This year we have had several wonderful camps with all our schools in stunning outdoor locations. This camp I am writing about was no exception, they fully utilized the local bush and lake surroundings, and the students were having a lot of fun connecting to the environment and to each other.
The last activity on the day of their departure was to walk approximately 7km through the tawa forest from their cabins to the roadside where their bus would pick them up and take them home.
Spirits were high as they departed from the cabins and made their way through the forest. However, as the topography changed from flat to undulating hills the mood of some students at the rear of the party began to wane dramatically.
While navigating our way up a steeper hill one of the girls in the group turned to me with an exhausted look on her face and interrogated me “Why are we doing this?!” Which I thought was a great question to ask. As I was recovering my breath, I said something glib like “to enjoy nature”. “Well, I’m not enjoying this!” swiftly came her reply in a tone combined of anger, frustration, and sarcasm only a teenaged girl can truly master.
That reply caused me to stop and find a better answer. I am grateful for her to allow me to pause, take a breath, a give an answer worthy of her question. I said to her “Maybe it’s an opportunity to do hard things”. She stopped, the anger and frustration seemed to disappear from her face, she stood in silence for a couple of seconds interpreting my statement and then turned around and carried on with the walk.
I love being in the outdoor, I crave the sense of connection, the sense of flow, the simple sensation of fun. But the greatest joys in the outdoors and in life stems from doing hard things and feeling that sense of growth from overcoming the trails along the way.
Ki te wātea te hinengaro, me te kaha o te rere o te wairua, ka taea ngā mea katoa (If the mind is free, and the spirit is strong, you can do anything). Creating fun times in the outdoors is what we are all about, but as teachers I believe allowing our students the opportunity to do hard things is a valuable lesson to prepare them for their future, and a lesson that will keep on giving.
Brian Connelly
KAIĀRAHI TAIAO | OUTDOOR EDUCATOR