Where achievement counts

Press, 1 March 1989, Page 17

Where achievement counts

Anakiwa’s social challenge evolves through the solo exercise, where each course member spends three nights and two days alone in the bush, and through the watch system. Students are divided into watches of 14, demanding co-operation, understanding and involvement in community service.

One instructor says that because the students in a watch are together all the time tension can develop. One of the ways in which he deals with this is through a “hot seat” where the young people tell their colleagues the things they do not like about them.

The physical challenges of the Anakiwa programme come from rock climbing, a ropes confidence course, bush expeditions, kayaking, and sailing.

A 6.15 a.m. rise time means the students have no chance to lie in bed anticipating what each day will bring. They begin with P.T., a 2km run, a swim in the sea, and a cold shower.

Rock climbing has an air of nervous, subdued excitement, while kayaking on the sea is full of laughs, even for those watching from the shore.

After some time spent learning the ropes and quietly following each other in a large circle, the amateur canoeists move their kayaks together. They steady each other and then attempt to stand up in their kayaks — with a symphony of screams and a lot of splashing, the formation collapses. After several more attempts they complete the challenge. Wet but happy, they turn their attention to learning more skills. One of the rock climbers, a youth with a bandage covering a gash above his eye, says kayaking is his favourite activity. He sustained his injury after falling out of a kayak while rowing down a river.

His attitude sums up the whole Outward Bound philosophy. It is not the falls that count, but the achievements. Jon Almeida says there is an element of risk in the Outward Bound activities, but it is important for students to learn the difference between real and perceived risk. “They have got to learn the consequences of their learning. If they are out sailing and decide to put up their full sails in a 50 knot southerly, then they have to discover how dangerous that is.” Noticeably absent from the programme is positive feedback from instructors. Jon explains that this enables students to learn to do activities for their own

personal fulfillment, not just for the approval of their teacher, instructor, boss, family, or others. He adds the rugged surroundings and the elements at Anakiwa all help make the challenge real. “If it snows on the top of the mountain, we don’t just say we won’t go for a tramp.” After a morning of exhausting activity the students are always eager for lunch. Even this has a flavour of its own at Anakiwa. Shoes are abandoned at the door and, staying in their watches, the young people stand up in front of the tables. They thank the kitchen staff before sitting down to the food.

There is no time for hesitation as slabs of pizza, coleslaw, bread and butter and fruit are devoured. Enough to sustain whatever activities the afternoon may bring. So it is a little puzzling to see some of the youths stowing apples away in their pockets. Apparently they have a premonition that they may be deposited in the bush for their three nights solo and do not want to be caught without the proverbial “apple a day.”

The art of survival has been well learnt.

Outward Bound

open day

Members of the public will have the chance to get a first-hand look at Outward Bound during an awareness week, from April 3 to April 10. The purpose of the week is to inform people of the activities of the Outward Bound Trust, including the school, funding, benefits of attending a standard course and the philosophy of Outward Bound.

There will be an open day at Anakiwa so the public can explore the grounds and gain an idea of how the programme works.

Standard 24-day courses are now run for both men and women aged between 18 and 26. The school also hosts nine-day courses for those more than 26, as well as special programmes for the physically disabled, intellectually handicapped, hard-of-hearing, and other groups.

Outward Bound’s publicity and marketing officer, Shona Brown, says she is especially pleased that the number of women participants is continually increasing. In 1987, 36 per cent of the total intake were women, and last year the figure was 46 per cent. On average, 12 per cent of the students are Maori.