College’s fund activates leadership camp
Published on 7 April, 2026
Te Awamutu College’s Year 13 Leadership Camp was supported this year by an endowment fund at Momentum Waikato.
Established by the Rogers Charitable Trust in 2020, the Te Awamutu College Foundation Fund provides a secure perpetual funding stream for the secondary school’s additional student activities and resources.
The annual Leadership Camp is a long-standing tradition and plays an important role in preparing students for their final year. Its focus is building leadership skills, confidence and camaraderie, along with giving the teenagers a range of fun activities and the chance to grow together as a year cohort.
In early February, 137 students and eight staff headed to Tui Ridge Park near Rotorua. Surrounded by 400 acres of native bush, the camp has space to move, explore and disconnect from everyday routines.
The opening afternoon was a ‘Top Town’ style challenge, pictured above. By the end, students were soaked, soapy, and smiling.
That evening a leadership session focused on ‘stepping up’, positive role modelling and making the most of the opportunities that come with being in Year 13. This was followed by a Quiz Night, which saw the dining hall filled with noise and laughter as teams battled it out across a range of subjects.
Day two was all about physical challenges offered by Tui Ridge. Students faced the height and speed of the giant tandem swing, tested their grip and nerves on the indoor rock-climbing wall, and took part in slingshot paintball. Orienteering, frisbee golf, and indoor bowling provided further challenges and opportunities for teamwork.
A standout addition this year were some activities run by the Halberg Foundation. Through experiences such as ‘blind soccer’ and ‘blind tennis’, students gained a deeper appreciation of sport and recreation for people with disabilities.
That evening was the Wearable Arts challenge. Teams from the school’s ‘Houses’ worked at pace to design, construct, and model superhero and evening wear outfits made mostly from newspaper. The room buzzed with energy as they cut, taped and dressed their models, before a lively catwalk show down the centre of the dining hall, complete with loud cheers, applause, and plenty of House pride.
The third and final day began with House discussions on leadership opportunities for the year ahead. The students then all gathered together to practise the school haka, where they demonstrated the mana they carry and their pride in representing Te Awamutu College.
The camp finished with two final house competitions on the field, an obstacle course and a tug of war. Soon after, the buses home were loaded with tired students, very well-used gear, and plenty of stories to tell.
The Year 13 Leadership Camp was about far more than activities and competition. The shared challenges, the hilarity and the moments where students unexpectedly stepped up to lead have helped to build a stronger and more connected age-group cohort.
Momentum Waikato recognises that strong schools are a foundation for robust communities, so is always keen to help grow financial resources for local kids’ and teens’ education. The role the Te Awamutu College Foundation Fund played in enabling the school’s Leadership Camp is a great example of what’s possible.
Anyone who attended or worked at Te Awamutu College or otherwise supports it as a great school, is invited to donate towards the Te Awamutu College Foundation Fund via momentumwaikato.nz/teawamutucollegefund.
