Training

Certificate Handbook

The Certificate in Ecotourism is a 34 week programme focusing on the core principles and practices of ecotourism. For more information download the

Adobe Acrobat DocumentCertificate in Ecotoruism Handbook 2011
Adobe Acrobat Document: 1.50 MB, 3.7 minutes @ 56kbps

Note: 2012 Handbook not yet available sorry

 

Ecotourism and Outdoor education at Tai Poutini Polytechnic 

At Tai Poutini, we consider ourselves lucky to have the most diverse and exciting classroom in the world. Large tracts of pristine native forest for plant studies, one of the most active tectonic faultlines on our doorstep to study geology, a rich colonial local history of goldmining and timber extraction to look at New Zealand history and a dramatic climate to study weather patterns. 

When it comes to our outdoor education training, there is fantastic rock climbing, some of the Worlds best white water for kayaking and rafting and the mountains are but a stones throw away for snow based activities.

Flexible education options mean that you can choose the programmes that will fit your needs from full-time on campus training to short awards with intense training in a particular area to distance learning so that you can continue to earn while you train.

Career prospects

Outdoor education provides a range of career options including:

  • Kayak, rafting guide
  • Ski instructor, ski patrol
  • Mountain guide
  • Outdoor Instructor
  • Tourism Information Centres
  • Tourism Research
  • Tour Drivers
  • Hotel and Hospitality occupations
  • Travel Agents and Consultants
  • Sales and Marketing

Career skills

Outdoor education skills that you will learn in our programmes include:

  • Organising and running outdoor trips
  • Interpersonal skills and working with clients
  • Interpretation of the environment
  • Te Ao Maori
  • Historical interpretation
  • Weather interpretation
  • Computer skills for managing a business
  • Exercise science
  • Sustainable business practise
  • Safety planning
  • First Aid

Real Journeys Staff Training

Boreland Lodge Real Journeys Residential 2010

In June of 2010 , Real Journeys and Tai poutini Polytechnic joined forces again on a staff trainig week at Boreland Lodge near Lake Monowai in Southland. It was very successful with a bigger crew than last year (20 participants).

The staff follow this week by completing a module in Sustainability which works towards the Diploma in Ecotourism which can be done via distance learning. Most of these students study by traditional means of a paper project and lots of digital resources and support from Tai Poutini's homebase in Greymouth on the stunning West Coast but some use an online platform called Moodle which is a great way to learn.

This is a great way to carry out staff training for businesses that want to invest in their staff. If there are big enough numbers, we will come to you and deliver training to you on site.

I would like to acknowledge a very open minded and forward thinking management team at Real Journeys, they care a lot about the long term sustainability of their environment, business and community which they display by training their staff, contributing to community groups and conservation projects and growing their business to last into the future.

Give Geoff Button a call on 0800800411 if you are interested in "learning while you are earning"

Author - Geoff Button

 

 

What's happening?

01

Aug

2011

New opportunities antidote to “tough environment” for ecotourism industry
A key focus of the event will be supporting and inspiring operators to improve their business performance and profitability.

02

May

2011

Ecotourism NZ business workshop programme
Ecotourism NZ is providing an intensive one-day session on the nuts’n’bolts of nature-based tourism. The objective of the session is to provide intensive professional development for nature-based tourism operators and

Read the Archives »

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02

Feb

2012

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02

Feb

2012

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Tai Poutini Polytechnic
Private Bag 607
Greymouth, New Zealand
Freephone: 0800 800 411