Instructors

Andy D

Tell us a little bit about yourself

G’day! I grew up in rural Victoria, Australia in a variety of places backing onto State and National parks as my playground. I moved to Melbourne for a job travelling around Australia preparing cars for the Australian Rally Championship. 

Looking for a change, I left Australia and headed to Canada for 6 months but stayed for 4 years spending the winters in the snowy Rockies and the summers working reforestation. I married a Kiwi and we moved to Southland to study and I was fortunate to land a job which changed my passion for the outdoors into a profession.

After 6 years in the deep south it was time for a change and went looking for a spot where we could swim in the ocean on a year-round basis.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
The community of OB staff and families was a strong draw card to raise our family in such a beautiful part of the world. The way previous students spoke and seeing their body language when reflecting upon their Outward Bound experience just reinforced that this was the place to be.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

The variety of people we get to spend time with on a monthly basis from around Aotearoa and the world, and hearing their life stories while they’re with us at Outward Bound.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Ricotta Balls, something warm and comforting about them after a day in the field.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
A dad to our beautiful wee daughter, on a full-time basis.

Andy L

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Hey all! I was brought up in the rural province of Taranaki. Much of my youth was spent charging around on the farm, playing sports and heading out on mini adventures with friends and family.

After completing a sports degree at Waikato University I was inspired to work and instruct in the outdoors so decided to push on with an outdoor education certificate in the Central North Island.

From there on I've been fortunate enough to work as a guide and instructor throughout NZ and a few places overseas for the past decade. From running sea kayak expeditions in Turkey to rafting Japanese clients down the rivers in the land of the rising sun. I've also had the privilege to work with Kiwi teenagers on the west coast of the South Island and around the Hauraki Gulf in the North as well.

Always keen on a mission, whether it be up in the mountains, heading down the river or seeing what conditions the ocean adventures offer.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
Super keen on sharing my passion for the outdoors in epic Aotearoa locations . We're so spoilt here in NZ and Anakiwa has it all for sure!

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

Always stoked and inspired by the courage, effort and growth the students bring throughout the courses.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

It's all so good! Although I'm partial for a bit of seafood :)

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Simply living off my surroundings somewhere on a pacific island and enjoying the adventure that each day brings.

Angie

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was born in Whangarei and grew up in Whanganui, spending heaps of time in Taranaki and the Whanganui River. I have a huge passion for the ngahere and the land and strong connections with Te Ao Maori.

I've hung out in the bush a lot, mainly tramping, hunting and chilling by rivers or in sunny clearings. Most recently I have enjoyed some rock climbing, a wee bit of white water and have begun to dabble in caving.

After completing a Diploma in Outdoor Adventure at Whitireia Polytech in Kapiti, I worked for a season as a sea kayak guide in the Abel Tasman and moved on to Whenua Iti Outdoors, in Moutere for a few years, before joining the multi-coloured group of instructors here at Outward Bound.

What attracted you to working at OB?          

The diversity of skills required and the opportunity to help people grow and improve our communities.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

The staff are hardcase, the locations are glorious and watching the students grow is very rewarding.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Pad Thai and cheesecake.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be…?           

Walking around the hills with dogs or running a rest home for animals with hooves and paws.

Bernie

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Kia ora
Ko Te Mata (Te Mata Peak) toku maunga
Ko Ngaruroro toku awa
Kei Heretaunga (Hawke’s Bay) toku rohe
Ko Bernie Gunn te nae

My background has always been outdoor based. Things I’ve done include farming, forestry, tiling and paving, hunting guiding in Canada and running my own native plant nursery in Hawke’s Bay. 

Through all of this I have felt a huge connection to nature and through my own growth in the outdoors I realised I had a huge desire to help others also grow as people and connect to the outdoors. 

Once I realised I could do this by working at Outward Bound I was set on working here and I did everything I needed to do to get the job (which was a fair bit but so worth it). My family has farmed in Hawke’s Bay for nearly 100 years and my partner (who is also an OB instructor) and I are moving back to the Bay after OB. 

