Teenagers tied up in knots at challenge

It’s not unusual for teenagers to get into knotty situations, but Waikato college students had to employ plenty of teamwork to untie themselves from very tricky problems as part of the Hillary Outdoors Get2Go Challenge at Karapiro.


Left, right was the chant as these students attempted walking in union during the Hillary Outdoors Get2Go Challenge at Karapiro.

Teams don’t know in advance exactly what the challenges will be on the day and at Karapiro Darren recruited members of local orienteering and mountain biking clubs to help. Andrew Howell of Wintec also had a number of polytechnic students design and set up other challenges, including the canoeing and rope events.

“All the events rely on team work and are aimed at encouraging young people to come to know the power of the outdoors and physical activity. The level of activity is not set too high, but the challenges are so designed that those who want to extend themselves can easily do so,” says Darren.


Co-operation was definitely key to these teenagers untying themselves from a knotty problem at the Hillary Outdoors Get2Go Challenge at Lake Karapiro.

Cool adventures
“The Get2Go challenge is about much more than just getting the most points. Putting your hands up in the first place and then getting out there having fun with your team, while trying some new skills, is the important thing.

“Hopefully the challenge has opened the students’ minds to some of the cool adventure opportunities right there on their back doorstep. We are so very lucky in New Zealand to have such an incredible natural playground, free for everyone to enjoy.”

Hillcrest High No 1 team won the top spot in the mixed premier category gaining entry to the Great Barrier Get2Go Challenge in December where they will compete for the national title.  


Mountain biking was among the events at the Hillary Outdoors Get2Go Challenge at Karapiro.

The schools taking part were: Hillcrest, Cambridge, Hamilton Boys, Hamilton Girls, Thames, Hauraki Plains high schools; Matamata, Putaruru, Otorohanga, Te Kauwhata colleges, Raglan Area School and Waikato Diocesan.

Get2Go is just one of a number of events Hillary Outdoors runs, including school holiday programmes based at its 43-year-old Tongariro Centre and its Great Barrier facility which opened in 2006.

Darren says Hillary Outdoors other events include the Hillary Challenge 6hr Adventure Races for year 11-13 students and NavQuest adventure rogaines that are open to everyone, public included.

To find out more go to www.hillaryoutdoors.co.nz and on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/hillaryoutdoors


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