New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor and Adventure Education (Multi-skilled) (Level 4)

Location: Wanaka, Central Otago
Duration: One year full-time; part-time not available
Delivery: On and off campus with field trips throughout the year (some of these will be overnight)

Credits: 120
Level: 4
Start: February

Location

Intake

Study breaks
Central Otago

15 February 2021

28 June 2021 - 16 July 2021
5 April 2021 - 16 April 2021
27 September 2021 - 8 October 2021
Central Otago

14 February 2022

4 July 2022 - 22 July 2022
18 April 2022 - 29 April 2022
3 October 2022 - 14 October 2022

A great first step into outdoor and adventure education.

Enjoy studying in Wanaka, Central Otago, New Zealand’s best outdoor classroom and the country’s epicentre of outdoor pursuits. Our Certificate will provide you with the core skills and knowledge you need to work in the outdoor adventure industry, including kayaking, rafting, rock climbing and tramping, mountain biking, nutrition, health, physical and psychological performance, and leadership.

Take your gap year within New Zealand and get the chance grow your personal and life skills. It will also enhance your understanding and skills in leadership, personal communication, group interaction, tikanga, kawa of mana whenua and sustainable practice.

Graduates may be eligible to apply for full registration on the New Zealand Register of Recreation Professionals (NZRRP).

This qualification may enable you to engage in paid or volunteer roles as a trainee instructor, leader or guide within community and private outdoor or adventure education/recreation/tourism providers.

For more details contact the Programme Coordinator, Pete Eley (peter.eley@op.ac.nz) to discuss the programme.

What will I be able to do when I graduate?

Manage yourself across a range of outdoor activities, taking into account equipment, weather, local conditions, logistics and safety management.
Apply principles of health, physical and psychological performance to enhance personal competence and safe participation for a range of outdoor activities.
Apply a framework of kaitiakitanga that incorporates respect for the tikanga and kawa of local iwi and/or hapū, sustainability, and the environment in which you are operating.
Use leadership theories to inform personal leadership and leadership of peers in a range of outdoor activities.
Apply the safety management system of an organisation, including being able to respond appropriately within an emergency care situation.
Plan, prepare and lead outdoor activities in low-risk, low technical outdoor environments, under direct supervision.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Open entry.

Other requirements

If accepted, we'll also require you to complete a Statement of Offences Against the Law form.

English Language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

Please note: It's desirable that you also have a reasonable level of fitness including the ability to swim a minimum of 50 metres and the ability to carry a full overnight tramping pack on multi-day trips. It's also a good idea to look at obtaining your full driver licence as soon as possible (the outdoor industry sees the gaining of/or the ability to gain a 'P' licence as highly desirable).

Want your existing skills recognised?

If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process at Capable NZ. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification.

Additional costs

You will need to supply some of your own equipment during this programme. You will be sent a detailed equipment list as part of your enrolment pack.

Your workload

Your week will run from Monday to Thursday with Friday being an Independent Learning day (you are expected to practise skills learned during the programme on these days). This is a full-time programme and a typical practical week may involve between 20-30 contact hours, which may include online components. You should commit yourself to a 9.00am-4.30pm day, but these times may vary, especially during daylight saving months. In addition, there are field trips during the year when you will be required to be away for one or more nights.

What you will study

Kayaking	Develop and apply knowledge and skills in the pursuit of kayaking, to manage self and peers on Grade 2 whitewater and experience sea kayak journeys.
Rock Climbing	Develop and apply knowledge and skills to the pursuit of Rock Climbing, managing self and peers.
Mountain Biking	Develop and apply knowledge and skills in the pursuit of mountain biking, to manage self and peers, on grade 3 trails.
Rafting	Develop and apply knowledge and skills in the pursuit of rafting being able to guide a raft and perform appropriate rescues on Grade 2 whitewater.
Hautūtanga	Develop and apply contemporary knowledge of leadership and leadership theories and how these can be applied to self and peers in the outdoors.
Te Taiao	Develop a practical knowledge and understanding in environmental sciences and sustainable practice in the outdoor context.
Kaitiakatanga	Develop a practical knowledge and understanding in tikanga, kawa of mana whenua and sustainable practice.

Further study options

Opportunities exist for you to bridge into other Otago Polytechnic qualifications and you could increase your career prospects with our Bachelor of Applied Science degree.

Student loans/allowances

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful.

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