What attracted you to working at OB?          
To grow and help others do the same. As well as help others connect more with nature and align their lives with their own values.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
The amazing and varied people I get to work with as well as how much I learn from them. This place is damn beautiful too. Don’t tell anyone but some days I am a professional boat driver, kayaker, bush walker, coach, facilitator.... we do all sorts.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

A flapjack with a cuppa tea for breakfast in the bush.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Dog sled expedition guide.

Brad

Tell us a little bit about yourself 

I grew up in the Central North Island which apparently smells like eggs and has bubbling mud. I haven't let this hold me back and I regularly consume egg for breakfast.

I was born 3 months premature and only weighing 820 grams and in Year 13 my football coach described me as "small, weak and having no physical presence". I hit the gym, adding one extra kilo to my withering frame, and was inspired to get out into the outdoors so I flew to the UK and got my first taste of the outdoor instructing scene.

Once returning to NZ, I gained a degree in sustainability and outdoor education. Armed with knowledge and a skill set to match, I moved back to the mighty North Island and ran around the forest guiding tourists for a few years before making the big decision to apply for Outward Bound with my now wife.

When not working (if I actually had spare time) I enjoy mountain biking and my favorite track is "Billy T" in Rotorua. My other passions include rock climbing, running up mountains, photography, catching up with friends, traveling the world and pretending I’m a builder.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
My wife attended a course when she was younger and had the dream to be an instructor at OB one day. She achieved her dream and I joined her.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
I truly enjoy helping people and seeing the potential within them being discovered. This job has a real purpose and aligns with my own values. Plus, I get paid to go on adventures.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a...?   
Outdoor instructor for another organization.... I've tried the office life and it's not for me. (This is also a lie, I don't know if I've worked in an office at all).

Dave R

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was born and raised in the lower North Island, loving school camps and getting out tramping and rock climbing whenever I could. I moved to the Best Island ASAP to study Outdoor Education in Christchurch. After completing a BRecEd at CPIT (now Ara), I’ve been working in the outdoor sector ever since.

Jobs in NZ and the US have included freelance general outdoor instructing, mountaineering instructing, sea kayak guiding and instruction, whitewater kayak guiding, canyon guiding, abseil guiding, outdoor education camp instruction, and for the last four years, OB. I married an incredible woman, Meg (who also works here as the Course Design Manager), in 2015, and we just recently bought our first house in Nelson.

I live for the outdoors, days off will commonly see me out on personal missions hunting, kayaking, canyoning, climbing, or just exploring somewhere in the backcountry. My proudest outdoor achievement is doing both Cooks; - climbing Aoraki / Mt Cook in 2008, and sea kayaking solo across Cook Strait in 2017. I feel very lucky to live in a country with so much adventure and exploration within such easy reach and I encourage everyone to get out and explore our incredible backyard!

What attracted you to working at OB?          
The holistic nature of the work. At OB there is a really nice mix of DOING (physical outdoor activities), and REVIEWING (reflection activities). I believe both of these elements are needed to gain the most learning, and I enjoy that OB values both of these highly. Also the scones are top notch.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
Being a witness to moments of awe. It’s an amazing feeling to see someone’s face when surrounded by dolphins, or seeing phosphorescence for the first time, or an amazing sunset - I get a real buzz out of their excitement and appreciation.

One trip stands out - we were on a three-day tramping expedition and the group accepted the option of sleeping on the top of Mt Baldy (Richmond Ranges) with no shelter overhead. The night sky was full of bright stars, we were looking down on the lights of Blenheim, and in the morning we woke to a really nice sunrise. Those sorts of moments are absolute gold.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Once upon a time we had a Pad Thai that blew my socks off. I’ve lobbied hard for it to make a comeback, but have thus far been unsuccessful. Any other meal with meat in it gets my vote.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Builder. In fact, I finish up at OB shortly and am looking for a local apprenticeship - know anyone?

