Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit & Support - Gisborne

C.A.C.T.U.S. What is it?

Principle:

To provide youth 12 - 18 years of age with a alternative physical challenge training programme that will also incorporate many varied aspects from the community in a unique course known as C.A.C.T.U.S. (Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit & Support)

Aim:

To assist the development of youth by way of multi-tiered intense physical training programme that will allow youth to self discipline, focus and plan their future via the C.A.C.T.U.S. system of training.

History:

In 1998 C.A.C.T.U.S. originated in Hokitika as a youth offender discipline training programme, however it grew into an all round community based youth and community interactive physical training programme assisting all youth to realise their potential and challenge themselves.

C.A.C.T.U.S. was organized differently to other youth programmes in that trainees undertook very taxing physical training over the course that brought out the best and worse in them but extended their ability, confidence, knowledge, fitness and tenacity that stood them in good steed for the future in education, sport, and life in general.

The initial course is called C.A.C.T.U.S Basic and from there extended to  'C.A.C.T.U.S. Advanced'. Each course producing higher disciplines of learning, experience, leadership and community involvement all by way of rigid physical training.

C.A.C.T.U.S. has proven to have a good effect on our youth by being in the midst of positive people and at the same time learning new skills and finding out that their old trends, associations and offending no longer have the same favour it once did.

The training and discipline is tough and exacting and five basic rules apply to every course:

1.        Arrive on time 10 press-ups for every minute late

2.        No swearing

3.        No spitting or smoking

4.        No verbal or physical attacks on other trainees

5.        No back chatting the staff

Any breaches of rules resulted in additional press-ups or similar punishment and any major breach could see the trainees taken off the course, however, this is extremely rare.

Trainees are subjected to a wide array of training all along the same lines as military physical training. Over the C.A.C.T.U.S. course instructors are the main stays of training providing 80% of the training type; however the trainees will meet and train under other instructors from other disciplines within their community.

The Courses and Training:

Take a group of raw youth:

·         Instruct them how to run, jump, crawl, dive, lift, bend and flex.

·         Make them hot, cold, sweat and ache, grimace, smile and laugh.

·         Fill them full of frightened excitement, confidence, exhaustion, let them feel the pressure of challenge.

·         Teach them self discipline, endurance, tenacity, teamwork, leadership.

·         Show them they have strength and weaknesses, that goals are achievable and supporting each other will get them through.

·         Take then past their personal point of physical and mental endurance and back them off again.

·         Coach and mould them to seek and challenge themselves for their own and the communities' future.

How:

C.A.C.T.U.S. courses are set in a block format usually between school terms of about eight weeks.

C.A.C.T.U.S. training is run on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 06.00am until 07.00am at Lytton High School, and sometimes for an extended training period on a weekend if required.

Students then shower and are then fed a nutritious cooked breakfast, with Guest Speakers attending to share motivational life stories with the students. At the completion of breakfast, they are then released to attend school.  

It commences with an induction phase of disciplined fitness training to set the standard expected and then develops into a physical conditioning phase of fitness instruction then teamwork and leadership training ending in a final team physical exercise and personal fitness test.

It is not unusual for trainees to run 5 - 6 kilometres and do 180 press-ups in an hour of training. Trainees will learn physiology while learning gym techniques, train in the outdoors with hill runs, pole carries and exacting teamwork over swamps, roads, rivers, bush and beach. They will learn how to control their feelings, discipline themselves, gain the tenacity to prove they have the can do attitude and support each other through these events. They will also be instructed in many different forms of physical fitness which may include fitness as diverse as aerobics, Cross-fit, high impact, with all this provided by men and women from gyms, clubs or business within the community.

Over the entire course the trainee's physical fitness is monitored via frequent testing and if the trainee is falling behind in any areas, then C.A.C.T.U.S. instructors will rectify the trainee's pattern of training.

Training sessions are of high energy output with a expected total commitment of 100% plus from each trainee over the session.

They are also taught the basic fundamentals of body physiology, types of fitness training and diet for the training they are undertaking.

Trainees in Gisborne will undertake but not be limited to the following types of training:

·         Endurance distance running

·         Hill running

·         Cross country

·         Pole carries

·         Obstacle course training

·         Weight training

·         Spin/RPM classes

·         Combat and pump classes

·         Team training activities

·         Outdoor pursuit training

·         Fire brigade training

·         Various forms of endurance, aerobic, resistance training

·         Leadership Training

·         Risk Management

As the training advances through the course the trainees are instructed in a disciplined common sense manner of how to behave, discipline themselves, lead and support a team and others and other good traits that any community would expect from young adults.

In return C.A.C.T.U.S. can show the community that there is a number of youth that are looking to better themselves now and for the future which in turn has good public relation spin off effects and opportunities for employment.

