The ELTA Board

Mission

To inspire, assist and encourage all persons wanting to further their education and/or develop their inner competencies using adventure as a powerful tool.

The purpose of the Trust will be to educate and train people, particularly youth and unemployed, and to provide learning opportunities experientially through adventure.

Purpose

The primary emphases include promoting inclusivity, facilitating connections with oneself, others, and nature, integrating Kaupapa Māori approaches, and advancing the overall health and wellbeing of rangatahi and the broader community.

How we began

The Trust was established in 2013 but remained dormant without any financial activity for an extended period. Operational activities commenced at the end of 2022, catalysed by donating the ELTA Challenge Course from AdventureWorks Ltd. The reconstruction of the Challenge Course prompted this generous contribution, necessitated by a new construction initiative at Unitec Mt Albert Campus, compelling AdventureWorks to vacate the site. Acknowledging the impracticality of AdventureWorks bearing the reconstruction costs, they donated the Challenge Course to the ELTA Board.

Simultaneously, a group of outdoor facilitators, impassioned to work with rangatahi in the community and identified the need for adventure therapy / adventure-based programs, recognised the financial challenges associated with such endeavours. To address this, they strategically transitioned the project into a trust structure, enabling eligibility for various funding opportunities to support programs for rangatahi in need. This marked the rejuvenation of the ELTA Board’s journey.

In 2023, guided by advice from funders, we sought funding under the AdventureWorks name, as the ELTA Board lacked a financial statement due to the prior absence of financial activity. This strategic decision proved successful, securing multiple funding grants for delivering youth development programs utilising an Experiential and Adventure-Based Approach. In 2023, these programs positively impacted over 30 rangatahi, and we have ambitious plans to expand our reach to more than 90 rangatahi in 2024, building upon the secured funding.

Trustees

Mark Mandeno: Our team is led by Mark, who has worked with people in the outdoors all his life. He has been a secondary school teacher running the education department for years, a qualified counsellor and now one of the trustee of the ELTA Trust as well as a director at AdventureWorks.
Rachel Hill: Rachel is one of the trustee of the ELTA Trust. Rachel worked as an General Manager at AdventureWorks for 8 years. Rachel has worked as project manager, consultant, senior business consultant, strategic manager, tertiary tutor etc. for 21 years.
Carolyn Marino: Carolyn is one of the trustee of the ELTA Trust. Over the last 25 years working in senior leadership roles, most recently as principal for 15 years at Westmere School in central Auckland, Carolyn has recognised and developed her passion for growing leadership in others. She has a Masters in Educational Management (1st Class hons), and has been an active member and supporter of the Auckland Inner City Principals’ Association, the emerging Kāhui Ako o Waitemātā and Auckland Primary Principals’ Association.