130 | COMMUNITY Mahurangi College T T Kim Newth Students embrace adventure camp experience The five-day programme includes bush walks, kayaking on the Hōteo River, orienteering, bivouacking, cooking their own food, telling ghost stories around the campfire and giving back through pest trapping and riparian planting. An ambitious endeavour to connect young people with off-grid outdoor adventure has come to fruition on the banks of the Hōteo River, where groups of Year 10 students from Mahurangi College are spending five days experiencing the great outdoors. College deputy principal Keith Tennant says it all started back in 2019 when then board chair Dean Iversen had a catch-up with farm owner Stephen Dill and hit upon the idea of an off-grid outdoor camp for students on the Dill family farm by the Hōteo River. “It then came back at board level and the principal said, ‘let’s make it happen’,” says Keith. “I was the project lead when it started. The whole concept was to develop a camp aimed at teaching kids resilience through adversity. Then Covid happened, which put it all on hold. Then Cyclone Gabrielle. “The community kept pushing through all the challenges to make it happen. The journey itself has been a tale of resilience through adversity, with the community showing so much resilience to get it done.” Now that the camp is up and running, all the hard work is paying off. Keith says feedback from students is very positive. “They’re saying they realise they are a lot happier without social media. They’re having so much fun and feeling better about themselves – it has been a resounding success.” Students are accommodated in bell tents, set on custom-built platforms. Camp facilities include a purpose-built outdoor classroom, an ablutions block, kitchen facilities and a conversation fire pit with seating. The five-day programme includes bush walks, kayaking on the Hōteo River, orienteering, bivouacking, cooking their own food, telling ghost stories around the campfire and giving back through pest trapping and riparian planting. In the process, students are connecting with the land, with one another, and creating special memories. Over the past 18 months, the vision for this project has gathered real momentum, fuelled by an extraordinary level of commitment and community spirit. Board of Trustees members Kim McKergow and Dave Morrison have led the project side by side, devoting hundreds of hours between them. Together, they have overseen everything from construction and funding through to programme planning and implementation – from hands-on work by the river to sourcing sponsorship and materials, coordinating volunteer labour, and driving fundraising. Kim’s husband Gus, who runs his own local construction company, has led the on-site building work, applying his skills to overcome the challenges of working in such a remote setting. As well, a wide network of tradespeople, contractors, suppliers, professionals, and community members have given generously of their time and expertise, transforming the vision into reality. “Most contributions came not in cash but through donated labour, materials or both,” says Kim. “Many gave quietly, generously, and over a long period of time to complete the project. It’s a big part of what makes Hōteo Wero such a special story – a real community effort, built by people who believed in what it could offer our young people.” A hub of planning excellence Professional, cost e ective, creative solutions to all aspects of resource management planning. • Consents • Hearings & mediation • Expert evidence • Plan changes • Planning advice, due diligence • Land development & consenting strategy www.thepc.co.nz Burnette O’Connor - Planner | Director burnette@thepc.co.nz | +64 21 422 346 3 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Silverdale All plumbing & drain laying services • Septic & water tanks Drain repair & Blockages • Hot water replacements • Solar All Plumbing Maintenance 027 481 1127 • jason.wech@gmail.com Warkworth Omaha Area Proud to support Mahurangi College
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