Otago Polytechnic has announced that their Outdoor and Adventure Education programme will be based from their new Wānaka campus starting February 2020.

This programme has been a part of the Otago Polytechnic curriculum for over 20 years, and has trained hundreds of graduates that have helped make the outdoor and adventure industry a safer place.

“The decision to move to Wānaka, will mean we have our core learning tools right on our doorstep – mountain biking tracks, the lake, whitewater parks, rock climbing and the rest,” said Melanie Kees from Otago Polytech. 

“We have fantastic relationships with many outdoor and adventure companies in the region and we hope to continue to grow and build on these once we are based in Wānaka.”

The outdoor programme is currently based in Cromwell however that will be shut down and moved in its entirety to Cliff Wilson Drive in Wānaka. 

The first intake next year will have 12-16 students with scope for more in the future. They will graduate with a New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor and Adventure Education (multi-skilled) (Level 4). “We’re hoping to have a Level 5 Outdoor and Adventure Education in 2021,” said Pete Eley, senior lecturer. 

The course will employ two full time staff and also a number of local contractors, as well as using a number of local businesses for student opportunities.

“Our programme is a fantastic opportunity for anyone in the area to follow their dreams and actually gain a qualification in something they are passionate about. The programme is also a fantastic pathway for college students who have an interest in the outdoors and wish to pursue this,” said Kees.