25 years of adventure therapy in Canterbury
For a decade, Waipuna Youth Services has delivered 10-week adventure therapy programmes in secondary schools across Ōtautahi Canterbury, at Avonside Girls’ High School, Hagley Community College, Haeata, Te Aratai College, Hillmorton High School, Shirley Boys’ High School, and Lincoln High School.
New research, commissioned by St John of God Hauora Trust and conducted by independent researcher Sarah Wylie, documented what students actually experience and what they carry forward into their lives.
More than an outdoor activity
The research, published in July 2025, drew on analysis of 30 closure interviews with secondary school participants and survey responses from 37 former schools programme alumni.
The findings are clear: adventure therapy creates genuine, lasting change, not just a memorable experience.
In the short term, students reported being challenged physically, mentally and socially. They overcame those challenges through teamwork, encouragement, internal bravery and courage, and a positive mindset. Many described high degrees of personal discovery, particularly around their own capacity for determination, perseverance, motivation, connection, and leadership.
What the evidence shows
Among former secondary school participants surveyed, 62.1 per cent reported a big or huge lasting impact on their lives.
The three areas of strongest impact across all programme types were awareness of their own emotional state (80 per cent), social connection (78.6 per cent), and feelings of hope (78.1 per cent).
Perhaps most significantly, participants reported a high intent to transfer what they learned directly into their lives at school, at home, and in their community.
“The 10 week course I did at Waipuna had a more positive effect on me than all the years of schooling I did. They treated me as an equal and taught me life skills I still use in my everyday life.”
From fear to pride
A striking theme in the research was the role of completing activities that required overcoming real fear.
Students described this as a source of genuine pride, the kind that is earned rather than given. Many also described discovering their capacity to help others when things got hard, which became a turning point in how they thought about themselves.
“It made me more confident. I feel like I am more open to opportunities that before I started the programme. I’ve learnt to stop and take a breath when I feel upset or stressed.”
A different kind of relationship
What distinguishes the Waipuna model from many outdoor education programmes is what happens after the 10 weeks.
The research is clear that the relationships formed during the programme, between participants, and between participants and staff, continue beyond it. Former participants described returning years later, still in contact with staff, still drawing on what they learned.
“Having been through this at high school I found this made me lean away from crime and joining a gang. The people there were always warm and inviting but most of all understanding of bad backgrounds.”
The research was conducted under ethics approval from the Aotearoa Research Ethics Committee (AREC25_10).
Summary Report
A summary of the independent impact research into Waipuna's adventure therapy programme, covering outcomes and findings from the 2023 to 2026 reporting period.
Social Impact Report 2025
Our full impact report measuring outcomes, reach and the difference our Adventure Therapy services made for people and whānau across Aotearoa.
Impact Report →
Social ROI Analysis 2025
Independent analysis of the social return on investment generated by the Waipuna reintegration programme – $15.44 for every dollar invested.