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Outdoor Pursuits Centre Kayak Education Fund

In July 2002 the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand (OPC) and Genesis Energy agreed on a mitigation package to offset the adverse effects of the Tongariro Power Scheme on recreational amenity values.

As part of the package a fund was formed to assist OPC to provide kayak education to young New Zealanders. Our aim is to encourage young people into the sport of kayaking in the central North Island though high-quality instruction.

The fund is managed by a joint Genesis Energy and the OPC committee, operating under the umbrella of the OPC Charitable Trust. Committee members are Graham Seatter and Kip Mandeno, both from OPC, and Elinor Watson from Genesis Energy.

 

Objectives

Provide kayak education for young New Zealanders by:
  • Providing sponsorship opportunities for financially disadvantaged students to attend kayak courses at OPC
  • Purchasing a library of contemporary books, videos and resources for the development of students on courses at OPC
  • Employing world class kayakers to run workshops on advanced techniques to raise the level of recreational kayaking and kayaking instruction in New Zealand
  • Providing funding for kayak instructors to travel to other organisations/areas to enhance their skills and utilise these in New Zealand.

 

Grants

Funding is given to six key areas:
  • Disadvantaged students on kayak courses
  • Expert kayak instruction workshops
  • Advanced kayakers to attend kayak courses
  • School kayak instruction days
  • Teacher kayak instruction workshops
  • OPC resources

 

For more information about upcoming courses and scholarships please contact:

OPC
Private Bag 37
Turangi
Phone 0800 OUT THERE (688 843)
Email opc@opc.org.nz
Website: www.opc.org.nz