Mountain technique instruction

Press, 15 November 1977, Page 10

Mountain technique instruction

An opportunity for school children to get away from the city and learn something of outdoor living and mountaineering techniques is the purpose of the Canterbury Education Board’s Christmas holiday-camp programmes. The board has been running adventure camp holidays and mountaincraft courses at its centre in Arthur’s Pass for four years. Next year’s adventurecamp holiday will run from January 2 to 6, and is open to about 36 children between the age of 11 and 13. A child’s fee for the five days is $3O; this covers all expenses except transport. The children are taken on day trips to the Temple Basin ski-field and to the lakes in the Arthur’s Pass area. They also visit the Devil's Punchbowl falls, the

Bealey Glacier, and Margaret’s Tam. During the week, they receive instruction on various outdoor living techniques. Two mountaincraft courses are held in January — the first from January 9 to 14 and the second from January 16 to 21. Each course is limited to 28 children between the age of 12 and 16. The children are taken on trips similar to the other programme, but more emphasis is given to mountaincraft training. Instructors are hired by the board to teach various mountaineering techniques, including step-cutting, climbing and mountain safety. The children also spend one night out, either camping or staying in a mountain hut. the cost for this course is $4O.