values and your taha wairua (spiritual side).

Our two wonderful, highly experienced Adventure Therapy facilitators are April and Anna. They are both experienced in all the outdoor activities you will be doing, and they will talk you through everything and keep you safe. 

Read more about April and Anna on the Meet The Team page.

Here is a rough timetable:

9am

• April and Anna will meet the group each Wednesday morning at Adventure Specialties Trust (71 Bamford Street, Woolston)
• Group circle up and ‘check in’
• Discuss and decide the plan for the day together
• Discuss the theme or thought for the day
• The group will travel together in the Adventure Specialties van to the activity
• Head out on the adventure!

12:30 ish

• Lunch will be provided
• Some time to relax and reflect in nature
• Re-group, optional sharing time
• Continue on adventure

2:30pm

• Arrive back at the Adventure Specialties Trust office
• Touch base about the plan for the next week
• Finish 3pm
• You will also receive a letter each week via email from the facilitators as a reminder of what we did that day and the conversations that were had.

Term 3, 2024

Fridays

9am – 3pm

Starting 2nd August until 20th September 2024

(It is our hope that people will be able to come for the full eight weeks, however this can be flexible if required.)

This term (Aug/Sept 2024), the Inspire programme is fully funded by Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa, so it is FREE!

The group will meet at the Adventure Specialties Trust office at 71 Bamford St, Woolston, and travel to the activity location together in our van.

Each week, the outdoor adventure will take place somewhere local, depending on the activity. The facilitators will let you know in advance what the activity is and where you will be going, so you can feel prepared.

The facilitators will let you know if you need to bring anything, for example hiking boots and maybe a change of clothes, if you will be doing a coastal walk. Or swimwear, if you will be giving surfing a go. 

All specialist equipment (like kayaks, PFD/life jackets, rock climbing equipment, etc.) is provided.

Food is also provided

You do NOT have to be a super fit gym bunny, but you do need to have an average level of fitness.  For example, we go on some day walks, so you need to be able to do a gentle walk for a few hours (e.g. able to walk 1km within 25 minutes)

You need to be medically able to participate in the activities. It is important to us that you have a state of physical and mental health that allows for safe participation in this programme. This will allow our facilitators to choose appropriate activities for the group and support individuals accordingly.

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch. Amy, our Adventure Therapy manager, can chat with you about the programme and whether it will be a good fit for you. Contact details in next line below.

That’s great!

Please complete the application form below: it includes questions about who you are (as the applicant) plus your parent/guardian’s details, emergency contact, some questions about your mental health and fitness, etc.

Once you have done that, Amy (the programme co-ordinator) will get in touch with you to chat about what happens next.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amy.

Email office@adventurespecialties.co.nz (attention: Amy) or call the Christchurch office (03) 348 4547.

It is important for us to acknowledge that any person knows themselves, their situations and their challenges the best.

We honour that and facilitate conversations and opportunities rather than telling people what to do. We do not presume to be experts or have the answers to any problems. We are not there to assess, diagnose or prescribe solutions. We are simply here to facilitate an experience where you can connect with nature, with yourself and others, reflect on your life and experiences with the goals of moving towards your own goals.

Challenge is definitely a part of our programme, and each activity or environment will challenge everyone in a different way.

Challenge can be good for us!

Though the same challenge is not for everyone, at all times.

It is really important to us that you choose your level of challenge. For some, this will mean not going very high on a climb, or very hard on the surf kayaking and would rather enjoy the nature. That is ok, and we will make practicable efforts to allow as much choice in this as possible.

We always try to make choices available and make it really clear where choices are not practically possible.

This programme is an opportunity to take more time in the day to connect with nature rather than just move through it.

On a daily basis we will go to a different environment and do an activity there. Most of the time this will be an adventurous activity, however, we may also do some activities specifically to connect with nature – maybe a mindfulness walk, or doing some art pieces/ sculptures with nature, or any other ways of connecting in a relationship with nature.

First and foremost it is a priority that that this group is a safe and supportive environment for all people.

Obviously in outdoor activities the physical safety is important! We have qualified instructors and a safety management system that is audited and registered with Worksafe NZ, and we need people to follow our safety rules.

It also means emotional safety – this means we take time to build a culture where sharing is ok and encouraged by others. Where respect is really important and intentionally built upon on the group.

It is also safety to be yourself no matter what culture, gender, sexuality, profession, age or personality you have. We aim to build a group environment where everyone is safe and supported on their journey of wellbeing.