Whitireia graduates Outward Bound

Three Whitireia Outdoor Adventure graduates have been successful in securing prestigious positions at Outward Bound in the Marlborough Sounds.

Thomas Taptiklis, Susana Scott and Jorge Sanchez Lopez have all been selected and offered positions as Instructors.  This is a fantastic achievement for these graduates said Sharon Nicholas, Programme Manager, Outdoor Adventure, Whitireia New Zealand.  “Our graduates secured three of the seven places offered”.  

A five day selection course at Outward Bound formed part of the process for these graduates along with the facilitation of a teaching session.  “Facilitation is a key aspect of the Whitireia Diploma in Outdoor Adventure programme” said Nicholas. “These graduates were well equipped for the selection process and ultimately their outdoor adventure careers”.    As well as participating in the selection course, these graduates also had to demonstrate their general outdoor instructional ability and technical skills.  Individuals also needed to present and demonstrate a strong ability to build rapport and relate to diverse groups of people in a wide range of situations. 

The Outdoor Adventure programmes at Whitireia are proving to be very popular with enquiries far exceeding the number of places available.   The programmes are now offered from the Whitireia Kāpiti campus, moving to this location in 2012 after several years in Porirua.   Relocating these programmes to the Kāpiti campus positions them closer to some of New Zealand’s spectacular outdoor areas. 

Students who study on the outdoor adventure programmes at Whitireia become well trained to safely and effectively lead and instruct groups in New Zealand’s great outdoors.