Funding To Support Climbing At Hillary Outdoors, Tongariro
If there is one organisation in Aotearoa known for its skill in getting young people climbing, it’s the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoors Education Trust (Hillary Outdoors). That’s why the NZAC Tūpiki Trust is delighted to be able to support the Hillary Outdoors Tongariro Centre to deliver the next level of teaching and climbing experience to thousands of young people each year.
In 2020 Hillary Outdoors embarked on a three phase project to create a top-quality climbing training facility for tertiary students at a total cost of $ 773,289.
Hillary Outdoors delivers both the New Zealand Certificate (Level 4) and the New Zealand Diploma (Level 5) in Outdoor and Adventure Education from at its Tongariro Centre. Core to the tertiary programme is the climbing qualification. Twenty-five percent of each course (Certificate and Diploma) or 300 hours is dedicated to climbing – both rock and alpine. The NZAC Tūpiki Trust is supporting phase 3 of that Climbing Programme project and has approved $250,539 co-funding which will enable construction of an all-weather indoor wall for the Centre
Because courses are often hampered by weather which can disrupt schedules and the momentum created in the classroom, funding for an all-weather facility has been high priority. Tūpiki Trust funding for an indoor high-spec climbing wall will allow highly technical lessons as well as learning alongside instructors to be delivered in a safe and controlled environment. The $773,289 project provides a climbing facility for teaching all skills associated with climbing, from movement skills through to many technical skills (belaying, anchors, abseiling, multi-pitch systems).
As part of the training facility, the grant provided by Tūpiki Trust will enable the creation of a dedicated classroom for the tertiary programme that will be next to the climbing wall so that learners can apply what is covered in theory almost immediately in practice.
Climbing equipment provided under this donation is for high-use items which are essential to have on hand to operate at the safest standard. Tūpiki Trust funding will enable Hillary Outdoors to purchase different sized climbing gear to ensure safety of their clients and tertiary programme students.
We look forward to collaborating on this project to support and sustain the development of safe climbing education and practice in Aotearoa through the Hillary Outdoors tertiary programme.
