The Ministry of Education’s proposal to remove Outdoor Education from the senior school general subject list and relegate it to a narrow vocational pathway is not cool, it’s actually deeply concerning.
At a time when our young people are facing unprecedented challenges like anxiety, depression, excessive screen time, obesity and a decline in social connection – stripping Outdoor Education from NCEA is counter-intuitive.
Outdoor Education is not a “nice-to-have.” It is a proven and powerful antidote to the issues holding our youth back.
I speak from experience. As a student at Westlake Boys High School, Outdoor Education was the making of me. It shaped my character, resilience, and ability to face the unexpected. These skills proved vital when my life was turned upside down after losing a leg when Mt. Ruapehu unexpectedly erupted many moons ago. The lessons I learnt through the outdoors prepared me to overcome that life-changing challenge, and many more since then.
That’s why I founded the William Pike Challenge (WPC). Today, WPC inspires and energises thousands of students from 120+ schools across New Zealand.
We empower Year 6 + students to build resilience, confidence, wellbeing, and life skills through three core components: outdoor activities, community service, and passion projects.
The results speak for themselves. From our 2024 student survey:
- 93% said WPC encouraged them to step outside their comfort zone.
- 92% said it helped them persevere through challenges.
- 88% said it helped them feel more confident in themselves.
- 87% said it made them more willing to help others.
- 83% said it inspired them to support their local community.
These aren’t just statistics, they’re transformations.
One student reflected: “I’m really proud that I did the William Pike Challenge. It made me try things I never thought I would. I learned that I can do hard things.”
Another shared how they overcame their fear of heights on a climbing wall: “I was terrified, but when I reached the top, I realised I was stronger than I thought.”
This is the power of Outdoor Education. It creates life-changing, real-world learning experiences that a classroom alone cannot replicate. As Hillary Outdoors instructor Bev Smith put it:
“The outdoors is a powerful tool in terms of people, sorting out where they are at, in terms of confidence. There are no masks. On a mountain or a rock face, you can’t hide the fact that you are scared. You can’t pretend.
In a very short time you can have some intense learning and life-changing situations which would take a long time and a lot of talking to achieve in a classroom. It might never happen at all in a classroom.”
Today’s students urgently need these kinds of experiences. Rising rates of childhood obesity, anxiety, depression, and social isolation are well documented.
Even more alarming, one study estimates that only 7% of New Zealand youth consistently meet the recommended daily activity guidelines (NZMJ, Otago University affiliated). Meanwhile, young people are spending more than seven hours a day on screens.
Outdoor Education directly addresses these challenges. It promotes physical health, mental wellbeing, teamwork, and a connection to nature and community.
Just as importantly, it develops the so-called “soft skills” like; adaptability, communication, leadership and empathy.
It’s these skills that employers consistently rank as the most valuable in a future where artificial intelligence will make many technical skills redundant.
Through WPC, I’ve seen students discover new passions, contribute meaningfully to their communities, and grow into leaders. I’ve seen shy students find their voice, anxious students build courage, and disconnected students form friendships and purpose. These are the outcomes our education system should be doubling down on, not diminishing.
By removing Outdoor Education from NCEA, the Ministry risks sending a dangerous message: that time spent outdoors developing resilience and interpersonal skills is less valuable than time spent preparing for tests. Nothing could be further from the truth. Outdoor Education isn’t a distraction from academic learning. It enhances it by giving students the confidence, focus, and motivation to succeed.
The William Pike Challenge calls on the Ministry of Education to reconsider this short-sighted move. We urge them to engage meaningfully with educators, employers, and communities before making changes that could have lasting negative impacts on a generation of young people and the outdoor sector.
Our young people deserve an education system that equips them not only with academic knowledge, but with the courage, resilience, and humanity to thrive in an uncertain world.
Outdoor Education is not optional. It is essential.
Please help us keep Outdoor Education in our schools.
Sign the petition today and support one of the best causes for our future generations.
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