Ara co-hosts pinnacle outdoor education symposium

_{Ara kaimahi (staff) and ākonga (student) gather for a photo after the mihi whakatau (official welcome)}

Ara Institute of Canterbury co-hosted the 2025 NZOIA (New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association) National Training Symposium earlier this month, with its Sustainability and Outdoor Education (SOEP) team contributing workshops, logistics, and event management.

The five-day event supported and celebrated outdoor professionals across Aotearoa, helping shape the professional development of outdoor leaders nationwide. A total of 120 participants from across the motu (country) took part.

The symposium opened with two days of assessor training and moderation, with four Ara staff reviewing industry standards and assessment practices. Ara also facilitated professional development workshops, including the national revalidation for bush (ngahere) instructors - a cornerstone qualification in outdoor education.

Three Ara ākonga received NZOIA Diversity Scholarships to attend, reflecting their aspirations and commitment to the field. Mitzi Janes and Ati Underwood are studying the Bachelor of Sustainability and Outdoor Education (BSOE), while Leo Juby is enrolled in the New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor and Adventure Education.

_{Ara Tertiary Award winner Emily Neal and (right) the mihi whakatau concludes with hongi}

The event concluded with the NZOIA Excellence Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions across the outdoor sector. As a tertiary institution with an MOU to deliver NZOIA qualifications, Ara was eligible to nominate a student for a Tertiary Award. Emily Neal, a third-year BSOE student who’s earned four NZOIA qualifications during her time at Ara, won the award.

Ara Senior Academic Curtis Vermeulen, who led all aspects of co-hosting, said the team was proud to contribute to the symposium’s kaupapa (theme).

“Everyone pitched in - taking workshops, lending expertise, or simply helping out behind the scenes. It was great to have the whole team involved,” he said.

_{Ara's student attendees (left) and SOEP team (right)}

Vermeulen is one of four registered NZOIA assessors on the Ara staff, whose expertise span bush, mountain, climbing, sea kayaking, white water, and mountain biking.

“We have our niche specialties, but collectively we cover almost the entire breadth of what outdoor education has to offer. To spend time with other industry professionals is always incredibly valuable,” he said.

Vermeulen noted the symposium came at a meaningful time for Ara, which offers the country’s only outdoor education degree and a breadth of programmes from certificate to master’s level. 

“The symposium gave us a chance to update the sector on the redesign of our degree programme, which sits at the centre of a suite of offerings that make us the largest sustainability and outdoor education provider in Australasia,” he said.

Ara Senior Academic Steve Chapman, an NZOIA member since the 1980s, said the symposium was a highlight, providing a forum to “reconnect, share knowledge, network, challenge each other, moderate and celebrate the work we do.”

“In its early days, the outdoor sector in Aotearoa was passionate but loosely structured - qualifications varied, and there wasn’t a unified voice for outdoor instructors. Over the years, I’ve seen it mature into a more professional, safety-conscious, and inclusive space,” Chapman said.

He credited NZOIA for setting standards, building credibility, and fostering a strong community of practice. “At a time when outdoor education and sustainability programmes are under scrutiny -whether it’s their place in the curriculum, funding, relevance, or safety - NZOIA provides a vital anchor. It gives us a collective voice, ensures quality, and bridges the gap between education, industry and policy,” he said.

Dr Jonathan Lynch, Portfolio Manager for Ara’s Sustainability and Outdoor Education programmes, said the symposium was a valuable opportunity to highlight the academic pathway SOEP study offers.

“This is a chance to share knowledge, challenge assumptions, and strengthen our collective practice. We’re excited to welcome colleagues from across the motu and showcase the depth of expertise we have here at Ara,” he said.

Ara staff led sessions that showcased the institute’s thought leadership in outdoor education and professional practice. Dr Lynch and Dr Hannah Berning’s workshop, The Journey to ‘Best’ Practice, explored research and reflective practice. Dr Lindsey Alton and Ivor Heijnen’s Mythbusters – Rock Edition tested climbing gear to failure in Ara’s engineering lab. Jean Cory-Wright led Navigating the Future; a workshop focused on course design and mapping for orienteering and adventure racing.

Beyond the formal programme, Vermeulen said the symposium fostered valuable whanaungatanga (connection), with a mihi whakatau providing a warm welcome from Stanley Tawa and Charmaine Tukua of Ara’s Te Puna Wānaka.

“The ‘hallway chats’ are a great element of this event where tips and ideas are exchanged. It’s also a buzz to see our ākonga connect with key partners and make those first steps into industry,” he said.

Information about Ara's Sustainability and Outdoor Education offerings can be found here.