Reflection on the 2025 Adventure Therapy Wānanga

It always feels slightly daunting setting off by yourself, but off I go to the Adventure Therapy Wānanga in Gisborne. That feeling quickly disappeared after arrival as I remember thinking: oh, these are my type of people. Passionate, adventurous, empathetic and happy to have a laugh. I knew this was going to be a great weekend.

I retook the Facilitating Therapeutic Experiences workshop this year. As a soon to graduate social worker, it was the perfect opportunity to refresh my understanding on theories and models. There is always more to learn, and picked up plenty of extra tips, tricks and insights this time around. In particular, the reflection model What, So What, Now What was a great reminder of how to take debriefs one step further and ensuring I am relating the learnings back to real life applications for participants. The facilitators shared their expertise and personal experiences in trauma informed practice including scenarios I had not considered, which will be invaluable to my practice.

Staying at Te Pāhou Marae we were welcomed and shown manakitanga personified by Taina. The kai alone was reason enough to go to the wānanga, shot out to the amazing ladies in the kitchen!  The shared experiences created whakawhanaungatanga, building genuine connections. The marae set the tone of Kaupapa Māori, with interactions and learning guided through cultural principles. This was reinforced by the beautiful use of reo. The planning led by Taina and Anna gave the perfect mix of showcasing the beauty of the Gisborne region, highlighting the amazing mahi of local providers and nurturing meaningful kōrero with participants.

We loaded up vans and headed to Te Tapuwae o Rongokako marine reserve for snorkelling where some lucky people caught sight of giant crayfish and stingray. Adding the element of introducing mindful breathing at the start showed how with intent activities I am already running in the outdoors can teach positive mental health skills that can be applied back in the real world. There were plenty of activities and highlights, but I think everyone was stoked to step aboard the Tairāwhiti waka. We were welcomed by the crew who shared their Kaupapa. As we moved out of the harbour, I was mesmerised by the expert use of the hoe tere (steering paddle). Then the sails were raised, and we began sailing on the traditionally crafted waka hourua. What an experience!

This wānanga was a catalyst for me to rethink how I run outdoor activities with purpose. Focusing on intentional facilitation, tangible transferable skills and integrating therapeutic intent into my mahi. There were plenty of laughs within all the learning and sharing of ideas. I managed to complete more cartwheels than I have in a long time. Art therapy turned into laughter therapy. I left with a notebook full of learnings and a heart full of gratitude. A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising, sharing knowledge, participating and the crucial behind the scenes work.

By Mollie Quinn