UPCOMING EVENTS
Get into the Great Outdoors!
Outdoor events will be showcased over the next few weeks starting with the first of the Get2Go events and the NZSS Rogaining Championships.
Now in its 16th year, the Torpedo7 Get2Go comprises a series of fun regional outdoor adventure challenges, for teams of year 9 and 10 students from all levels of fitness and experience. It’s a little like the Amazing Race mixed with adventure sports including activities like indoor rock climbing (only Bay of Plenty and Wellington events), orienteering, kayaking, stand-up paddling, mountain biking and a little bit of problem solving.
Torpedo7 Get2Go is organised by Hillary Outdoors and supported by sports clubs and organisations right across New Zealand and has been designed to encourage a wider participation in outdoor pursuit activities. There are 12 challenges in the series held in regions around the country spanning as far north as Whangarei and right down to Dunedin and Queenstown, held in Term 3 each year.
Although the Get2Go is all about participation and having fun in the outdoors, there is also a competitive element for schools wanting to try and earn a place in the national Get2Go Final, held over 5-days at our Great Barrier Island Centre in December.
At each regional Get2Go the teams need to undertake either three or four 60-80-minute-long tasks challenges in an allotted time. To maximise their score in each challenge teams will be required to work together, using important team skills such as communication, problem solving, planning and decision. The first Get2Go is on Thursday 27th July in Auckland with the last one scheduled in Central Otago on Friday 17th September. Please visit the School Sport New Zealand website and click on the events tab for more details about a race near you.
The New Zealand Secondary School Rogaining Championships will take place this weekend on Sunday 1st August, Charteris Bay, Canterbury.
Rogaining involves teams of two to five members visit as many checkpoints as possible in the time allowed. Shorter duration rogaines often allow solo competitors. Checkpoints are scored differently depending on level of difficulty in reaching them; therefore, teams choose a strategy (for example, to visit many low score checkpoints) and route selection becomes a vital component.
Teams travel entirely on foot, navigating by map and compass between checkpoints in terrain that varies from open farmland to hilly forest. Teams travel at their own pace and anyone from children to grandparents can experience the personal satisfaction that comes from cross-country navigation at their own level of competition and comfort. Team members stay within earshot of each other.
All the best to all those adventurers who will taking on the ‘Great Outdoors’.