OTAMATEA HIGH SCHOOL

Otamatea High School
Otamatea High School
Otamatea High School

William Pike Challenge Award 2022 

Otamatea High School is taking on the William Pike Challenge!

The William Pike Challenge Award is a structured programme geared at helping Year 7 and 8 students achieve their personal best.

There are three elements of the William Pike Challenge Award. These are Outdoor Activities, Community Service and Passion Projects. These elements provide exciting opportunities for our students at Otamatea High School to step outside their comfort zone and develop and strengthen vital universal life skills. They foster personal development through participating in five outdoor activities, 20 hours community service and 20 passion projects throughout the year. 

This challenge runs throughout the school year and students register early in Term 1. Students are supported in school by challenge co-ordinator Nyree Antunovich. If you would like to know more information about how the William Pike Challenge Award operates within Otamatea High School email her on nyree.antunovich@otamatea.school.nz 

2022 William Pike Challenge Information to register

The William Pike Challenge Award

Outdoor Activities

Outdoor Activities provide opportunities for students to step outside of their comfort zone, to take risks, build confidence and strengthen relationships with peers. Studies have shown that spending time in nature improves people’s mental wellbeing by lifting their mood and decreasing feelings of depression, anxiety and stress. Investing in our youths' mental health means they’re more prepared to overcome challenge and change that will inevitably come their way. Outdoor Activities not only build universal life skills and an explorer mindset, they also remind our youth about the beauty and accessibility of New Zealand’s landscape. Students are required to do five Outdoor Activities that are offsite, more than 2 hours long and challenging in nature.

Community Service 

Community Service or voluntary work, allows students to explore, develop and strengthen empathy, humility and compassion. Universal life skills many students may not have had the opportunity to untap. Doing unpaid work and giving back to the community also provides opportunities for students to step outside of their comfort zone, develop communication skills, connectedness with the local community, peers and whānau and embrace a greater sense of purpose.

Passion Projects 

Passion Projects are a sport or hobby that’s totally new to the student. Passion Projects encourage students to take on a challenge, to build self belief, work ethic, capability and connectedness with peers. Trying something new and working hard to master it develops determination, concentration and resilience.