10/9/2008

Last day of the SPARC Get2Go Regional Events

The last of the SPARC Get2Go regionals gets underway in Dunedin today, wrapping up what has been a fantastic month of activity across New Zealand. The addition of schools from the South Island has meant every year 9 and 10 student in the country has had the opportunity to get outdoors, have some fun, and take on the challenges presented by some good healthy competition.

Congratulations to every single one of you who took part this year and tried your best in all of the challenges and did so with great big smiles on your faces.

It was truly amazing to see many of you out there trying these sports for the very first time. We hope the Get2Go has given you a chance to learn some new skills and hopefully inspired you to get out there and try them all again sometime. Well done to those teams that qualified - we look forward to seeing you again at OPC Great Barrier for the 5 day Grand Final event. It's going to be awesome!

Ka Kite

Visit the Get2Go page for full results and video links of the regional days

11/8/2008

SPARC Get2Go Results - Waitakere / North Harbour

Thanks again for making the 2008 Waitakere/North Harbour SPARC Get2Go challenge such an amazing event. Congratulations to every single one of you who took part and tried your best in all of the challenges and did so with great big smiles on your faces. Thanks to the crew from Studio 2 for coming out to record the action. Make sure you all watch Studio 2 next week for coverage of the challenge and the challenges that follow as the SPARC Get2Go winds its way down the country.

As the results below show, the scoring across all of the teams was very close. Congratulations to Wentworth College for just edging out Orewa College by the closest possible margin, one single point. I couldn’t believe it could be this close and I had to recheck the scores five times, just to make sure!

The hard luck story of the day has to go to the team from Tau Te Arohanoa Akoranga. Their team vehicle broke down just as they were leaving the mountain bike challenge at the end of the third rotation. This meant they didn’t get to take part in the kayaking challenge as they had to wait for the AA to come out and fix them up.

A huge thank-you should go out to all of the volunteers that made the event such a great success -

• Andrew and Mike from the North West Orienteering Club - www.geocities.com/nwocnz/ , www.maptalk.co.nz The North West club are very keen to help schools get more involved in orienteering and Mike (an expert map-maker) is keen to hear from any of you who might like to get an orienteering map made of your school grounds.

• The crew from Bigfoot Adventure and the Auckland Mountain Biking Club - www.bigfootadventures.co.nz/ , www.aucklandmtb.co.nz/ These guys are out there running all sorts of outdoor and mountain biking adventures and can even come into your school to run mountain bike skills courses for you. Some Get2Go teams have actually been using them to get prepared for their regional challenge.

• Jane and guys from North Shore Canoe and Kayak and the Yakkity Yak Kayak Club - www.canoeandkayak.co.nz/ If its kayaking action you are into, these guys can definitely get you sorted with all of the gear and equipment you might need and organized club training and adventures.
  
• The team at Clip n Climb - www.clipnclimb.co.nz/ are open right through the year and are definitely keen to see you all back there climbing with them. They can do small groups as well as big groups. What a wicked place for a party!

So if you tried something today at the SPARC Get2Go that you really enjoyed, get out there and do some more of it. Check out the web links above to find out more about what they can do to help you get involved.

Hopefully those of you who are still in year 9 will be able to join us again next year and for those of you who are too old why don’t you check out the Genesis Energy Secondary Schools Hillary Challenge. This is easily the toughest outdoor sporting event for secondary school students (year 12/13 only) anywhere in New Zealand.
You can find all of the info here - http://www.opc.org.nz/08events/genesis_hillary_school_challenge.html

Thanks once again for being a part of this awesome day and remember to watch yourselves on Studio 2.

6/06/2008

Everest Charity Ball

The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation, and its beneficiary The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand (OPC), are excited and humbled in being chosen as the charity recipient of the Everest Charity Ball.

The proceeds of the Everest Charity Ball will be used to help young people from the Taupo region to experience a special OPC programme, and explore aspects of the values that Sir Ed personified. OPC will put together a programme that will give participants an opportunity to visit and journey through special places in the local area, thus helping them achieve a sense of place, while facing challenges that will be overcome through personal skill and courage - with support and trust from team mates. Taupo youth who may not have the opportunity to carry out similar activities in their normal lives will be the target recipients of this programme.

For more information about the event, visit the Everest Charity Ball website

5/06/2008

Calling All Young Adventurers

Your school is invited to take part in the 2008 Get2Go Challenge - a team adventure challenge event for Year 9 and 10 students.

After the huge success of the Get2Go Challenge pilot series in 2006 and the North Island Get2Go Challenge held in 2007, SPARC is once again supporting the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand (OPC) to bring you this exciting outdoor adventure team challenge. This year the Get2Go Challenge will be bigger and better, with the expansion of the event to three new regions in the South Island.

