Free outdoor education programme for Central girls, Journeys, has completed its latest three-month winter season with 50 girls and women exploring the great outdoors.

Caitlin Shea (17), a Year 12 Dunstan High School student, has been volunteering as a co-leader this year, along with participating in the older girls' programme ‘Inspire’.

She said becoming a co-leader had helped her confidence with talking in front of a group.

“I’d recommend becoming a leader, the leadership camp [in Hawea] was really fun. I got to know people around my age group who I wouldn’t know otherwise.”

Caitlin said the hours she spends as a co-leader are contributing to her Duke of Edinburgh Award and she loved being physical and getting out of the house.

Journeys participants warm up during a mini-rogaine held in August. PHOTO: Journeys Central Otago Facebook

A recent Journeys newsletter reported girls were adventuring on nights of steady rain and in freezing fog and subzero temperatures, and one week in a horizontal snow blizzard.

“We are constantly receiving feedback about the enormous amount of joy our young women get from Journeys - being the highlight of weeks, and something that is hugely looked forward to and filling souls. 

“We always take a short moment to wonder why, as at a glance the Journeys formula is so incredibly simple - we're literally just hanging out in our wild places, exploring, sharing snacks and having fun,” the newsletter said. 

Journey’s leader Isla Nelson enjoys the winter views and sunsets with a group of girls. PHOTO: Supplied 

Alexandra-based business Dunstan Automotive is a new supporter of Journeys.

Business owner Butch (Michael) Henderson and partner Amanda (Mandy) Kidd said it started with daughter Mackenzy joining in term three.

“[Journeys] put a call out for people to bring some flasks to use for the nights the girls were going [out], so we decided to buy enough flasks for them and the drinks to go in it.” 

Mandy said a newsletter put a call out for a new basecamp and Dunstan Automotive decided it wanted to help so offered up a garage space they are leasing.

“We are fully funding them to be in there . . . and our landlords are aware of this and happy for us to do so.”

The new basecamp has plenty of room and includes a toilet, kitchen and office. 

It is currently getting fitted out with functional storage for bikes and gear.

Journeys co-founder Megan Longman said the plan is to get some Journeys participants to take the lead with “beautifying” the space and she hoped it would be in operation from late November.

Before now gear has been stored in one of the instructor’s garages. 

Journeys, which was registered as a charitable trust in 2020, was founded by Megan Longman, Kim Froggatt and Penny Smale, based on their own outdoor experiences while they were growing up.

Along with the Inspire group, aged 16 to 24, there were eight groups of girls aged 11 to 15, nine Year 11 and 12 co-instructors, and adult women instructors in the 12-week programme held over winter. 

The summer season begins in November, which will see girls adventure on their mountain bikes in Central’s wild places, and those in Inspire will bike and do some water activities. 

Mountain biking groups are for Year 7 to 11 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Inspire will be on Mondays.

The summer season runs for 12 weeks, six in term four, and six in term one of 2025. 

Major funders Central Lakes Trust, Sport Otago, Otago Community Trust and Lottery Grants Board combined with widespread community collaboration between families, schools, local businesses and clubs makes the programme possible.

For more information about Journeys summer programme register online.

More information is on Journeys Central App listing.

Read more: New free outdoor programme for Central kōhine