HomeAfter training as an Occupational Therapist and working as a counsellor, Paula Wood joined our team in 2014. She spent much of her childhood on boats and kayaks and hopes to build the same adventurous life for her children!
How did you get into this work?
I am a trained Occupational Therapist and was working as a counsellor prior to joining the OB team. I had an adventurous childhood, so had a taste of lots of different outdoor disciplines over the years and had different levels of experience in each. When I met my partner we both started the Outward Bound journey together, we shared our knowledge and strengths with each other to build our competence.
For me, there are so many cross overs between this work and Occupational Therapy – so much of it is centered on personal growth, challenging views and making commitments for a different future. I came into this role from the people skills side of the coin and have bolstered up my technical activity skills in the process.
What has been your most memorable moment so far? …and your biggest adventure with a watch?
A windy, stormy day at sea where my watch struggled to keep it together. After a tow to some more sheltered waters (still windy but calmer seas) they banded together and had an amazing sail back to school. In the launch my co-instructor and I cruised along beside them as they sat on one tack from Tory Channel back to Anakiwa, flying at 8 knots per hour (almost faster than the launch could travel). By the time they stepped back onto the jetty they were buzzing and had fully recovered from the discomfort of the morning. It was an awesome way to finish a sea scheme.
I had an adventurous childhood, so had a taste of lots of different outdoor disciplines over the years and had different levels of experience in each
Any advice for aspiring Outward Bound instructors?
Don’t be intimidated by the list of prerequisites. With a bit of focus and time, those skills can be gained and honed to an appropriate level. People skills are really important as it’s the relationships we forge with our watches that help their growth occur.
What has been your greatest personal adventure to date?
Owning a 23-foot trailer sailor. Not really a single big adventure but a commitment to a lifestyle of cruising and challenging our personal limits at sea.
What are your ambitions for the years ahead?
Getting in some family time and trying to create an awesome adventurous life for our kids. I would love to live on a small yacht and sail around some beautiful parts of the world.