The one term long Blue Light Alternative Strategy for Teenagers (Blast) programme had been run by Puna Rangitahi at Dunstan High School since 2015 as has offered year 9 to 10 students the opportunity to build resilience, confidence and leadership skills said Puna Rangitahi manager Tash Kane.
During the course of the programme students take part in a wide variety of fitness routines.
"It could be that you’re doing a beep test. It could be that you are at NRG doing a workout with the team up there, yeah, well, you could be running to the Clock Tower, or you could just be doing press ups," she said.
Because of the military theme of the programme, participants don’t just take part in a variety of workouts.
They also learned drill and leadership skills and took part in teamwork challenges as well.
The programme offered at Dunstan High School had been well received, with the cap of 30 students being consistently reached.
Puna Rangitahi youth development worker Nathan Zimmerman said that Blast participants liked the free breakfast that the programme offered, as well as the friendships they made throughout the course.
"They make some friendships along the length of the course because they’re forced to rely upon each other in the teamwork activities."
An interest in joining the military is also one of the reasons some take part in the programme, he said.
The final day of the programme is called the longest day, where students start at six in the morning take part in exercises and challenges until three in the afternoon, before a march out graduation ceremony is held where they are presented with their jerseys in front of the families and guests such as the Central Otago Mayor or area commander of the police, Mr Zimmerman said.
Two years ago a Blast programme started being run in Maniototo with the course being opened to students up to year 13, Ms Kane said.
It is also planned to start a programme in Roxburgh in term three.
As Puna Rangitahi is a not for profit, a lot of funding came from trusts and charities, with the Central Lakes Trust being the organisations main funder.
"We are looking for sponsors to come on board for hoodies and t-shirts," she said.
The course would begin on Monday for the Dunstan High School programme and runs from 6am until 8.45am and would run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the duration of term one.
The Maniototo programme, also would start on Monday and would run differently, running after school on Monday and Thursday