Teams will be required to work together, using important team skills such as communication, problem solving, planning and decision making, to maximise their score in each task. The team with the top score from each region will be invited to participate in the Get2Go Grand Final Challenge, held at OPC Great Barrier during the last week of term four.

Find out More...

29/05/2008

Taranaki teams rise to the challenge once again

On Friday 23 May, 2008 the team from New Plymouth Boys’ High School and New Plymouth Girls’ High School were crowned the champions of the of the 2008 Genesis Energy Secondary Schools Hillary Challenge, winning the event for the fifth time in the event’s eight year history. The prestigious trophy was presented to the team at a prize-giving evening following dinner at the end of the final day. First prize was $8,000 worth of outdoor equipment for their school, kindly donated by Bivouac Outdoors. Other spot prizes included electronic equipment from Sony and were awarded to competitors nominated by their peers and the ‘hardest competitor’ (determined by OPC instructors). The top three teams also received prize packs sponsored by Genesis Energy.

It certainly was no easy feat for the New Plymouth team, who battled hard against some strong and determined competition to achieve the exceptional result. Throughout the five days of competition, all of the year 12 and 13 students that competed were constantly challenging personal boundaries, and functioning at their limits and beyond.

Second place went to the team from Opunake High School – a small rural school, for a consecutive year with another outstanding performance. They dominated the rogaine expedition section with exceptional teamwork, elite fitness, speed, and first class navigation and bush skills. Ahead on points at the end of day four and poised to conquer their Everest, remarkably, New Plymouth Boys’ and Girls’ managed to deny them first place with a gutsy effort in the multi-disciplined adventure race. Opunake High School also received the Synergy Award for their teamwork and cohesion, producing an overall performance greater than the sum of it’s parts. This entitles the team to a two day OPC programme later in 2008.

Middleton Grange School of Christchurch always produces a tight team who put in a strong effort. This year they earned third place – one up on their fourth placing in 2007. However, it was no three-horse-race. Points were very close in the middle of the field, and a number of other teams could have made the top three very easily if the leaders had made even the slightest of slip ups. Teams to watch for next year are Cambridge High School (new to the event in 2007, finished fourth this year), and Thames High School who came in a close fifth.

During the first two days, teams had to complete twelve mentally and physically demanding activities. This was followed by a two day rogaine expedition in the Tongariro National Park , with teams navigating through the rugged terrain and scaling peaks to visit geographical checkpoints. Each checkpoint was worth points based on the difficulty and time taken to reach, with the objective to accrue as many points as possible. The event culminated in a head-to-head adventure race (average five hours to complete), consisting of a mountain bike section, on and off trail running legs, and an assault course through obstacles and challenges at the OPC base.

Fleur Pawsey, female winner of the 2008 Coast to Coast, shared some of the secrets to her success and gave a motivational talk to the teams on the first night. On the final evening, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) lecturer Mark Jones gave a keynote address on the importance of goal setting and embracing adventure. He also ‘wooed’ the crowd with accounts of some of his personal adventures, including big-wall rock climbing in the Yosemite Valley, USA, and a sea-kayak expedition around the Antarctic peninsula.

The 2008 Genesis Energy Secondary Schools Hillary Challenge leaves much to aspire to and many of the students will have fond memories that they will hold for years to come.

Photo Gallery

28/04/2008

Teams gearing up for challenge

After an inspirational and testing qualifing event in February, three new schools have been selected to join eight returning teams from last year's Genesis Energy Secondary Schools Hillary Challenge, and compete in this year's Grand Final on 19 May. The newly selected teams are from Mercury Bay Area School, Rotorua Boys and Rotorua Girls High School, and Whangarei Boys and Whangarei Girls High School. All three looked strong in the qualifier, proving they have what it takes to further test their endurance, outdoor skills, team work, and leadership - and could be the ones to watch in May!

The 2008 line-up is:

Auckland Grammar and Auckland Diocesan School for Girls, Opunake High School, Mercury Bay Area School, New Plymouth Boys and New Plymouth Girls High Schools (07 champions), Middleton Grange, Rotorua Boys and Rotorua Girls High Schools, St Paul’s Collegiate, Upper Hutt College, Thames High School, and Cambridge High School, Whangarei Boys and Whangarei Girls High Schools, Raffles Institution School for Girls and Boys (Singapore Hillary Challenge Winners 2007)

So, it is all set to be another incredible week, with 12 teams proudly representing their schools, and demonstrating that they have what it takes to meet the challenge and measure up to the values endorsed by Sir Ed. For more information about the Genesis Energy Secondary Schools Hillary Challenge, visit the Events Page

22/04/2008

Ruapehu Tribute Climb Set To Go Ahead

The Summits for Ed Tribute climb of Mt Ruapehu will be going ahead this weekend as scheduled at 9.00am on Saturday 26 April. This was the final summit on the Summits for Ed Tribute Tour, which aimed to give New Zealanders the chance to honour Sir Ed by climbing a local summit or hill, and contributing rocks to a memorial cairn that will be built at OPC.

