Surf Lifeguards Complete Life-Changing Outward Bound Leadership Course

Thirteen SLSNZ volunteer lifeguards recently completed Ngaru Huhuka, a bespoke 21-day Outward Bound Classic course.

The group represented clubs from Northland to Otago, and had been identified as emerging leaders within their club or region. One of the first challenges for the group was to develop a relationship as a team, with many of them only meeting for the first time on day one.

“This experience taught me the importance of forming a great team within a small unit and the capability we all had as surf lifesavers to get things done!” said Michael Phillips, course attendee.

Attending Outward Bound in late winter added challenge to the bush and mountain environment, in which most of the course operates. This combination provided some of the biggest highs and deepest lows for the participants.

“The most memorable moment was climbing the three peaks on our big hiking scheme. The views during sunset and sunrise, alongside the beautiful stars at night, was a very spiritual experience making me feel connected to nature and keen to get out there and do something similar again,” said Michael Phillips.

The sailing activity was the biggest challenge for attendee Ben Isles.

“The first challenge was sailing, as it wasn’t something I was familiar with. Every time a 30-knot gust hit us, I felt a lot of pressure. I wasn’t a fan of how much the boat tipped, and I was quite afraid on our first big day of sailing. During those moments, I found that closing my eyes, taking a deep breath, and resetting helped me manage my fear. While it didn’t solve the problem completely, it allowed me to feel less scared and face the situation more calmly,” he said.

The challenges presented through Ngaru Huhuka stretched the 13 attendees to their physical and mental limits. They participated in sailing, kayaking, navigating, hiking, setting up remote camp sites – not to mention the solo challenge.

The Outward Bound instructors Josh and Alice were incredible mentors, creating opportunities for growth and development through engaging activities. All the participants agreed it was a life changing experience, that has supported them in their development as SLSNZ members and in the rest of their lives.

“Personally, I found the solo experience the most challenging,” says Emily Joyce. “I have never spent that amount of time alone in one place before. I also felt this was where I experienced some of the most growth as I had to allow myself to reflect on all aspects of my life and think about what I'd like to change/do in my everyday life to challenge myself.”

Ben says that the course highlight was definitely the people. “The friendships and connections I made on this trip with other clubbies was awesome - takes ‘in it for life to a new level. I truly hope that Ngaru Huhuka continues because it was a fantastic experience. It brought together people from all over New Zealand with a shared passion and created bonds that will last a lifetime.”

The course was facilitated by Outward Bound to support SLSNZ leadership values. The course name Ngaru Huhuka describes the leadership journey of members through the metaphor of a foaming wave.