School holiday Telford Taster Camp proves popular
McKenzie likes the practical one-to-one tutoring, Ethan grew up on a dairy farm and wants to find out about sheep and beef, and Anna likes the dogs.
Telford’s Taster Camp, held during the recent July school holidays, aims to give participants a taste of everything on offer at the agricultural training centre near Balclutha.
Telford’s Student Pathways Advisor Katie McCabe says the week is a chance for students to find out if agriculture is a good fit, before committing to enrolling in a course.
‘‘It’s an awesome way for people to find out if agriculture is for them, and to socialize with people who have the same interests. ‘‘It’s about who we are and what we do.’’ Students come from all over New Zealand for the four-day camp, which is held three times a year in the school holidays.
Usually they are in their last two years of high school and trying to decide what they want to do when they leave.
Some have farming backgrounds but many are from provincial towns and cities.
July’s group of 27 were mostly from the South Island, including students from Hokitika, Rangiora, Dunedin, West Melton, Kurow, Poolburn and Invercargill.
The camp offers a taste of all the courses Telford offers, which include the Certificate and Diploma in Agriculture, the Diploma for Rural Veterinary Technician, Certificate in Equine and Certificate in Apiculture.
Over the four days students get hands-on experience in fencing, pastures, welding in the workshop, mechanics, and working in the dairy shed and with the deer.
On the last day they were out shifting breaks on the Telford farm, visiting the vet clinic, trying their hand at dog trialling, and in
‘‘It’s an awesome way for people to find out if agriculture is for them, and to socialise with people who have the same interests.
‘‘It’s about who we are and what we do.’’ — Telford’s Student Pathways Advisor Katie McCabe.
the afternoon were off for a tour of the Catlins.
‘‘They do everything together on the first day, then specialise into areas they’re particularly interested in,’’ says McCabe.
‘‘They get to meet the tutors, study the course information and they all stay in the hostel so they get a taste of what it’s like to be part of the Telford family.’’
Rangiora student Caleb Olliver, 16, says he’s liked getting out and seeing the practical side of farming, and sees it as a good alternative to ‘‘school and paperwork.’’
Although he’s lived on a dairy farm near Invercargill, Ethan Moore, 17, is keen to learn about sheep and beef. He’s also enjoyed working with the dogs and learning about the deer.
‘‘I wanted to see if it was for me.’’ He thinks it’s probably ‘‘50/50’’ whether he’ll enrol.
Anna Jordan from Hokitika however, is sure she’ll be back next year. The Year 12 student says she’s planning to enrol in the Certificate of Agriculture.
‘‘I grew up hunting, fishing and in the outdoors, I live around farms and enjoy it. And I like the dogs, especially training them.’’
McCabe says most of them come back, maybe after another year at school.
‘‘It gives them some focus and makes them more confident with enrolling.’’
Telford has a 20 hectare campus and access to 921 hectares of farmland with sheep, deer, dairy, equine and forestry units.
After joining with the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre last year McCabe says it’s ‘‘business as usual’’ with courses starting at Level 3 and going through to Diploma level, with some part-time weekend beekeeping courses also planned for Invercargill later in the year.