Welcome to Issue 8 of your MyWatchmates newsletter. Hopefully the winter weather hasn’t stopped you from getting out and having adventures. Anakiwa is busy as usual, with four 21 day courses starting on the 7th of June and four 8 day courses happening throughout the month.

This issue takes a look at Outward Bounds value of Service, Gerard’s London Marathon, and a few goodies from the Anakiwa Shop.

Feature
Making Service an integral part of your life.

Regular Features
Dan's Environmental Corner - Go and see the Sea
Website Tip – Changing your address

Regular Pieces
Inspiration –  London Marathon
Where are we in 2008?

What's New
From the Shop
Who’s new
Live the Dream
A big thank you to...

“No such thing as a selfless act” – a topic for debate during a Classic course followed by the service scheme. Whether you cleared paths for DOC, painted a fence for a local kindy, visited older members of the community or helped another watch with one of their activities, service would have been one of the schemes you took part in and one of the values discussed during your Outward Bound course. What do you remember about your service scheme? What did you gain from it? How have you put this value back into your life in the real world?

“I believe the service component of Outward Bound courses is, in part, to allow participants to experience, in some cases for the first time, the joy of giving something back to others or to the environment - the smile that grows from within as a result is more than sufficiently fulfilling - there is no need for any thanks or other reward.” – Amy McNabb (OB student).  Since Amy has been back in the ‘real world’, she has volunteered for the Wellington Boys and Girls Institute as a mentor for a young boy in the Challenge for Change programme.  The Challenge for Change programme is an early intervention programme for 9 – 13 yr olds who are beginning to show signs of difficulty.  

Other students have told stories of picking up litter whenever they see it, helping out specific organisations or raising funds for charity. Service is commonly understood as a regular commitment of time or to a particular programme, such as the NZ Coastguard, St Johns, Youthline and many other volunteer organisations. Service (according to Michael Henderson’s “Finding True North” 

The following excerpt from Richard Carlson’s “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”

“To become a kinder, more loving individual requires action. Yet, ironically, there is nothing specific you have to do, no prescription to follow. Rather, most genuine acts of kindness and generosity seem natural; they stem from a type of thinking where service and giving have been integrated into the persons thought process.
                Several teachers and philosophers that I have learned from have suggested that I begin my day by asking myself the question, “How can I be of service?” I have found this to be useful in reminding me of the multitude of ways that I can be helpful to others. When I take the time to ask this question, I find answers popping up all day long.
                If one of your goals is to be of more help to others, you will find the most appropriate ways. Your chances to be of service are endless. Sometimes the best way that I can be of service is to offer my home to a friend (or even a stranger) in need. Other times, it’s to give my seat to an elderly person on the train, help a youngster on the monkey bars, speak to a group, write a book, help out in my daughter’s school, give a donation to a charity, or pick up litter on the road. The key, I believe, is to remember that being of service isn’t a one time effort. It’s not doing something nice for someone and then wondering why others aren’t being nice too, or doing things for us. Instead, a life of service is a lifelong process, a way of thinking about life. Does the trash need to be taken out? If so, go ahead and take it out even if it’s not your turn. Is someone you know being difficult? Maybe they need a hug or someone to listen to them. Are you aware of a charity that is in trouble? Could you possibly give a little extra this month?
                I have learned that the best way to be of service is often very simple – it’s those little, quiet, often unnoticed acts of kindness that I can choose on a daily basis – being supportive of a new endeavor by my spouse, or simply taking the time and energy to listen. I know that I have a long way to go toward my goal of becoming a more selfless person. However, I also know that as I have attempted to integrate service into my life, I have felt better and better about the way I choose to live. There is an ancient saying, “Giving is its own reward.” It’s really true. When you give, you also receive. In fact, what you receive is directly proportional to what you give. As you give more freely of yourself in your own unique ways, you will experience more feelings than you ever thought possible. Everyone wins, especially you.”

So you don’t need to wait until you have the time to volunteer, or until you find an organisation that needs your help in order to put service into your life after Outward Bound. Have a think as you go about every day life of what you can do today to make a contribution to someone else’s life. In the words of Anne Frank “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world”

 
Dan Moore is an instructor at Outward Bound.  His first course was Course 500!  This month he is instructing an Classic course.

Ever heard the expression ‘out of sight, out of mind’? In considering New Zealand, New Zealanders and the guardianship of our coastline, oceans and marine biodiversity this is a fitting term.

 Here’s some quick context:

• About 33% (one third) of New Zealand's land area has reserve or national park status - this means it is protected.
• Only around 4% of New Zealand's territorial sea is protected by marine reserves.
• The Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve makes up over three quarters of the 4% total.
• The Kermadec Islands are about 930 kilometres north-east of the Bay of Islands - that's 400 nautical miles, which is a long way. Can you find the Kermadec Islands on a map?
• Less than 1% of mainland New Zealand's coastline (i.e. the North and South Islands and Stewart Island) is protected by Marine Reserves.