OPC Trust Chairman Grant McKenzie said that the Ruapehu climb would also be an opportunity to remember the seven young people who lost their lives last week in the Mangatepopo Stream. ""In wake of the Mangatepopo Stream tragedy, we can think of no more appropriate way of honouring Sir Ed's values of courage, determination and compassion than returning to the mountains and the outdoors, as we believe Sir Ed himself would have done"". OPC is humbled and overwhelmed with the compassion and support shown by Elim Christian College and the families who have urged the centre to carry on with it's work with young people in the outdoors. ""Although the pain remains, we must pick ourselves up and go on. We hope that the climb up Ruapehu can mark a step in that direction,"" Mr McKenzie said.

Saturday's climb up Mt Ruapehu is suitable for experienced outdoor people with knowledge of alpine climbing. Clothing, footwear, food, drink and equipment suitable for an alpine environment is essential. Summit climbers will need to meet at the Top of the Bruce outside Lorenzo's at 9am, fully prepared. For the less experienced, the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts will be running free of charge throughout the day for those who wish to do the first part of the ascent. For more information, contact OPC or visit the Summits for Ed website www.summitsfored.org.nz

The Summits for Ed tour began with a climb near Bluff on March 25 and journeyed northwards. Forty climbs were planned throughout the country, however the tour was stopped at Warkworth following the Mangatepopo tragedy. OPC Trust Chairman Grant McKenzie had spoken to Lady Hillary overnight and it was agreed that just as Sir Ed would not have walked passed a fallen comrade on a mountain, it would be inappropriate to continue the summit climbs. The climbs scheduled for Warkworth, Whangarei, Kaikohe, Russell, Kerikeri and Cape Reinga will therefore be rescheduled at a later date.

16/04/2008

Centre devastated by tragedy. Thoughts and sympathy go out to family and school community.

"Staff and trustees are devastated at the tragic loss of six students and a teacher involved in an outdoor education activity in the Mangatepopo Gorge yesterday (Tuesday 15 April).

""We are utterly devastated by this tragedy"", says Grant Davidson, Chief Executive of OPC. ""Our thoughts and sympathy go out to the families and school community"".

Staff and trustees thank everybody who has offered their kind support, love and condolences during this difficult time. "

18/03/2008

Graffiti artist's 'canvas' work kick starts charity auction

Graffiti artist known to his followers as Mr G, but also answering to Graham Hoete, contacted OPC Chief Executive Grant Davidson and offered a giant canvas of Sir Ed as a donation to kick start a charity auction.

TradeMe will launch the special auction (date to be decided) for people to donate items. The proceeds of the sale will go to the Hillary Foundation.

Tauranga-based Mr G said, Sir Ed's values and achievements had personally been an inspiration to his way of life, and he wanted young people to think about achieving their full potential in the way Sir Ed had done.

""Lots of kids out there use graffiti to express their artistic talent and I am out talking to them about ways to use their abilities in a positive way and get them to use canvas for their work, rather than public buildings. This is the message I take round the schools." - Graham Hoete

14/02/2008

Over 150 Students Compete for Place in Final

This coming weekend (16/02/08) will see over 150 students, representing schools from around the North Island , converge on the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre (OPC) at Tongariro National Park , for the inaugural Hillary Challenge qualification event.

The 19 teams of 8 students, all from 6th and 7th form, will be attempting to gain one of the 3 remaining places in the Genesis Energy Hillary Challenge final. The final is without a doubt the toughest adventure/sporting contest that senior secondary school students can undertake in this country. It is a complete physical and mental, 5-day long, outdoor team challenge that draws the absolute best from the students that take part.

Now in this its 8th year, the final will take place between the 19-23 May and is set to go international, with the winning team from the 2007 Hillary Challenge Singapore flying in to take on 11 teams from secondary schools from throughout New Zealand.

In previous years to qualify for the final the teams have had to undertake various outdoor tasks in their own time and submit the results in to OPC for scoring and subsequent selection.

“This year we’ve decided to organise a stand alone qualification event to select the 3 more teams we need for this years final. This way, even the teams that don’t qualify will still have had the chance to participate in a Hillary Challenge and at the same time, have an awesome experience”, says Darren Ashmore the OPC events manager.