Dave T

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Ko Ōtautahi tōku wā kāinga
Ko Rangitoto rāua ko Hananui ōku maunga
Ko Hauraki rāura ko Te Ara a Kewa ōku moana
Ko Waitaha, ko Ngāti Māmoe, ko Ngāi Tahu, ko Kōtarani ōku iwi
Ko Whenua Hou i te moutere ūkaipō
Ko Takutai o te Tītī te marae
Ko Anakiwa te kāinga ināianei
Ko Rāwiri Taylor ahau

Christchurch is my birthplace
Rangitoto together with Hananui are my mountains
Hauraki together with Foveaux are my seas
Waitaha, Ngāti Mamoe, Ngāi Tahu and Scottish are my tribes
Whenua Hou/Codfish Island is my nurturing mother
Takutai o te Tītī is my marae
Anakiwa is where I currently live
Dave (Rāwiri) Taylor I am

I have a background in conservation leadership having graduated in Parks and Recreation Management at Lincoln University. A more than thirty year career with the Department of Conservation followed. This included general operational management roles and a more specialist position dedicated to building staff capability around Treaty of Waitangi responsibilities.

What attracted you to working at OB?          

An ongoing interest and admiration has existed ever since my Aoraki Bound course nine years ago. Other family members have benefited from the experience too. So much so my daughter started instructing here about a year ahead of me. Of course this is now an additional and unique attraction to be here. My pondering on who is leading who continues.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

I simply love being immersed in nature, experiencing and helping to facilitate the challenges and rewards it can bring to our minds, bodies and souls. 

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Hangi. While more of a special occasion meal currently, there is scope to integrate it more often.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           

Someone doing something with people in the natural world.

Emma

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in the mighty Waikato, Hamilton was my centre and I frequently visited family farms in the weekends. This is where my love for working in the outdoors was born. Originally the plan was to work with cows but that changed when I realized there is a whole industry that works with people, who I enjoy working with a lot more.

White water kayaking captured me first and from then on I jumped at all the outdoor pursuits I could get my hands on. I danced around New Zealand experiencing many aspects of the outdoor industry from tourism to teaching. Now my passion is to develop both myself and others to make the most of this life we have been given. Since that discovery, developing growth within people using the outdoors has been the focus of my career journey, facilitating this through adventure in the wild!

What attracted you to working at OB?          
Working in a community to encourage, challenge and grow people AND live in the Queen Charlotte Sounds. What isn’t great about where I work?

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
What I said above, and laughing with the people we meet and laughing at the brilliant moments that occur!

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Mushroom risotto.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
An entrepreneur’s support person, I love to get behind peoples dreams and make them happen.

Finn

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in Auckland. Sailing was a big part of growing up, racing in NZ and overseas in a variety of classes. I enjoyed tinkering and making stuff and built a Starling class dinghy when I was 16. After school I completed a Bachelor of Engineering at Auckland University of Technology. I coached youth sailors at various yacht clubs during school and University.

I have a passion for travelling and cycle touring and have spent a bunch of time travelling around various places. I got into the outdoors and worked for NOLS as a hiking and sailing instructor in NZ, the USA and Canada before coming to Outward Bound.

What attracted you to working at OB?

Living and working in a unique beautiful part of the world with and for good people.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

Watching people grow in experiences outside their comfort zone.

What's your favourite OB meal?

Roast.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?

Builder.

Freya

Tell us a little bit about yourself 

I was born and bred in Christchurch by the beach. My upbringing was founded in alternative education, where play, nature, relationships and community were integral. I’m sure eating sand, brandishing sticks and catching cockabullies taught me something as a kid... well, at least it instilled in me a love for the outdoors!

After leaving school I completed a Diploma in Outdoor Recreation, and a Bachelor of Sustainability and Outdoor Education through CPIT (now Ara). One of my favourite trips was an 11-day environmental journey that took us up over the Southern Alps, learning and exploring nature and ourselves along the way.

