Auckland Grammar School is pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for fifth form students to gain valuable skills in how to be effective leaders through experiencing challenging situations within an outdoor education context.

The challenge consists of 4 full days living and sailing onboard Lion New Zealand. Lion New Zealand was the late Sir Peter Blake’s 78 foot Whitbread ocean race yacht, and therefore provides an amazing environment where participants are motivated to reach their full potential and develop self-confidence. This boat cannot operate on its own, so it establishes the perfect atmosphere for team building exercises and personal development. The mere act of sailing the vessel and operating her efficiently promotes self-reliance and interdependence.

Each student is involved in helming the yacht, passage planning and safe navigation of the vessel. Hoisting, setting and dowsing of the vessel's sails, food preparation and cooking for the team along with other housekeeping also occurs daily as required. In this environment the students become familiar with challenge, adversity, perseverance and risk management, all of which are difficult to provide within the limitations of daily life.

The yacht offers dorm style accommodation, as in original racing conditions. The students always need their sleep on-board as they are presented with physical and mental challenges within both the Bay of Islands and the Hauraki Gulf. Although weather dependent, early morning swims and sailing in a night-shift operation one of the evenings are regular features of this experience!

The dates of the 2012 challenge are Thursday 6 September - Sunday 9 September. This occurs during the allocated Teacher Only Days and weekend of Week 8, Term 3 (‘Tournament Week’), so no academic classes will be affected. The camp experience is available to 18 students only. Due to the interest that arises from this valuable opportunity each student is always required to complete a written application. The application form is then reviewed by the Master in Charge of Leadership Programmes to determine a list of successful candidates.

Such a worthwhile opportunity has only been achieved through the support of our Old Boys’ network, and contacts within Explore NZ, the company responsible for providing opportunities onboard the Lion New Zealand.

Please feel free to click into a few folders of previous camp photos to the right of this page if you wish to get a taste for the Form 5 Leadership Challenge or alternatively visit the yacht’s website www.lionnewzealand.co.nz to appreciate the wonderful opportunity.