Whats New
Hi everyone!
OUTDOORSMARK!
Wainui Park was accredited with OutdoorsMark in May 2008 - a fantastic achievement which represents the highest possible safety and instructional standard as defined by the NZ Outdoor Industry.
INTRODUCING PROJECT PROMISE
The big news at Wainui Park is that we are building a new toilet block in Powell Village this coming winter - it has been a long time coming but it is very exciting!
The toilet block is being designed by an architect who specialised in energy efficient/solar powered buildings. We aim to have it powered completely by alternative energy - mainly solar but some gas too. The building will also utilise some recycled materials from the old building (bricks etc).
Powell Village is the heart and soul of Wainui Park and it is great that we are able to embark on this project this year. However, it is not without some financial stress and the fundraising campaign is going to be something that takes up a fair amount of my time over the coming months. In the meantime we will cover what we have not raised with a short term loan.
Earlier this year we received a grant from Lottery Environment and Heritage (thankyou very much Lotteries!) and this has enabled us to get started on our other environmental project which is the reforestation/revegetation of the hill behind Wainui Heights and some of the other bush areas around the camp. This involves employing a part-time staff person and engaging them to plant lots of natives and focus also on weed/pest control. This is really exciting - imagine in 20 years - a beautiful very biodiverse piece of bush available for our campers to enjoy.
Part of this is also to enhance our environmental education to campers when they come here. Some new environmental lessons and resources are being incorporated into our school camp and holiday camp programmes, which teaches our campers about native species, reforestation, energy conservation and alternative sources of energy, sustainable gardening, recycling and so on. We have developed some cool partnerships with scientists at Lincoln University - who have put in weta motels, skink houses and worm farms around the camp for the campers to learn from.
OTHER NEWS: Josie and Stephen have left Wainui as Josie has been appointed the new CEO of the YMCA of Christchurch. Stephen will still maintain some involvement for a while to complete some ongoing projects around the site.
As the new Manager, I am really excited to continue the development and growth of Wainui - as I have been involved for many years in many ways and understand what an amazing difference it can make to individuals' confidence and development. The outdoors is a great environment to discover yourself and also a very enjoyable place to be! I look forward to meeting everyone as you visit us at Wainui for holiday camp, school camp, your church or corporate function...
Always keen to hear from you
Tony Mayes
(Camp Mananger)