We are uniquely placed to deliver exceptional learning opportunities for schools.
We bring to life lessons in communication, respect, teamwork and leadership.
We build courage, resilience and determination.
Through learning new skills of navigation, sailing, cooking – and living aboard a maxi-yacht – each participant gains a huge sense of achievement by the end of their journey.
We work with your school to tailor goals to your desired learning outcomes. The key competencies of the NZ Curriculum are all developed naturally during our sailing journeys. We design a journey tailored to your school - whether its outdoor education, humanities, social studies, sustainability or leadership.
Our yachts create a perfect setting for assessing students whether it be for a PE achievement standard or a Geography standard. So, if an assessor of standards for Physical Education Geography accompanies the students on their journey we will work with you to create learning situations so that these can be formally assessed.
“When students are exposed to challenges where they are responsible for something other than themselves, it puts them in a position where they must be open to hearing other ideas and negotiating as a group so that they all play a part and have input.
On this trip there were plenty of opportunities where our students had to lead, but also be an active and positive ‘follower’ which is almost just as important in dynamic group situations
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Key Competencies
The key competencies of the NZ Curriculum develop naturally with an experience on board our yachts, giving students the opportunities to practice and demonstrate key skills as our crew work with you to facilitate the learning journey.
• Thinking – Problem solving, planning, key decision making, discovering new places and ideas.
• Using language, symbols and texts – Maps, reading and calculations from weather maps, charts and the vessel instruments.
• Managing self – Goal setting, time and resource management, and self-motivation. Being resourceful, reliable, resilient, achieving goals and managing challenges.
• Relating to others – Listening, acknowledging others point of view, showing empathy, negotiating and sharing ideas.
• Participating and contributing – Active involvement in the schools culture and wider communities. A sense of belonging and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments.
Curriculum subjects that have typically been applied to our journeys are Health & PE, Science, Social Science and Education for Sustainability. Students are involved in the operation of the boat. They work together in 3 rotating watch groups, each group with specifically assigned tasks to operate the boat for the duration of the sailing journey. All students are involved in cooking meals and daily cleaning of boats. We offer a range of team building exercises to support personal development skills.
“This experience was genuinely the highlight of students five years at Alfriston College. When they shared their trip reflections on the final day, it was very moving to hear the many things they would take away from this journey, how they would apply it to their lives and their insights into themselves and those around them during the trip.
At the end of the four-day expedition aboard this yacht, the students disembarked with a massive sense of achievement. They had all played their roles to sail around Great Barrier Island working together as a team and respecting each individual person’s contribution.”
We are ready when you are:
To make the planning as smooth as possible we have already prepared most of the documentation for you:
· Risk Management Forms
· Parental Consent Forms
· Medical Information and consent
· Gear Lists
· Menus
We will suggest itineraries for the number of days you wish to sail with us and tailor activities to meet your desired learning outcomes. There are many New Zealand Curriculum standards we can work with you on to deliver whilst on a journey with us aboard Steinlager 2 or Lion New Zealand. The crew on board will facilitate the journey, team activities and create scenarios to enable the TIC to assess the students for the chosen standards.
We provide the relevant safety equipment for yacht sailing - a life jacket, wet weather gear and a harness.
Weather is a big determining factor in the direction that we sail. Remember that these yachts have sailed around the world - so are capable of sailing in any weather. Our vessels are eligible to journey anywhere between the Bay of Islands, the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park (Auckland) and Tauranga. We have access to a lot of areas with limited land access and can provide a once in a lifetime learning experiences.