Special note:
The territorial sea is the area 12 nautical miles from the shore, around all of New Zealand's islands. New Zealand also has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that we are responsible for managing. It extends 200 nautical miles out from the shore of all of New Zealand's islands.  Marine reserves protect less than 0.1% of our EEZ.

How is an area chosen to become a marine reserve?   

In 1971 the government passed the Marine Reserves Act 1971.

The Act says that for an area of New Zealand's coastline and ocean to be considered for marine reserve status it must contain:

"underwater scenery, natural features or marine life of such distinctive quality or so typical or beautiful or unique that their continued preservation is in the national interest."

Their continued preservation ‘is in the national interest’?

The intention of this article is not to swing you either way in the debate over marine reserves, ocean governance or the like; rather to ‘again’ get you to question your values as a New Zealander. Do you think we should have more/less areas in marine reserves? Do you think this is wise or unwise? Would a higher level of protection benefit you, your children and New Zealand? If you feel 1 percent of our coastline is the wrong percentage, than what is the right one?

And, importantly, is preservation of our coast and sea in the national interest?

So go and see the sea - and ask yourself these questions.

Let us know your thoughts on this topic. If you have any interesting facts or relevant stories we’d love to hear them. Email your contributions to Anjuli, and we’ll post them on the website for all to read.

Shifted houses? New email address? Remember to update your details in MyWatchmates.

To change your address:

1. Log in to MyWatchmates website
2. Click on My Profile in the top menu bar
3. Update the details that have changed
4. Click Update at the bottom of the page

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Outward Bounder Gerard Dunne got off to a rather rocky start in the recent London Marathon, when the horn sounded for the race to begin just as he was exiting the port-a-loo.  He raced strategically to the back of the 35,000-long queue, known as Zone 9 (of 9), and then realising his mistake, extracted himself from the group of walkers and zipped up to his allotted Zone 4 for a belated start.  With a cool 12 degrees, a flat course and surrounded by an assortment of runners dressed as everything from funky chickens to exotic fruit, two out of three conditions were ideal for a good race.  At mile 9, he passed six Masai Warriors raising money for a water pump for their village, and at mile 18, he passed family members raising their arms and shouting words of encouragement.  The race is said to be the world’s largest single fundraising event and every medical and sports charity seemed to have participants in the marathon.  Proud to be raising money for Outward Bound New Zealand, Gerard squeaked over the line in a barely respectable time for an ex-OB student, and then caught up with UK family who had much more sensibly taken the Tube to the finish line.

This winter, we'd like to highlight some of our best selling outer layers. Not only will they keep you warm this winter, but they will serve as great conversation starters. Wear them often, wear them proud. The profits of any sales go straight back into the Outward Bound Charitable Trust. So thank you for supporting this organization.

Find pictures of our gear and these sales on our merchandise page.

Women's Contrast Micro fleece $90 (down from $95) in Paprika/Charcoal

Women's Sweat Hoodie $65 (down from $80) in Chocolate Brown

Women's Round Neck Tees $34 in Steel Blue in Medium - XL

Outward Bound Logo Cap $20 (down from $25.50) in Yellow

Outward Bound Logo Thermal Mug $7.50 (down from $12.50) in Orange

If you are based in any of the cities below and can spare half an hour to share your experience with prospective students please contact Anjuli.

Christchurch - October
Nelson - July
Timaru - August
Auckland - August
Wellington - August
Invercargill - August

Welcome to Darren Eckford, our new Field Promoter in Auckland, and Anjuli Burrell, Marketing Executive

We were overwhelmed by the number of entries Kathmandu received for the Live the Dream scholarship and the inspiring reasons for wanting to attend an Outward Bound course. Thank you to all those who applied.

A huge congratulations to the eight winners:

Deidre Heenan (Invercargill), Gavin Gunston (Auckland), Ian Handcock (Thames), Ian Stevens (Wellington), Andrew McNicoll (Christchurch), Niki Boon (Hawera), Eillen Coulter (Waihi) and Roannna Robinson (Palmerston North)

We are looking for stunning photos from your time at Outward Bound – these can be beautiful scenery shots, inspiring actions shots, or awesome arty images. The best photos will be used for a set of Thank-you cards that can be sent to supporters and helpers of Outward Bound NZ. For further competition details and how to enter….

Tracy Bowman and Phill Hall for all their contributions to the Outward Bound team. Best wishes for your future adventures.

Stephen Baker for volunteering at the Canterbury Training and Employment Expo in Christchurch in March.

Sophi Watson, Rachel Grout, Francis Tanner, Dean Percy, Chris McKeen, Doug Hitchon & Gaike Knottenbelt for their help at the Christchurch Careers Expo.

Gordon Whitelaw and Margaret McQuillan for volunteering as Support Workers on the Horizons course in March.

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