2011/2012 Outdoor Pursuits Course Content 

December 4th - Places for OPC 2012 are almost full and we have a very strong crew so far!  Limited places are still available for you to take part in Mt Hutt OPC 2012, don't miss out! Get in touch with Niki (OPC Manager) for information on how to apply. 

 Check out our MOVIE on youtube to see what life as an OP is like.... (copy and paste the link below to see the movie) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1CivpaBwfg 

Check us out on FACEBOOK - Mt Hutt OPC - to see our latest adventures! Feel free to add us as a friend!

Coca Cola Careers Expo 2011 - Thanks to everyone who came to see us at the Auckland Expo! Our apologies to those of you who came to see us at the Wellington Expo - we were unable to make it due to the Chilean Ash cloud canceling our flight.

  OPC: Learning more about yourself, pushing your limits and discovering your potential!

Mount Hutt College Outdoor Pursuits Course (OPC) has been running for 13 years and supplies a unique challenge for Year 12 and 13 students in their final years of school.

The course focuses very intently on Personal Development. Intensive climbing, tramping, skiing, snowboarding, surfing and kayaking modules are used as mediums to teach new skills such as goal setting, conflict resolution, independence and dream realisation. These unique skills and concepts enable our students to develop a full understanding of exactly who they are, what they want in their life and how to achieve these life goals.

The outdoor activity program has been developed into modules so that students will gain an introduction into a wide range of both summer and winter orientated disciplines, including the planning and management of these trips, outdoor cooking and group management skills.  These modules are run predominately by the supervisors of the course with professional instructors being brought in to increase ratios of instructors to students and create the opportunities for the students to achieve extra qualifications.

As a part of lodge based development, basic skills such as hygiene, budgeting, menu planning and cooking are also covered setting students up to enter the ‘real’ world steps ahead of other school leavers.

There are positions for up to sixteen residential students at the lodge as well as a number of local students!  The residential students spend the entire school year living in a supervised flatting scenario under the care of the same two qualified instructors who run all activities, personal development sessions and are the students’ support network whilst attending school. This creates a very holistic feel for the course and enables the supervisors to be more in touch with each student’s health, interaction and development.

Throughout the year students have many opportunities to achieve not only their academic awards (at Levels 2 and 3) but also international certification  with students studying toward and achieving their Wilderness First Aid Certification.  There will also be the opportunity for some students to gain their Level One Ski/Snowboard Instructor Certification.