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Outdoor Adventure Education field trip

Outdoor Adventure Education

Outdoor adventure is an ideal career for people who want to learn the tactics and psychology that go into building a team, as well as how to guide and instruct others in outdoor adventure activities. 

Our programmes will challenge your potential and see you build transferable outdoor skills specialising in areas such as:

  • Water-based activities (paddle boarding, snorkelling, kayaking, river crossing, surfing) 
  • Land-based activities (mountaineering, biking, tramping, rock climbing, caving, alpine)
  • Tikanga and kaitiakitanga
  • Outdoor leadership
  • Safety management

    You will gain the practical skills and knowledge required to become an outdoor instructor. With hands-on experience, you will be guided by our industry-expert tutors, who will equip you to handle yourself and your clients in the outdoors. As you progress, you will discover how to:

    • Plan programmes
    • Undertake risk assessments
    • Organise safety procedures
    • Check equipment
    • Run rescues
    • Organise bookings, food and transport
    • Maintain trip logbooks

    Embedded with lots of outdoor adventures and pursuits, your study is also supported and guided by kaitiakitanga, local tikanga and kawa.

    Pathways

    Sport Science and Human Performance pathway diagram

    To check what you need to gain entry to a course, review the entry criteria available on each programme page. These assist you in understanding what qualifications or experience are typically required to gain entry. You can contact our team at info@wintec.ac.nz or 0800 2 Wintec at any time for further guidance.

    About the faculty

    Sport and recreation brings considerable value in terms of economic benefits, health savings and social and cultural gains. 

    It is estimated to contribute around $5 billion to the New Zealand economy each year – on par with the dairy industry. Research has shown that sport and active recreation resulted in gains in productivity and health benefits valued at a further $1 billion.

    Our Centre for Sport Science & Human Performance offers students' qualifications in training, sport medicine, fitness, rehabilitation and sport psychology that will help them forge a career in sport science anywhere in the world.

    To be internationally competitive, professional athletes rely on skilled practitioners for the latest and best scientific information and techniques. The fitness and recreation industries are becoming increasingly specialized, requiring a range of qualified professionals.

    Our sports science laboratories at our Rotokauri campus in north Hamilton enable students to work alongside athletes as part of their study. Post-graduate qualifications are tailored to meet the research needs of athletes in a range of disciplines. 

    We offer practical, industry-based qualifications for fitness industry professionals and expert outdoor adventure instructors. Our qualifications have been developed alongside employers to ensure students learn relevant, required skills and knowledge. We are affiliated with key sports bodies, regionally and nationally, including Sport Waikato and High Performance Sport New Zealand – both of whom are located on our Rotokauri campus.

    Our staff ​are experts in their chosen fields, often practicing athletes themselves and engaged in industry research. Many are connected with regional and national sports teams in a variety of roles such as coaches, managers and nutritionists.

    Read more about the Centre.

    Prospectus (course guide)

    The Wintec Prospectus (otherwise known as a course guide) outlines everything you need to know about Wintec. It contains information about the Wintec campuses, student life, and the programmes that are on offer.

    Access your copy of the Wintec Prospectus

    The Wintec Prospectus (course guide) is available by downloading the file - click on a document below to access the file. Alternatively, to request a copy via email or the post, please complete the form below.

    Request an emailable or printed copy of the Prospectus

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