Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
9 mins ago
A few of the students getting a taste of sea kayaking.
The first student group of EIT’s new NZ Certificate in Outdoor Experiences (Level 3) has just completed their programme. The 14-week course was packed with adventure activities including tramping, mountain biking, sea kayaking, and paddle boarding. The students also ventured out into the wilderness for an overnight camping trip and built their own shelter.
A majority of this year’s students had previously studied the Certificate in Study & Career Preparation (Services Pathway). They said that the fact that the course was free was a big drawcard.
Rhys Searle said that he got a lot out of the programme, “I like doing things you wouldn’t normally get an opportunity to do. I particularly loved the whitewater rafting.”
Rhys plans to join the Defence Force, as does Dream Taumata who attended Flaxmere College. Dream says she enjoyed every part of the course and would highly recommend it. “The tutors are cool, fun, very onto it, well prepared and awesome people. I loved the course. We are like a family and will all definitely keep in touch”.
Jessica Snow also had a great experience and is now moving on to study a Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Mental Health & Addiction Support) at EIT. She says that she wants to try new and different things, while she is young.
Head of EIT’s Trades School, Todd Rogers, highlights that this certificate gives people who are naturally passionate about outdoor recreation and nature a formal qualification to start a career (e.g. with DoC, the search and rescue services, or the Defence Force) or to go on to higher-level study.
“We limit this programme to 14 students in order to enhance their experience. People who are interested should enrol promptly, places will fill up fast,” recommends Todd.