After graduating, I was lucky enough to score a dream job working for OPC (now Hillary Outdoors) on Great Barrier Island. Daily work for me there consisted of sea kayaking, coasteering, snorkelling, fishing, sailing, surfing, steep creeking and via ferrata. I’ve also had the privilege of working and travelling overseas for short stints of time, but ultimately I decided that I like NZ best.

What attracted you to working at OB?

It felt like it was the next step to take, personally and professionally. I’d heard lots about OB from friends and family but had never attended a course myself. I liked the community, the location and range of activities, as well as the focus on personal development for staff.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

I enjoy being outdoors exploring the mountains, rivers and sea. I also enjoy helping people realise their full potential and encourage them to appreciate and care for our beautiful land.

What's your favourite OB meal?

Anything vegetarian!

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?

Environmental educator growing a food forest.

Hamish

Tell us a little bit about yourself 

Tēnā koutou.
I started life on a small island called Rēkohu/Chatham Islands, 800km east of NZ. Shortly afterwards our family moved back to the mainland and settled in Picton which is where I spent the next 18 years. During these years I got right into the outdoors, particularly sailing around the Marlborough Sounds.

I've worked a few odd jobs since leaving university, the first as a theatre lighting and stage technician on cruise ships for two years. When tiring of that, I returned to NZ where I was a sea kayak guide in the Abel Tasman national park before retraining as a commercial boat skipper where I re-familiarised myself with my childhood playground of the Marlborough Sounds.

Being back in Marlborough was a perfect opportunity to expand on pursuing old and new outdoor pursuits. 'Going bush' on days off was a fairly common occurrence, either on overnights or to improve fitness on day missions. Mountain biking and sailing are always good get-away activities too.

What attracted you to working at OB?

When I returned to NZ and was deciding what I wanted to be when I "grew up" (which included my childhood dream of either being a train driver or joining the circus) I touched on the idea of becoming an Outdoor Instructor. I had grown up hearing stories of Outward Bound from my parents who both worked at the school in the 80's. I decided to give it a crack myself and after a few more journeys, I was presented with an opportunity to join the team at Anakiwa.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

The concept and appreciation of service has grown stronger for me as I've grown. One of my dad's favourite quotes from his time instructing here was the old OB motto; 'To Serve, To Strive and Not to Yield', which I guess has stuck with me through my life. So to sum it up, being an instructor means I have the opportunity to help others grow and develop.

What's your favourite OB meal?

Lasagna

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be...

A DOC ranger.

Holly

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in Nelson in the top of the South Island. Most of my childhood was spent near the water, fishing and sailing around the Abel Tasman and Marlborough Sounds. Otago University was my next stop, gaining a Bachelor of Science before completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching.

Teaching took me to the far north and for the last few years down to Kaikoura, nature’s playground. Endless bush to explore, the local Coastguard unit and student outdoor trips kept me busy and my lungs full of fresh air.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
A passion for the outdoors combined with working with all types of incredible humans was the draw card to Outward Bound for me.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
I enjoy watching student’s confidence grow as they navigate their way through a course of activities that are designed to challenge them in so many ways.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Marcel’s energy salad. Beetroot, carrot, seeds, raisins. Delicious

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Lighthouse keeper on an island that I’ll make pest free.

Horey

Tell us a little bit about yourself

It’s quite an unfortunate last name, Hore, and no one really calls me Ross except my mother and an ex Scottish instructor, so I’ve gone by the name of Horey for the last 20 years.

I was born in the middle of the South Island on the East Coast in a town called Oamaru. I left more than 20 years ago when people wanted to knock down all the Victorian buildings to extend a steel factory and kill all the penguins because they were noisy and stinky.

It didn’t align with my values and the work I had been employed in (freezing works, tannery, shearing sheds, forestry and market gardening) didn’t grab me as long term career so I left and attended Aoraki Polytechnic in Timaru (pre 2000) for three years. It was an Outdoor Education and Management diploma which I didn’t complete.