Starting at midday on Saturday the schedule for the qualifying event will be tough. Each team will be put through 4 hours of challenges designed to test their competence in kayaking, mountain biking, rope work and some secret outdoor problem solving scenarios. On Sunday their navigation skills will be put to the test on a tricky 3 hour long rogaine. Points will be scored throughout the event for competence and teamwork and will be added to the points earned in a community based environmental project that the teams have been working on. These projects are self-managed by the teams, but will involve them working with organisations such as DOC and local councils to undertake a community based project that they document and submit for assessment.

“The qualification weekend will be pretty intense for the students. With 20 teams entered and only 3 places in the final up for grabs, they are going to have to be a slick team to make it through”, says Ashmore.

It is an impressive turn out for the inaugural event and several of the schools entered have been trying to qualify for the Hillary Challenge for a number of years. Others have been in before and now want to get back in the final. One thing is for sure, the 3 teams that make it through will need to step the training up a few gears if they want to take on the top teams from 2007. Four time champions New Plymouth Boys and Girls, Opunake High School (2 nd 2007 ), Thames High School (3 rd 2007) and the Auckland Grammar/Diocesan team (5 th 2007, 1 st 2006) have all been spotted out training hard over the summer, lapping up the Kiwi Summer Adventure race series and various rogaine and orienteering competitions around the country.

One thing is for certain, numbers like this for the Genesis Energy Hillary Challenge added to the numbers already attending other secondary school outdoor adventure events such as – the nationwide SPARC Get2Go and the Mad Magpie and Go-4-12 in the Hawkes Bay , the future of adventure sports in NZ is looking pretty healthy.

30/01/2008

Public Open Day: 12 April 2008

To share the values and the gift of Sir Ed's legacy with all New Zealanders, OPC Tongariro will be open the public on Saturday 12 April 2008. Those who would like to see and experience what OPC is all about and take part in the activities on our Open Day, are very welcome to call in and join us.

OPC is very appreciative of the help and support it has received over the years from the local community in helping them to further their vision of providing education using outdoor pursuits to New Zealanders, particularly youth and those disadvantaged.

The Open Day will commence at 9am and finish at 3pm . OPC will have a selection of activities operating for those who would like to participate and have some fun in the outdoors.

OPC staff will be on hand to welcome visitors and provide information. Light refreshments will be provided during the day but do feel free to bring your own food and drinks as well - and don't forget clothing suitable for the outdoors!!

OPC ’s core focus is to provide New Zealanders, particularly youth, with the opportunity to spend time in the wilderness discovering their potential, learning to contribute as part of a team, setting goals and accepting challenges. “While doing this we aim to encourage a love for the outdoors and empathy for conserving and preserving our unique natural environment”.

OPC Tongariro is situated on Hydro Access Road 3, off State Highway 47, Turangi. Look forward to seeing you all there!

For more information regarding the Open Day, please call us on 0800 688 843, or email marketing@opc.org.nz

21/01/2008

Celebrations for Sir Ed, 22 January 2008

On Great Barrier Island OPC staff and students from around New Zealand will climb the highest peak on the Island , Hirakimata, in remembrance of Sir Ed’s achievements, inspiration, and leadership. Great Barrier Island was the training ground for his 1977 “Sea to Source” expedition.

It was on a school trip to Mt Ruapehu that the teenaged Ed Hillary first encountered the mountains. He was captivated by the experience and his life long passion for mountaineering and outdoor adventure began. His strong belief in the value of outdoor experiences for young people led to Sir Ed becoming the patron of OPC – a tremendous gift that has opened the outdoors to more than 120,000 young New Zealanders. As an organisation, OPC will celebrate that gift tomorrow in the environment it rose from – the mountains of Aotearoa.

11/01/2008

Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre will carry the flame

The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand ( OPC) mourns the loss of its patron, but says it will pass Sir Ed’s legacy on to future generations of young New Zealanders.

“ OPC will continue to offer thousands of young New Zealanders the opportunities in the outdoors that once inspired a 14-year-old Edmund Hillary to become the great adventurer and leader that he was,” says OPC Charitable Trust chairman Grant McKenzie.

It was on a school trip to Mt Ruapehu that the teenaged Ed first encountered the mountains. He was captivated by the experience and his life long passion for mountaineering and outdoor adventure began.

Sir Edmund Hillary believed strongly in the value of outdoor experiences for young people. He became the patron of OPC in 1973 when the Centre was formed near the Tongariro National Park to offer outdoor adventure and environmental education to young New Zealanders.

Through OPC, Sir Ed has been able to open the outdoors to more than 120,000 young New Zealanders – a gift to his homeland that matches his contribution to the Himalayan Trust in India.

“ OPC is honoured by, and grateful for, Sir Ed’s patronage for the past 35 years. The Centre is committed to preserving the qualities and spirit that he stood for, and passing the flame on to future generations,” Mr McKenzie says.