Funding » Tasman $200 Ships Recipient Reports » 2014 Award Recipients
Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to undertake a 10 day youth development voyage onboard the spirit of adventure, with the support of TDC. This support shown is hugely appreciated and helped make possible what was the best experience of my life.
On the 21st of July of this year, I boarded the tall ship in Auckland and become a part of voyage 671, during which I created memories and met people I will never forget. As I love sailing and being at sea, the ship itself was a huge highlight. I will never forget the feeling of being up the 40m high mast, looking out over the ocean, or helping set/stow the sails out on the yards (shown in photo). It was incredible.
We were also fortunate enough to swim with dolphins for almost an hr one morning which was phenomenal and an added bonus. The crew onboard were some of the most inspiring people i'd ever been lucky enough to meet, who were and still are huge role models for me, and the way I live my life.
Another highlight for me was the final day of the voyage, trainee day, where we as the trainees run the ship. I was extremely privileged to take on the role of captain, and to this day I am still not sure how/why I was chosen. However, this opportunity I was given made that day the best of my life as I was surrounded by an amazing crew and people, doing something I loved.
This experience has had a lasting impact on me, and a key lesson I learnt on board was everyone has leadership potential. This was a hugely important lesson for me, one I plan to use hugely in my leadership role within my school, Nelson College for Girls, next year. This role I can only attribute to the experience in leadership and life, I gained from the spirit, and to the the spirt and TDC, for that I am ever thankful.
Once again, thank you so much for supporting me in this experience which I am certain I will never forget.
Thank you Tasman District Council so much for contributing to the cost of F14ME for me. You really made this memory making experience possibly.
While on the camp I made friends to last a lifetime, tried many new and exciting activities like laser skirmish, raft building and many more. We spent time doing teamwork challenges in the forest, balancing along tightropes, building then walking on stilts and a day of challenging water activities including a massive water slide which we kept sliding right off the end of.
During our stay in Waitomo we went into three caves. We first learnt all about the caves, how they are formed, and then took a boat ride seeing thousands of glowworms lighting the cave. The second cave we entered was less touristy and had some really amazing stalagmites and stalactites which the guide told us all about, how they are formed and that it takes between 100-500 years for them to grow 1cm.
Our most exciting adventure was when we did the tubing. After putting on wetsuits which made us walk like penguins, we all waddled off to the cave entrance which to our surprise was a hole in the ground with a ladder sticking out. After we had all squeezed down the ladder we enter the coolest cave yet, which had a stream running down the middle and had glowworms everywhere. We crawled, swam, wadded and tubed through the cave, jumping off rocks in our tubes, and explored the natural goodness of the cave mud with mud facials.
Thank you again from giving me the opportunity to have this amazing experience. It was a week to remember. Kirby
Thank you Tasman District Council for the $200 sponsorship towards my Outward Bound Course, which I completed in December, and gained many benefits from.
I undertook a series of challenging activities such as river kayaking, sailing and tramping. This course was designed to push my emotional and physical limits.
My favourite part was the solo expedition where I was left for two nights alone in the Queen Charlotte Sound. I was allocated food rations and had to construct my own shelter with nothing more than a tent fly. It was the longest time I have ever been alone in my life, but it was very relaxing and gave me lots of time to think of my life.
I have gained many great friends from the course and the memories will always be with me.
Once more I would like to thank you for your contribution to my experience asit really did help me. Hugh