Cara invigorated by 21 Day Outward Bound challenge

The last morning sunrise of the three-day hike on the peak of Mt Sunday. Left to right: Luc, Cara, Caitli

Their watch out on the water, rowing together when the wind was too light to sail. Cara is in the stroke seat on the front left, helping set the rhythm for the crew.

Cara Brignull is invigorated having just returned from a 21-day leadership course with Outward Bound in Anakiwa. Last year she was the recipient of the Sumner Ferrymead Foundation Outward Bound scholarship, sponsored in memory of Allan Williams. Each year the Foundation offers a range of scholarships and awards for both individuals and community groups.

We sailed, rock climbed, built rafts, kayaked and did coast steering. There were multi-day hikes, a three-night solo alone in the bush. If that wasn’t enough, the course finished with a half marathon on the Queen Charlotte track straight after a three-day tramp’, says Cara. ‘I had lots of time to reflect on myself, gaining a better understanding of who I am and the kind of person I want to be in the future. I also learnt so many valuable skills like leadership, resilience, and teamwork, along with making special memories.

As part of the leadership course, the 12 trainees aged between 18 and 25 years’, helped clear tracks that volunteers utilise to place pest traps in. ‘It was good to give back to the community,’ says Cara.

The course was both physically and mentally challenging, but a great precursor for Cara’s upcoming adventure.

I’m preparing and saving before I head to the USA to study and row on a full-ride scholarship at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma,’ says Cara.

What does it mean to be part of the Outward Bound alumni now?

I now feel more prepared to take on the challenges of moving overseas to study and row. I’ll carry the resilience, confidence, and self-belief I gained into every part of this next chapter. The teamwork and leadership skills will be just as useful off the water as they are on it, and the mindset I’ve built will help me face whatever challenges come my way.

I feel really lucky to have grown up in such a beautiful community surrounded by the hills and the sea, and I would like to thank the Sumner Ferrymead Foundation for providing me with such an amazing opportunity,’ says Cara.