All Years 9–10 students are expected to attend Outdoor Education camps in Term 4. Further details regarding timing, activities and gear are mailed to parents prior to the camps.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award focuses on challenging young people to be the best they can be, to discover and build on their strengths and interests through service, skills, physical recreation and adventurous journeys.
There are three award levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
It is compulsory for all Year 10 boarders, but Year 10 dayboys may also join the scheme. If boys commit to the award, by Year 13 they may gain the prestigious Gold Award, which is presented by the Governor-General and a magnificent addition to any curriculum vitae.
Outdoor Education Department
Graeme Christey
Graeme Christey
A nationally ranked distance running coach, Graeme Christey is passionate about supporting and training young athletes to compete in track and field, road race and cross-country events. He has been coaching for more than 20 years, both at College and for the Papanui Toc H Athletics Club. Graeme has coached many athletes to secondary school, Canterbury and national titles, as well as preparing New Zealand representatives for international meets. Several of his students have been offered athletics scholarships to American universities.
Graeme was the SPARC Canterbury–Westland Volunteer Coach of the Year in 2009 and received the Athletics Canterbury Community Service for Coaching award in 2018.
MiC Outdoor Education and Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award
A former competitive athlete with a lifetime’s passion for the outdoors, Graeme is a leader in College’s Outdoor Education. Since 2000, he has attended most College-run camps for Years 9–10. The Year 10 programme is designed for every boy to achieve the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey, incorporated in the Immerse & Inspire Programme. He finds the positive impact of the outdoors – where students improve their fitness and strength, gain self-confidence, and challenge and surprise themselves – to be inspirational. For Graeme, a personal highlight was taking a group to the jungle in Borneo in December 2019. He is delighted to see both the re-emergence of the Venture Group at College, and more staff becoming involved in the Outdoor Education programme.