Frosty starts a change for teens
Commando-crawling across a frosty school field at 5.45am may not sound like a good idea, but for 25 Reporoa College students it’s another opportunity to discover their true grit.
The rural Waikato school students are nearing the end of the eight-week, police-run, CACTUS (Combined Adolescent Youth Training Unit Support) youth development programme.
‘‘Whilst there’s a strong focus on physical training, this is no boot camp,’’ says Local Community Constable Jude Clifton.
‘‘Physical fitness is a by-product of the course, not the main goal. The real benefits lie in the mental toughness, integrity and commitment required to complete the course. It’s about developing life skills of teambuilding, problem solving, confidence and trust.’’
CACTUS Reporoa is now in its sixth year, one of the longest running CACTUS programmes in the Bay of Plenty thanks to principal sponsor Contact Energy and the local community.
To graduate from the course, students must meet strict requirements for attendance, effort and attitude. And they must complete the police required fitness level course three times during the course, attempting to beat their score each time. Those who do not meet the challenges can (and will) be asked to leave the course.
The course culminates in the gruelling longest day, a military style challenge, which is designed to push the participants to their physical, mental, and emotional limits as well as testing all that they have learnt during the course.
And, whilst it might be tough for the students, an equal measure of grit is required from the adults who makes it happen.
The police staff get up at 4.30am in Rotorua and drive out to Reporoa pre or post shift. Teaching staff are up at the same time, driving around collecting students and getting them to school, before sweating it out alongside them. Not to forget other locals who donate food, time and energy to prepare breakfasts and wash smelly training gear.
However, Reporoa College teacher Natasha Bol says none of it would happen without Contact Energy’s sponsorship and support.
‘‘And it goes beyond cold, hard cash. Contact staff have come out and trained with the cadets.‘‘