Working at Outward Bound (OB) as an Instructor I saw first hand the phenomenal effect a challenging experience in the outdoors can have on an individual. When people share this with a group literally in the same boat you can form lifelong bonds. All of the moments I've seen people become the versions of themselves they want to be has motivated me to want to help even more people get to OB. 

$63,000 is what it costs to send 14 students from Hawke's Bay to OB on what is called the Kaweka Course. These 14 young people then come back to Hawke's Bay and stay connected in their region as well as give back to the communities where they are from. 

Ever since Waka ama was introduced at Outward Bound NZ during my time there I felt a connection to it. One day the thought of "I wonder if you could cross Hawke Bay by waka" came into my mind. You know those seemingly innocuous thoughts you get from time to time about something big, daunting, exciting, adventurous or uncertain that just tend to sit in the back of your mind but keep bubbling to the surface like that loud shirt tucked away in the wardrobe you're not quite sure if you're ready to wear out in public..well this was one of those thoughts. We would often say to students as they left OB that their course was just a practice for the real OB course that is their life they were about to go back to. I see this mission as my own version of that.

To undertake anything of value has always been a challenge. If this was going to be easy someone would have already done it.... Don't worry you don't have to do it, I just need your help to enable more people to get to Outward Bound. 

Change is a constant in this world and Outward Bound helps people build resilience and self awareness to be better able to navigate and steer change in their own lives. 

Nga mihi nui

Bernie. 

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