Winter Community Newsletter 2010 - Youthline Receptionist Goes To Outward Bound

At the beginning of June Youthline’s Receptionist Jasmin Albert set off to Outward Bound on their three week Classic course. Situated just out of Picton in a place called Anakiwa Jasmin arrived at Outward Bound not really knowing what to expect.

The first day kicked off with a powhiri, followed by getting placed into a watch group made up of 14 people between the ages of 18 – 26. This group became Jasmin’s family for the next 21 days. Each morning at Outward Bound Jasmin was required to go on a 3.2 km run followed by exercising in the mud and then swimming around in the freezing cold ocean.

Some of the highlights for Jasmin were: sailing for three days on a boat on which the whole group slept, ate, rowed and went to the bathroom for three solid days. She also really enjoyed climbing to the top of Mount Baldy. “It was such an amazing view once we reached the peak of the mountain which was 1315 meters above sea level. You could see snow on the tops of the mountains in the distance and the bottom of the North Island.”

Jasmin says that her worst experience at Outward Bound was the first tramping trip she went on with her watch group. This was a two day tramp that Jasmin describes as the longest walk she has ever been on in her life.

“I would definitely recommend Outward Bound to anyone who wanted to get out of their comfort zone and learn more about themselves and their boundaries. It is a great experience and it really helps you to find out the things you can achieve that you never thought you could.”