We are dedicated to providing high quality cost effective bushcraft instruction...
to give you the skills for greater safe enjoyment of the outdoors
Dawn - Mt Ruapehu from Rangiwahia Hut
Applying to be a Member
Volunteer Roles:
We have volunteers helping in many diverse roles within our organisation, some examples are:
Instructors
Bushcraft
Risk Management
and more...
Youth Volunteer (14-17 years)
Mentors
Assessors
Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey Shadows
Admin Assistants
Volunteer Support Members (not instructing)
Website Contributors
Committee
Branch Officials
...and many more...
An OTNZ Instructor Member may:
Instruct on courses for the public, either organised by an OTNZ branch or at a Regional or National level
Instruct on courses run in conjunction with a specific organisation or community group(s)
Make presentations to community groups such as tramping clubs, youth organisations and schools
Promote and encourage safe practices in outdoor activities through participating in community events
Be involved in training other volunteer instructors
Become an assessor for industry standard recognised qualifications
and more...
An OTNZ Supporter Member role may include:
Support person, promotion, cook, etc.
Attend branch meetings
Act as an Assistant Instructor on a course UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION (that is, in the immediate presence) of a fully qualified Instructor
Either a Police Vet through OTNZ OR a recent Criminal Conviction History Report is required for admin roles which involve:
bookkeeping, bank signatory, handling more than an insignificant amount of money or similar
access to youth member or participant contact information
Becoming a Volunteer:
We have established an acceptance and training pathway for our volunteers.
Applicants must have an interest in maintaining safety in the outdoors.
Applicants must be at least 17 years old, or 14+ years old for the youth section.
There is a police vetting procedure for applicants for all member roles (instructional, volunteer support, and even including office support). Some of the participants on our courses are minors and thus as an organisation we are providing instruction to minors and are also handling the personal information of minors.
This is repeated each revalidation cycle (3 years).
In addition instructors, assistant instructors and youth members must:
Maintain a current First Aid Certificate.
Maintain a current logbook of personal and leadership outdoor experience.
Participate in the revalidation process every 3 years
Our aim is to provide FREE personal training and qualification pathways for members. Members are expected to participate in volunteer activities to retain their eligibility for this.
Training to obtain / upgrade relevant recognised industry standard qualifications. These qualifications can be recognised outside of OTNZ by commercial outdoor adventure operators.
Personal satisfaction that you are helping others
to experience the outdoors safely
to enhance their experience of the outdoors for the rest of their lives
Friendship of others with similar life skills and values
Including applicants with other existing relevant prior learning / qualifications
Applicants with expired Warrants will need to go through a reaffirmation / revalidation process.
Applicants with some current warrants may be able to instruct under these until the warrants expire.
OTNZ does not have access to records from other organisations, so will require verification of documents for our records.
Our Admin Volunteers will be available at all stages to guide and assist you through the process of validating your Application as smoothly and quickly as possible.
During the Validation Process applicants will be referred to as "Probationary Members".
Police Vetting Check
Reference(s) from other(s) involved in
Outdoor Recreation or
Voluntary Organisation or Youth Group or
an OTNZ member
Verification of Birth Certificate / Passport
Verification of one of the following: Drivers Licence, Community Services Card, Firearms Licence, 18+ card, or other similar ID for Youth Members
Acceptance of Member Terms and Conditions
Acceptance by OTNZ Branch / National Office
Supply photo for ID Card
Applicants to assist in Admin or other Support Roles or Youth Members
Applicants for Instructing Roles(18+ yrs old)
Verification of First Aid Certificates, technical or teaching qualifications, and other relevant prior learning
Logbook or CV showing showing outdoor experience
Skills Active Training Agreement form
Validated Member
Entitling Instructing Members to specialise in one or more disciplines of: Bushcraft, Above Bushline, Outdoor Emergency Management, Risk Management, Instructor Training and Assessment.
Ongoing Personal Development
ALL Members will be able (and are encouraged) to advance their personal skills through training (and recognition of other relevant learning).
Volunteer Support Member (non-instructing) (eg. Admin, Publicity, Support Services)
Outdoor Leader
Outdoor Instructor (similar to Bush1)
Outdoor Advanced Instructor Level 2 (similar to Bush2)
The Outdoor Instructor and the Outdoor Advanced Instructor Level 2 will be similar to BUSH1 and BUSH2.
