Training
Certificate HandbookThe Certificate in Ecotourism is a 34 week programme focusing on the core principles and practices of ecotourism. For more information download the
 
Note: 2012 Handbook not yet available sorry
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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
