When Helen Crowe was awarded Lifeline’s annual Outward Bound scholarship she was initially thrilled and excited at the prospect of attending the week long course in Anakiwa, Blenheim. But after coming across a magazine article about the Outward Bound experience a few weeks later the reality of what she had let herself in for began to dawn….

“After reading about all the uncomfortable, cold and hard things that they were going to make me do I wasn’t so sure anymore. In fact I cried at the thought of it even though it was something I had always wanted to do…

In reality, it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. The eight days I spent at Anakiwa, Blenheim were amazing. From the moment we arrived it was action packed and full of surprises.

Straight from our meeting point at the Picton Ferry Terminal, we were taught the basics of sailing and off we went. Unfortunately the wind died down and we arrived at our island destination in the dark after much rowing!

We quickly learnt what the rest of the week had in store for us after being told that we needed to moor the boat and swim back to shore as a team. No hot showers to warm up afterwards, just dinner to make, lunch for the next day, a debrief and off to bed under the stars. Nothing like snuggling up together on the first night for team bonding! 

Next morning after PT (Physical Training) in the dark, we had to swim back out to get the boat again and there was no ladder to get in!

The week was spent like that, sailing, kayaking, high ropes, rock climbing and tramping, mixed in with team building, reflection and learning. Everything had a twist and definitely pushed us out of our comfort zones. Once we achieved something, we would be pushed to do it again but in a different or harder way. We were also left to be responsible for everything from finding our way home while tramping to making sure the toilets were clean.

So that we are “in the present” we never knew what was coming next. The staff would just spring things on us, like when we got back from a 12 hour tramp, they announced that we needed to pack for two nights solo in the bush and we would be leaving in ½ hour!

Outward Bound was begun in 1941 to prepare British seamen for the challenges of World War II. The aim was to educate and “impel people into value forming experiences to ensure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity: an undefeatable spirit; tenacity in pursuit; readiness in sensible self-denial and above all, compassion