The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand
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The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand (OPC) is a not for profit charitable trust. OPC has two centres in New Zealand, one on Great Barrier Island and one adjacent to the Tongariro National Park. OPC's mission statement is 'Developing people's potential through:
- Challenging outdoor adventures
- Environmental leadership
- Fun and support
History
editIt was a young New Zealand mountaineer called Graeme Dingle who first dreamed of a place and a way to teach people about the power and beauty of the outdoors and the potential which lies within themselves.
- OPC began as a collection of old wooden buildings in the mud, staffed by a team of enthusiastic idealists. Surviving against the financial odds, OPC led the development of outdoor education in New Zealand. It's ground-breaking philosophy changed established outdoor education ideas and shaped the professional outdoor education industry in New Zealand today.