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Students encouraged to share top outdoor spots and win

Posted under: Media release

Published 1 February 2016

Kiwi school children are encouraged to snap photos, draw pictures and share creative descriptions of their favourite outdoor places in the 2016 Top Outdoor Spot competition, which launches today.

The 2016 competition is run on the New Zealand Walking Access Commission's Both Sides of the Fence education website (www.bothsidesofthefence.org.nz) from 1 February to 8 May 2016.

New Zealand Walking Access Commission chief executive Mark Neeson said the Top Outdoor Spot competition provided teachers with an entertaining and educational way to raise awareness of responsible behaviour in the outdoors.

“The competition encourages young New Zealanders to think about the value of responsible access to the outdoors, as well as reinforcing vital links to outdoor activity and our access culture and heritage.

“Many schools also run camps and other outdoor activities during term one, and teachers can utilise the competition and the Both Sides of the Fence website to build engaging lessons based on the outdoor experiences of their students.”

Prizes are awarded for first, second and third place in the 'Best photo', 'Best drawing' and 'Best description' categories.

The winners of each category will receive a Macpac Kahuna backpack, Hunting & Fishing NZ kids pack, Skellerup Red Band gumboots, Kiwi Sock Company gumboot socks, a head torch sponsored by the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council and a Fence Detective smartphone app and cap. Their schools will win a $100 book voucher and a Cancer Society of New Zealand 1L bottle of sunscreen. Prizes will also be awarded for second and third places in each category.

Mr Neeson said the 2016 Top Outdoor Spot competition was anticipated to build on the success of the 2015 event, which attracted more than 180 photos, drawings and descriptions from students across the country.

Both Sides of the Fence is a curriculum-aligned website that encourages students up to year 8 to think about the value of access to the outdoors as part of the Kiwi way of life. It supports English and Social Sciences learning areas and EOTC activities, including school camps and field trips.

Recent additions to the Both Sides of the Fence website include three new animated scenarios and associated teacher resources. Two of the scenarios look at the Queen's Chain and responsible behaviour in the outdoors when on a field trip. A third, available in both Te Reo Māori and English, focuses on healthy families and the benefits of enjoying the outdoors.