3-12-08 The Outdoor Excellence Awards recognise the highest achievements of individuals and organisations involved in delivering outdoor recreation and education experiences to New Zealanders of all ages and abilities. The following awards were presented at the Outdoor Excellence Awards Gala Dinner at The Brewery Restaurant on Wellington’s waterfront on Friday 12 September 2008. The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre Environmental Leadership Award is designed to acknowledge outstanding individuals or programmes that have influenced the ecological worldview of participants or that have demonstrated a significant commitment to conservation or protection of adventure places. Maree Baker has been a tireless advocate for our rivers, land and river access, and general environmental protection over the last decade. Her work leading the charge with the NZ Recreational Canoe Association and as a legal advocate for our rivers has been especially phenomenal. This dedicated effort has been about protecting river flows, providing access for paddlers and other recreationalists, halting large and small scale developments, and mitigating the impacts to our rivers from projects that cannot be stopped.
Maree has a long history of positively influencing kayaker’s relationships with river environments, and her tireless legal work advocating for our paddling places is unquestionably worthy of the OPC Environmental Leadership Award. The SFRITO Outdoor Recreation Research Scholarship supports and recognises an individual who has a proven commitment to outdoor recreation education and training and who is undertaking higher education research in outdoor recreation. The 2008 SFRITO Outdoor Recreation Research Scholarship has been awarded to John ‘Rowdy’ Maxted, who is a PhD student (part time) at the University of Otago and who has significant professional experience in outdoor recreation education and training. The SFRITO scholarship is awarded to assist John with his investigations into the solitude experiences of adolescent males involved in a New Zealand outdoor recreation programme, with the understanding that the research should better inform outdoor recreation practice in NZ. The ONZ Facility Award recognises excellence in the delivery of outdoor recreation and education and a strong commitment to working with local communities in an environmentally sound manner while striving to lower barriers to participation. The 2008 ONZ Facility Award goes to Adventure Southland, a dedicated team providing outdoor education programmes for schools, the local polytechnic, triathlon club, rock climbing clubs and at-risk youth. Adventure Southland view the outdoors as an effective medium for individuals and groups to gain self-esteem, new skills and an all round enjoyment of outdoor recreation. Managing Director, Bill Roxburgh, is passionate about ensuring everyone can participate in the outdoors. The facility has worked hard to secure OutdoorsMark accreditation and continues to maintain a high standard across all programmes and activities. The MSC Volunteer Award was presented to Angela Anderson in recognition of her seventeen years of service to Girl Guiding New Zealand, where she has held many different voluntary leadership positions.
Angela is currently a guide leader, training assistant and Regional Outdoor Co-ordinator for Girl Guiding North Shore where she is responsible for ensuring that relevant, challenging and quality outdoor experiences are a vital and regular focus of the programmes. She is also a camp assessor, attending camps to ensure that they are safe, well planned and enjoyable, enabling leaders to gain Girl Guiding NZ camp qualifications. Of Angela’s commitment, a co-leader says “Angela is there for the girls of Girl Guiding NZ North Shore to equip, organise and take part in all outdoor activities and events, because of Angela it always happens for the girls. She works tirelessly and happily for the girls to encourage all ages into the outdoors.” The 2008 SPARC NZ Supreme Award was presented to Hon. Noel Scott, recognising his superlative long-term contribution to the outdoor sector. As District Senior Inspector of Schools based in Hamilton, Noel was instrumental in funding and establishing the very successful teacher-training scheme for resource teachers of outdoor education. This six-week residential course produced many of today’s outdoor leaders. Later, as the Minister of Sport and Recreation and Associate Minister of Education and the Minister in charge of the Hillary Commission for Recreation And Sport, Noel ensured that outdoor recreation and education were well endowed in the broader sector and supported in schools. Noel has contributed years of work in governance roles on the Board of the Outdoor Pursuit Centre, driving the educational input for OPC programmes. Recently, Noel brought his vision and leadership skills to Outdoors New Zealand where he served two terms as Chairperson. “There are very few outdoor educators who have spent a longer lifetime leading and supporting initiatives in the outdoors than Noel Scott.” The 2008 EONZ Programme Award was presented to Loburn School. Loburn is a small rural school that breathes Education Outside the Classroom. It considers EOTC as an important pathway to learning and this is reflected in many ways.
There is a solid philosophical base, with EOTC grounded in the school vision and a commitment by Principal and staff to deliver quality programmes that meet the needs of students. Sequenced programmes with well made links to curriculum learning outcomes, key competencies and pedagogy provide learning opportunities in a range of environments (water, bush and urban).
The school programmes are underpinned by principles of good safety management, following Ministry of Education guidelines, and there is a culture of inclusion, both from the parent and wider community.
Programme examples highlight the integration and holistic nature of their philosophy, with most trips local and costs kept to a minimum. Integrated programmes such as their very successful Year 5/6 programme, based on production of a DVD entitled "From Carriages to Cars...The Story of Arthur's Pass" during an outdoor education camp is an example of the scope and achievement possible. The 2008 NZOIA Emerging Instructor Award was presented to Sam Langridge. The following comments included in Sam’s nominations say it all. “For his age, Sam is the most talented instructor I have ever come across. He has a great sense of fun and humour combined with great skills and experience that enables him to get the most out of his clients. He is a natural at any outdoor pursuit he tries and he keeps on developing his personal skills to even higher levels. Sam has the ability to say and do and offer the right thing at the right time that enables people to grow and go beyond what they thought they were capable of – this is a skill very few instructors have, in my experience. He has the maturity and judgement of an instructor with twenty years experience. Sam is a standout among the good ones – that rare combination of instructor, guide, educator, facilitator and genuine decent human being.”
“For me, one of Sam’s greatest qualities is his willingness to learn. There is no arrogance about him that says ‘I know it all’, instead his modesty and openness allow him to grow and learn with every new experience he has.”
“... members of our team have worked alongside Sam in the roles of On Call Manager, Lead Facilitator and Support Crew. In doing so we have all developed an admiration for the energy, enthusiasm and professionalism that Sam brings to his work with (at times) challenging client groups. Sam is never without a smile, his enthusiasm is infectious and he is always keen to take on a new challenge and try something new.” | 
