Recreate NZ programmes have been designed to meet the needs of participants who have mild to moderate intellectual, physical and/or sensory disabilities. This can include such disabilities as Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, developmental delays, dyspraxia, and more.
Adventure
Build confidence, develop skills and conquer challenges through Youth Camps, Seeking Summits and Outdoor Adventures.
Youth Camps
Recreate’s staple four-day camps provide personal growth opportunities through the great outdoors. Youth Camps take place in the school holidays in groups of between 20 and 30 young people and leaders.
We partner with local outdoor providers or instructors who lead us through incredible, safe and engaging outdoor activities. We occasionally host inter-regional Youth Camps, enabling great connections amongst members of different Recreate regions.
Seeking Summits
Premier adventures for thrill-seeking youth to the furthest reaches of Aotearoa. Past multi-day Seeking Summits adventures include white water rafting, black-water caving, rock climbing and abseiling, canyoning and hiking.
We love dreaming up new adventures alongside certified outdoor providers, and seeing young people conquer new challenges!
Outdoor Adventures
Multi-day adventures where youth learn, develop and master specific outdoor skills from the snow to the sea. Examples of Outdoor Adventures include cycling, kayaking, rafting, paddle boarding, surfing, hiking and more.
Recreation
From single day Holiday Programmes, through to multi-day Getaways where participants venture around the motu, we love keeping involved.
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Holiday Programmes
Fun-filled day activities every school holidays. Participants enjoy a mix of active and passive activities in and around the city, such as bowling, movies, trampoline parks, museums and galleries, the beach, and more!
Getaways
Multi-day recreational programmes where participants venture around the country to experience new places and new activities. Getaways can be three or four days in length, allowing for plenty of time to make the most of our beautiful country.
Most Getaways take place over three days in the weekend, but are also held across four days during school holidays. These trips out of the city are great ways to spend quality time with others, to see new sights and experience fun activities!
Education
Our range of Life-skills courses offer a variety of personal development opportunities for high school students and school leavers.
Life Skills
Life-skills programmes have an educational focus, where small groups journey together across a school term for one day per week. Different themes are utilised, such as life skills for everyday life including public transport, using money, and socialising.
Other themes include keeping active through our ‘On the Move’ programme, our cooking modules to become more confident in the kitchen.
Moxie
Moxie provides purposeful work experience and employment training to develop pathways towards meaningful community contribution. We foster courageous spirit in trainees, community members and employers, aiming to challenge limiting perceptions in society and to break the barriers to employment.
Work Experience
Recreate NZ facilitates mid-week Moxie Work Experience programmes in a range of practical environments. The intention is to empower young people to develop task orientation, tools for wellbeing and resilience, effective teamwork and a clear self-awareness of personal strengths and challenges.
Programmes emphasise practical life skills alongside personal and professional development, such as kitchen or gardening skills, fine motor skills, communication, time management, following instructions, discovering learning styles and utilising feedback effectively.
All programmes are connected with local organisations, providing opportunities for skill and lifestyle development while paving the way towards employment and valuable community connection.
Employment
Moxie Work Experience aims to empower young people to develop task orientation, tools for wellbeing and resilience, effective teamwork and a clear awareness of personal strengths and challenges in a range of settings.
Key support locations
View our regions for more information and for booking requests.
Age Groups for Programmes
Our programmes are offered through three age groups. Young people are supported by age-appropriate facilitators and volunteers.
Beginnings at Recreate for young people in the junior age category might look like an apprehensive time on the first few programmes, especially in a new environment with new people. There may be meaningful growth in independence, with plenty of opportunities to meet new people and develop friendships.
Programmes available to this younger cohort focus Urban events and Holiday Programmes, before looking at overnight programmes like Getaways Short Breaks and Outdoor Adventures.
The youth age category is a largest cohort, where some might still be at high school, transitioning to the next step or perhaps at further education. Our school holiday periods remain very busy for the youth, with Holiday Programmes, Youth Camps and Getaways all featuring.
As young people progress through to become young adults, we love to keep the personal growth opportunities available through Life Skills and Moxie programmes. And of course we have our regular Urbans, Getaways, Short Breaks and Holiday programmes available to keep the good times rolling.
Feedback from Participants
Payment Methods
If your young person does not have access to Carer Support or Individualised Funding, and you think you may be eligible, please get in touch with us at info@recreate.org.nz and we can have a chat.
Social
Forming friendships and staying social is a core benefit of our Urban events and weekend Short Breaks, with many meaningful connections made.
Urbans
Good times out socialising with friends in and around the city for either four hours, or the whole day! Urbans mostly occur during the weekends, and quite often involve great food and fun activities.
Short Breaks
Weekends out of the city in a safe and relaxing environment with small groups of friends. As opposed to our larger Getaway offerings, Short Breaks are all about slowing down and taking it easy in beautiful environments.