The death of a close friend fired me into a hedonistic path of adventure tourism and kayak guiding in Milford Sound which then catapulted me into travelling the world as predominantly a water based guide in Slovenia/Europe/Australia. I first applied for a job at OBNZ in 2008 when I was 32 but declined the job, on reflection the timing of the move wasn't quiet right for me.

Eight years later I reapplied with the correct head space fully committed to sharing my experiences and knowledge to anyone who would listen. I am passionate about this place, this job, this life and the beautiful New Zealanders it exposes me to.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
The fact I was jobless with nowhere to live was quite a motivator. Full time work in a relatively warm part of the South Island with accommodation and fejoa trees were a winning formula.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
Meeting the real people of New Zealand and they all come to meet me in my back yard.

I make them clean toilets every morning, jump in the sea, have cold showers, keep them pretty hungry giving them hard physical tasks to do and then they leave thinking I’m a legend.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

The beetroot super salad or any of the salads with the tasty dressings. Love the roast pork as well.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Sun chaser anywhere in the world. Winters in NZ are like cabbage - quite average.

Jamie

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was born on a little sandbar in New England called Cape Cod - famous for its whalers who would go on to give Russell its infamous moniker of "Hell Hole of the South Pacific". I grew up surrounded by the ocean and a little patch of woods behind my house which felt like a forest back then. Days were spent rolling around in its briars, collecting cuts and poison ivy and shooting my slingshot. Not a lot has changed, except I get paid to do it now.
Prior to OB I worked as a storyteller and was lucky enough to have some of my work featured in National Geographic, Outside Magazine and on the BBC.

What attracted you to working at OB?

The community and the lifestyle here is second to none. When your job is doing all the things you would love to do on your days off anyway and you get to help inspire others to get out there, you can't help but smile.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

Sharing experiences, seeing students push their limits and helping fuel a love for and desire to defend the outdoors.

What's your favourite OB meal?

Mmmmmmm... meat. Marcel's roast beef for the win.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be...

A Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician (rescue swimmer).

Jo

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m originally from Invercargill and I studied Physical Education and Commerce at Otago University.
I’ve spent time working as a hiking guide in NZ and also as an outdoor instructor in Australia.

What attracted you to working at OB?          

I was a student on an Aoraki Bound course!

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
Meeting and interacting with the diverse range of incredible students that attend the courses.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Ricotta Balls.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
PE or Outdoor Ed teacher.

Kevin

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I'm from the West coast of Ireland.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
Interest in experiential learning and self-development.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
The opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, being a part of their Outward Bound journey. 

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
A philosophising farmer, cultivating and developing wise crops.

Lacey

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in the small coastal town of Howick in the much bigger coastal city of Auckland. Up until the end of high school I lived and breathed sports. The youngest of four I was always eager to keep up with my three older brothers. The old man took me to my rugby games and my mum sewed my rock and roll dresses. They kept a wholesome balance for me growing up with a mantra of, "When you really want to do something, you will find a way and make it happen. If you don't, you'll find an excuse". The world peeled open for me when I dipped my toes in outdoor ed at school, a teacher with more passion than a passionfruit ripe from the tree, I was hooked.

Unconvinced that university would be right for me, I shovelled the essentials into a pack. Investing the next few laps around the sun being carried by this new found curiosity to the reefs and local schools of Indonesia, the rock walls and lake fronts of Up-state New York and the deepest spider and snake filled nooks and crannies of Australia.

Solidifying outdoor education was the realm I wanted to pursue and magnetised back home, I knuckled down for a year at Aoraki Polytechnic. I was fortunate to come away with an important piece of paper (diploma) and a job with Hillary Outdoors Tongariro (OPC). Filling the foundations of working in the field, here I was also grounded with a sense of community and purpose. Following many moons with epic missions and epic-er humans, I spread the wings back over to the Adirondacks, Perth and Nepal where I witnessed marriages in the mountains, fragility of life and more cups of chai tea than you could shake a stick at.

