Journeys is an outdoor adventure programme with no cost for Central Otago girls. We have a welcoming and supportive female only environment so that girls feel safe and can have a go at some new challenges.
Journeys runs for two hours one evening a week in local wild places on mountain bike and on foot, alongside inspiring wāhine and older girls. We can provide all equipment and outdoors clothing that is required. We have a summer 12 week Mountain Bike season, and a 12 week winter On Foot season. Additional opportunities such as Away Days in the holidays and overnight adventures are offered to our older teenage girls.
Alexandra is surrounded by many kilometers of unique mountain biking single track. Mountain bike Journeys will introduce girls to adventuring on bikes at a level that is suitable for everyone, and gradually teach mountain bike skills along each weekly Journey as we explore new local wild places. We will stop along the way to take notice of our amazing outdoor places, share kai and learn mind skills related to self confidence and resilience which we can use when biking, and in other parts of life.
Bike To Explore
Mountain Biking
Bike To Explore
Bike to Explore uses mountain bikes to get places where we can then explore further, such as finding caves, scree running, and playing in our local wild places. We still teach beginner bike skills like gear changes and safe braking.
Mountain Biking
We focus more on mountain bike fundamental skills, starting with easy/beginner tracks and progressing as the whole group is ready, and will bike on a wide range of tracks of varying difficulties over the season, which take us into many different local wild places.
These adventures involve some walking, scrambling, route finding and navigation. We hang out together outdoors at dusk and in the darkness, and discover local wild places we didn’t know existed. Sharing kai and a hot drink, and learning how to take care of ourselves in challenging weather is an important part of On Foot Adventures. We learn about perseverence and team work, and the navigation and map reading skills we develop can help with future missions in the outdoors.
Young women who already have some Journeys experience and are Year 11 and older are invited to apply to be part of our youth leadership programme. These young women instruct younger girls alongside our volunteer instructors. We have two annual weekend training camps as well as regular group meetings or one on one mentoring to support our young leaders with their individual growth. They also have the opportunity to become involved in other aspects of our programme development or take on responsibility for parts of the efficient running of Journeys.
