I find it very disturbing everytime I find out that school kids outdoor ed programmes have been cancelled because of the consession fees and the expense that the application process involves (time, expertise,etc). These are special areas that we want kiwis (not just foreigners) to experience, DOC concession processes are road blocks to growing up our next generation...how can we expect them to value it if they can't experience it. Please continue your good work on this issue.

As a long time advocate of 'free' use of the DOC managed estate fir school groups I'm pleased that this cause is being advocated for at the national level. My experience is that there have been variations in the interpretations and too often commercial operators have in the first instance been changed to take students onto DOC managed land and in the second instance this charge has been passed onto the schools and inevitably parents.

Leaning in the outdoors is suely part of being a New Zealander.

I understand that the land manager needs to collect data and manage the use. This should be done at no cost to schools and outdoor companies who are leading school students on this land.

I fully support advocacy around this matter.

Cheers

Arthur (who began taking young people into the outdoors when he was 17 years of age)

The North Canty Alpine Trust, operator of the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre, fully supports the advocacy that will result in 'fees free' outdoor education and recreation where students are using the DOC managed estate when led by schools and commercial operators .