Great Barrier Island was the final frontier for me before throwing my name in the hat here at Anakiwa and as they say... the rest is history.

What attracted you to working at OB?          

I saw this in the newspaper;
"Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honour and recognition in case of success." - Ernest Shackleton
Thought it would be cool if a chick got the job instead.
But truly,
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
The people, the people, the people.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

There is no overarching answer for me yet, I feel like it shifts on a day to day basis.

Ask me yesterday and it would have been going out for a rip on the fizz boat to drop a parcel to a crew sailing. A few days prior, an evening of vulnerability talking about masks we wear and milestones in our lives. Day before that coasteering, getting tossed around in the surf and seeing the unity in our group wide eyed, bushy tailed and realising just how gosh darn capable they are.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Banoffee Pie - the amount I eat makes it a meal.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           

Working in place I wasn't wholeheartedly invested in.

Leticia

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in Auckland before adventuring off on a gap year to the UK where I volunteered at an Outdoor Education Centre. I've always loved the outdoors and this cemented that I wanted to follow it as a career path to help inspire others.

So I headed back to study a degree in Outdoor Education and Sustainability. Since then I have worked at a bunch of different Outdoor Education Organisations around NZ before turning up at Outward Bound's doorstep.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
The amazing environments we get to work in and share with people - the bush, the rivers and the ocean. As well as an opportunity to challenge myself and grow.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

Waking up everyday and having the feeling that I am a part of a very special organisation with amazing people working towards inspiring goals.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Cashew and buckwheat slice.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
An educator or helper of people of some sort.

Lou

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was rurally raised at the foot of Mount Taranaki and the black sandy shores of the rugged Taranaki Coast. My youth was spent warming my feet up in cow patties, climbing trees and farming tadpoles in water troughs. 

From a young age it was clear that I was destined to a life on the fringes of society, my childish curiosity and calling to nature lead me to seek out outdoor schooling on the mainland, fare-welling the four wall classrooms and welcoming in mountains, rivers, oceans, rock faces and the ngahere as my new place of learning.

These natural deep learning centres continued to deliver around the world as I found myself dogsled and raft guiding in the Rockies, living off chicken feet and rice as I journeyed down some of the more remote rivers in Nepal, sharing Tibetan butter tea with a group of students overlooking Chomolungma's soaring 8848 m peak.

Fueled by wanderlust and passion for purpose, it warms my insides when I’m able to share these experiences that are far beyond the confines of what one can find behind a phone screen or closed door.  

What attracted you to working at OB?          
The seed was planted at the fruity age of 13, during a parent-teen Outward Bound course that I completed with my generous Outward Bound sponsor and father. I remember asking my instructors at the time “how old would I need to be to get work at Outward Bound?” They responded that the average age to start at the time was around 25.

I continued to water that seed for over a decade before coming full circle to celebrate my 25th birthday in Anakiwa with my first group of students ;)

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
The soul nourishing connections with nature and the people that this place attracts, attempted manu popping off the jetty, dancing with dolphins in the sounds, bioluminescence - like stars of the ocean, fresh herbs from Marcel's garden.

And the concept of Ako; that is grounded in the principle of reciprocity between the instructor and students, where instructors are learning from the students too.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Marcel’s ‘special occasion truffles’ that are hidden on the top shelf in his office ;)

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Retired...worm farming, compost turning, food foresting, sauerkraut fermenting, reading books and watching the cycle of life through a swan plant outside my conservatory window.

Nir

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was born in Israel in 1987, in a town situated 10 km from Jerusalem. Both of my parents are educators and from a very young age I enjoyed working with people while also loving the outdoors. When I was 18 I was drafted into the army, and served 3 years in a special unit, I learned a lot of my bush and navigation skills there. 

