A community triathlon over Queenstown Hill will be held on Sunday to help keep a 42-year-old Wakatipu High School tradition alive.
The Queenstown Hill Te Tapanui Challenge is a 13km bike-run-walk from the school, over the hill and finishes on Tucker Beach reserve.
The challenge aims to raise money towards the $10,000 needed to subsidise the school's annual year 10 camp to Branches Station.
The Branches Trust was formed in July by chairwoman Kelly Campbell, deputy chairwoman Jackie Gillies, treasurer Vanessa van Uden and fellow trustees Tom Milliken and Gary Healey to foster the camp and raise funds so rising costs were not passed on to parents or the school.
About 150 pupils have signed on for the next camp in November, the greatest number yet.
Mrs Campbell said Branches Station offered pupils the challenge of living in tents, cooking on an open fire and learning to cope with minimal modern conveniences.
Young people gained the skills and experience necessary to become successful members of society.
"In terms of a student's growth at Wakatipu High School, attending Branches at the end of year 10 is viewed as a rite of passage to the senior school.
"Students enjoy the solitude of the back country, live communally with all other year group peers, participate in activities and develop numerous competencies, or life skills, such as managing self, participating and contributing, thinking and relating to others."
Ms Gillies said the camp was the highlight of many pupils' secondary-school experience.
"The costs keep escalating, however, and the numbers going keep growing, and the school decided it had to cap the cost to parents at $250 per child."
Fundraising to date has reached about $2500 and involved a raffle of prizes donated by Noel Leeming, as well as a special locals discount day, with 5% of takings donated by Noel Leeming.
A year 10 work day will be held on November 4 with wages donated to the cause.
• The Queenstown Hill Te Tapanui Challenge, this Sunday. Entry $40 for adults, $25 for 18 and under. Entry forms available from sports shops, businesses and the school office. Registration opens from 7.30am at the school's Robertson block.
