The Third National Deafblind Residential Centre-Based Program was held at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand (OPC) from the19th to the 22nd March 2004. The Centre is situated just outside Turangi, on the edge of Tongariro National Park in the centre of the North Island. This program once again built upon the knowledge and experience gained from the previous events held over the last two years.

This years Program was attended by 36 people who are deafblind, 11 RNZFB staff, three NZSL Interpreters, and 22 support people, bringing a total of 72 participants.

OPC provided accommodation, all meals and a range of activities taken by skilled Instructors. Deafblind participants were placed into groups of similar abilities, and each had access to assigned support people or the Instructor. In general, the Instructors within each group looked at offering a more varied program than was offered in the previous program to try to avoid repetition. Activities were designed to meet a range of physical, social, recreational, environmental and personal objectives. Due to popular demand, evening activities again included hot pools, singing and dancing around a camp fire, with roasted marshmallows on offer, and a drumming session taken by a group of the Instructors.

Funding was provided by a generous grant from the RNZFB, a contribution from Deafblind New Zealand (Inc), a grant from the Lion Foundation and fees paid by each participant. Many participants were unable to meet the costs required in full and successful applications for grants from Trusts including The Sir Arthur Pearson Fund, The Henderson Trust, and the Daysent Trust were made.

Initial verbal feedback from all those who participated, including participants and OPC staff was very positive. Camp participants were enthusiastic about the program and OPC staff stated that the whole camp yet again went very smoothly from their point of view and the experience was incredibly valuable for all. It was emphasised that a combination of timely training for the OPC Staff around Deafblind related issues, and the familiarity of the Client group to the OPC Management Team was a major contributing factor to this years almost seamless success.

Objectives
Objectives of the 3rd National Residential Centre-Based Deafblind Program were to bring together people who are deafblind from all over New Zealand to meet and share information, experiences and ideas in an informal and challenging environment

OPC Activities
Activities available at OPC were:

•     Low & high ropes course
•     Bush walking
•     Upseiling
•     Quad Motorcycles
•     Trip up Ruapehu
•     Initiative problem Solving
•     Gorge walking
•     Flying Fox
•     Canoeing
•     Horse riding
•     Orienteering
•     Caving

In 2005 another camp will be held from Friday 18 March to Monday 21 March. For further details contact Richelle Frantz rfrantz@rnzfb.org.nz