The Youthtown Get 2 Go Challenge kicked off yesterday in Wellington. Ninety six Year 9 and 10 school students competed in a range of outdoor activities to find New Zealand’s most adventurous Get 2 Go team.
Now in its sixth year, the annual challenge will see more than 1,600 students from 185 different schools take part in 12 regional events throughout New Zealand. The winning team from each region will compete in the grand final at OPC Great Barrier from 5-9 December.
The regional day-long events will put each member of the eight-person mixed-gender teams through their paces as they tackle a range of fun but testing challenges, including orienteering, kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking.
Darren Ashmore, Events Manager for the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand (OPC), which organises the challenge, says the aim of the event is to show kids how much fun the outdoors can be.
"The Youthtown Get 2 Go Challenge is New Zealand's premier youth adventure sport competition and it's an absolute highlight of the school calendar for competing 13 and 14 year-olds," says Ashmore.
"Students don't need any special experience to enter, just a "give-it-a-go" attitude. The aim is to give students of all abilities a taste of the reward and satisfaction that comes from teamwork, leadership, problem solving, physical activity and the outdoors."
Youthtown CEO Keith Thorpe says, "The Get 2 Go Challenge is a great initiative which fits perfectly with the Youthtown philosophy of enriching the lives of young New Zealanders through physical, social and creative experiences. We are delighted to support this event for the second year running and help encourage Kiwi kids to get active outdoors."
For more information on the Youthtown Get 2 Go Challenge or to enter a team, visit www.opc.org.nz.