After my army service I started working with youngsters in different educational frameworks. I prepared them toward their army service, I’ve been a counsellor, and established a few joinery and carpentry workshops for teaching young people life skills which had an educational and therapeutic orientation.

During my studies for a degree in Leadership and Management of Educational Systems, History and a Teaching Certificate, I managed a youth club for adolescents at risk.When I finished my degree, my wife and I decided to come for NZ to experience other life, and after working in landscaping in Nelson, I started working at OB.

I’m a very passionate person, and especially working with people and being in the outdoors. I love fitness and I enjoy playing music. I love learning new things and I believe that everything we do, needs to come from the heart, we need to enjoy it and that we are capable of much more than we think. When we are doing something we enjoy, we have the capacity of being there for others.

What attracted you to working at OB?          

OB is a combination of two things I'm passionate about - people and the outdoors. However, this isn’t the main reason I decided to come to OB. It’s about making a change, making NZ and the world a better place.

The people who work here, believe in what they do, they all want to grow and learn, and we believe and know that this place makes a difference.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
The people. The staff and the students. Seeing the students choose to become a better version of themselves, becoming self-experts, knowing they are going to work hard and put the effort in to do it, to make themselves, their community and the world better.

OB is a journey and part of a huge process in people’s life. I love being part of it.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Chickpea curry, yum.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Personal trainer.

Nick

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in Central Otago in the beautiful, but rugged, Alexandra. My relationship with the outdoors began when my brother, sister and I were reluctantly dragged out tramping with Mum and Dad in Aspiring National Park. This progressed into trips out mountain biking in the hills behind Alex, skiing at the fields around Wanaka and kayaking in local rivers.

I‘m not sure exactly when the penny dropped, but sometime during my teenage years rather than resenting this time spent in the outdoors I started to really enjoy it.

Following high school, I moved to Dunedin where I studied psychology at Otago Uni. I spent a year or two figuring out how to make good life choices without mum and dad around and in the process made some lifelong friends who shared a mutual love of the outdoors.

During my time at Uni I decided that working with people was something that I was super passionate about so I trained as a primary school teacher and spent the best part of three years teaching at St Clair Primary in Dunedin. In 2015 I moved up to little old Anakiwa and traded the whiteboards and exercise books for rivers and bush - I haven’t looked back since.

What attracted you to working at OB?          

I completed an Outward Bound course in 2005, straight after finishing high school. While in Anakiwa I was totally taken back by the tone of the organisation. Everyone who worked there seemed so positive, energetic and generally just super stoked on life.

This feeling stuck with me and eventually, ten years later, the ducks aligned and I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to come back to work here myself.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
The purpose of our role and the growth we experience from working here. It’s flipp’n awesome to have a position where your job is to support people to be the best they can be.

Also, you can’t help but learn and grow yourself when you’re totally immersed in a culture of personal development.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Pad Thai... No, the gnocchi!... Maybe the ricotta balls?

All of the above.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Catering Manager at OB.

Quin

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was raised in the mighty Bay of Plenty with adventurous parents who love camping and being out on the water.

When I'm not out there challenging, instructing and facilitating people to see their potential I'm usually really wet... When I'm on a day off you can find me doing anything in or on the water from diving to fishing, water skiing to kayaking, SUP-ing to kite surfing, if it involves water I'm keen.

After going through an awesome outdoor education programme at Tauranga Boys' College and an Outward Bound NZ MBS course, I enrolled for the 3 year Diploma in Outdoor Education at Aoraki Polytechnic in Timaru with the goal of hopefully returning to OBNZ one day as an instructor. Fortunately in my final year at Aoraki, Outward Bound Australia recruited me, working there for 5 years full time (2013-2017) was an amazing experience that set me up perfectly to return to OBNZ after spending a year off diving.

If you haven't worked it out already I love diving but I'm also a little loco and I love diving with sharks, with a 5 year goal which started back in 2016 to dive outside of a cage with 5 of the most feared sharks, (Mako, Hammerhead, Tiger, Thresher, and the Great White) without giving it away lets just say I'm well on track.

