Neurodiverse Group Test Skills on the West Coast Wilderness Trail
A group of nine neurodiverse young people from Recreate NZ Christchurch tested their capabilities on the West Coast Wilderness Trail recently.
The group spent two days riding on the trail. The first day had the riders exploring the West Coast Tree Top Walk and riding the Mahinapua section with lunch at Picnic Point before coming on through to Hokitika. The second day started with swimming at Lake Kaniere before venturing through the Kaniere Water Race through to Hokitika.
Christchurch Programme Coodinator and trip organiser Rosie Jerard was thrilled with the trip. “It was amazing, beaut weather, nice riding, it was great. It was a really good level of challenge.”
The trip was not without a couple of minor incidents. “One young man went around a corner and said a tree jumped in front of him on the Mahinapua section.” Jerard remarked. “A second rider, less confident at starting off, took a fall in the Kaniere Water Race section.”
West Coast Wilderness Trail Trust Chair Jackie Gurden believes the trail is ideal for this type of use and is keen to see much more of it by groups like Recreate NZ. “We have invested in the Accessible Ride Guide and our Trust is here to support these groups in any ways we can. We really back these initiatives and will be adding this into the guide.
Recreate NZ is a charitable organisation that runs projects where the goal is to capture all aspects of a young person’s life. “It gives parents respite and the young people have a chance to socialise with friends or people that they haven’t met before and experience all the opportunities neurotypical people have.” They run social events in evenings and weekends, life skills based programmes, overnight trips, and adventure based activities. “Our adventure programmes are 4-6 times a year but otherwise we are doing something every single weekend, there’s a huge demand for the service.”
“It is a really cool way for young people to try something new or develop a skill in a specific area that they wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to do,” Jerard concluded.
Text – Westland Wilderness Trail Trust
Images – Rosie Jerard
