When area schools in the Top of the South did not have the numbers to send their own team on the Spirit of Adventure Trust’s Year 10 trophy voyage, they joined forces to make a team.
Ten students from four area schools in Murchison, Tapawera, Rai Valley, and Karamea formed a team to crew on the Spirit of New Zealand sail training ship around the Hauraki Gulf for five days.
Murchison Area School deputy principal Sarah Peacock says four teams made up the crew of 40 students who competed in a series of challenges for the trophy as well as experiencing huge personal development.
Five students from Murchison joined the youth development voyage and Sarah says they were able to have that experience by joining forces with the other area schools.
“The reason we wanted to try it was because in the past we haven’t been able to provide that opportunity. Ten Year 10 students is a big ask in an area school. So, I reached out to the other area schools and said ‘we can’t muster up enough to form a team, but maybe if we can make up a team’.”
Sarah arranged flights for students from the four different schools and they were still getting to know each other as they formed a team to compete on the voyage.
“When they arrived at the airport they didn’t know each other and it was a real challenge to work as a team. Then they came second and we were stoked!
“They were super stoked and had an absolute blast and were buzzing when they came back.”
Sarah says the team was up against three schools where the students all knew each other. Plus, one teacher went with each school and so students from three of the area schools did not know their teacher before the voyage.
Sarah says the students have formed good connections with other students at the other area schools which expands their social group.
She says many of them will meet again at the Top of the South Area School Tournament.