What attracted you to working at OB?          

In 2008 I did a 21 day MBS school leaders course with two inspiring instructors Hayden T and Amy H, which as cliché as it might sound really did change my life and I wanted the chance to offer other humans that same inspiration and guidance to change their lives and grow from an amazing experience.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

Final debriefs with students where I hear about all the amazing experiences and lessons that my students have learnt about themselves, the goals they have set for the future and the laughs when we look back at all the type 2 fun we had.

Also being apart of the amazing community that always seems to accompany Outward Bound schools, full of like minded, mission charging, similar valued, amazing humans.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Scotch Fillet Steak (I haven't had it yet, but I'll keep suggesting it to Marcel).

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           

Dive instructor / dive bum on Malapascua Island, Philippines or Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.

Stef

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in the wops on a sheep and beef farm, getting outside from a young age with lots of family camping trips in the North Island. I come from a big family where I am the second youngest so naturally have a bit of fight in me having to contend with heaps of older siblings. I love being creative, making stuff with natural fibres, sewing, building stuff with pallets, painting etc. generally making cool stuff out of minimal resources.

Once I had done an Outward Bound course in 2007 I had a new found direction to pursue a career in the outdoors, and thought it would be pretty kick ass to be an instructor at OB. I chose the furthest place away from my hometown to complete my Degree in Outdoor Education and worked away ticking all the boxes to end up at OB, dragging my husband along in the process! Winning!

In my spare time I love running, mountain biking, tramping, kayaking and pretty much anything you can do in the outdoors. I also love sleep, the struggle is real when instructing at OB.

What attracted you to working at OB?          

When I heard about Outward Bound in secondary school I was keen to push myself further so I worked hard to save money and fundraise to come on an Outward Bound Course. In 2007 I completed a MBS course and since then have always aspired to work in the outdoors and follow a career path that would see me coming back to Outward Bound to help out others realise their potential and follow their own aspirations.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

Seeing people give a difficult challenge their absolute all and seeing their face afterwards with their new found realisation of what they are actually capable of. That and working amongst some of the best colleagues you can have.

What's your favourite OB meal?

Pork crackling.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           

Bitter middle aged woman whose favorite sayings would be "Oh my Giddy aunt..." and "kids today are too well fed" whilst frowning a lot.

Tristan

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in the little town of Mangawhai in Northland. I spent a fair bit of time around the ocean and the bush in the early years and grew a huge passion for playing outside. 

Having always been attracted to outside work I started in logging straight out of school, while maintaining a part time commitment to the NZ Army as a reservist. Over the years I have been in and out of the bush but decided to make a career out of the outdoors after studying at Wintec in Hamilton. 

I was fortunate enough to travel and instruct overseas before coming back to NZ and taking a job as a Sea Kayak guide in Fiordland. After a couple seasons down south I moved to Canada where I married my wife and my daughter was born. After arriving home from Canada I have found myself here in Anakiwa, ready for every day I am given in this beautiful place.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
OB has always been held in high esteem in the Outdoor world. I saw coming to OB as a way to work in the industry I love, but with a purpose I have not experienced in other jobs.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?

Never ending supply of flapjacks.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Flapjacks.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           

If I wasn't an OB instructor I would probably be working in forestry, waiting for the weekends to climb rock, run rivers and play in the bush.

Watson

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I hail from Queenstown, NZ and it was here that I discovered my love for the outdoors. I have worked in the Outdoor Industry for over six years in New Zealand, Chile and Australia. I love creating, whitewater kayaking and missions with quality people.

What attracted you to working at OB?          
When I studied outdoor instructing and guiding at Tai Poutini Polytechnic many of my tutors/role models there were ex O.B instructors - They planted the seed and the dream was born.

What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
The diversity of my job and the opportunity to give back to others.

What’s your favourite OB meal?

Apple pie.

If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?           
Instructing somewhere else!