Each course trains hard and builds in fitness and ability towards a final exercise that is usually one day long and will incorporate much of the training and techniques they have learnt through the course. The end of course exercise is also payback time to the trainees for the effort they have put in and over that particular exercise get to experience things such as boats, high ropes, working with the armed services etc, all which is very exciting for them.

If any trainee is seen to be superior in certain discipline i.e. running, gym leadership then C.A.C.T.U.S. will endeavour to assist in taking this trainee further in that discipline by seeking additional training, support or courses.

As stated other entities, people and business are also used to assist with adding experience and flavour to the training and this also exposes trainees to a wider world of knowledge and experience.

Basic fundamentals that are taught are:

'Don't hold out your hand and expect something for free, you must earn it'

'Those at the top did not fall there'

'Total Commitment secures success'

C.A.C.T.U.S. Course Formats:

C.A.C.T.U.S. Basic:

1.            Induction Phase

2.            Physical Conditioning Phase

3.            Teamwork/leadership

4.            Final Exercise

C.A.C.T.U.S. Advanced:

In this course trainees are given the framework of the course and they are assisted in managing it.

They must plan, train towards and complete one public and one private event.

1.            Induction/planning

2.            Physical Conditioning

3.            Risk Management/Leadership

4.            Final events (usually white water rafting or similar)

C.A.C.T.U.S. Instructors:

C.A.C.T.U.S. Instructors are also a hardy breed, no hands on hips blowing whistle and giving directions - the C.A.C.T.U.S. Instructor will need to be able to do the same if not better of what he/she is handing out to the trainees, therefore it is expected the C.A.C.T.U.S. Instructor is a highly disciplined and physically fit person along with being an extrovert that can get down to a teenagers level and way of thinking.

C.A.C.T.U.S. Instructors must be able to structure a course to extract the best out of the students. They must also be able to recognise trainee's weaknesses and restructure or assist with supplementary training to get them to a suitable level to continue C.A.C.T.U.S. training without loosing confidence in their ability to succeed.

C.A.C.T.U.S. Instructors must also be consistent - they must be there each training session, not only must they be physically fit they must be well planned and have a wide knowledge of different forms of training/fitness.

C.A.C.T.U.S. Instructors should not be coloured in any fashion so as to lean in anyone direction in relation to culture, religion, ethnic orientation or any other such biases - C.A.C.T.U.S. has its own philosophy which is totally neutral and dedicated to assisting youth.

Although C.A.C.T.U.S. Instructors manage risk and political correctness, a soft approach is not C.A.C.T.U.S. Trainees, their parents and the public in general must be let known that the programme being run is physically and mentally demanding and that to achieve the outcome desired the programme is disciplined and rigorous - therefore a little unusual in what we usually see today.

C.A.C.T.U.S. Trainees:

Who are they?

C.A.C.T.U.S. trainees come from all corners of the community.

They are youth who don't play general everyday sport, those who want more sport and challenge, those who are problematic at school, those who require more confidence and ability, those who are achievers, those who are from good, bad, poor and average families plus youth offenders - we take all.

Volunteers are called for pre course and interviewed as to why they are seeking this challenge, what their perceptions are and what they expect to gain from it.

Although trainees are volunteers they can be recommended to C.A.C.T.U.S. from areas such as schools, Police,  youth justice, Youth Court community agencies etc, however all prospective  trainees are considered and encouraged to come onto C.A.C.T.U.S.  In the end it is their decision and step to take, again part of the C.A.C.T.U.S. process.

C.A.C.T.U.S. Philosophy:

Take a community and its youth, form the programme for the youth using the community and surrounding resources.

Run a tough physically and mentally demanding course instructed by the best people who can enlist, challenge, inspire, adapt and instruct youth from a raw teenager to a youth with discipline, experience, tenacity, leadership and focus.

Surround the C.A.C.T.U.S. programme with the community by using it, introducing it, using its supports and experiencing it:

The C.A.C.T.U.S. Trainee will learn:

Don't hold out your hand and expect something for free, you must earn it

 Those at the top did not fall there

And above all....

Total commitment secures success

C.A.C.T.U.S. Outcomes:

If a C.A.C.T.U.S. trainee completes training and the Longest day' graduation exercise, they are awarded a shirt bearing the CACTUS logo. Apart from the personal satisfaction of completing the demanding 'basic course', this right to wear the shirt is all the trainee receives as a physical item.

C.A.C.T.U.S. has gained a mystique likened somewhat to an armed forces unit in that only those who have passed through its ranks will know and have the experience of that it was like to train under C.A.C.T.U.S. and ultimately succeed.

Senior Sergeant Mick LANDER, who was involved in the development of the Wairoa course who are about to commence their 11th course, is one of the team who have been implementing this into Lytton High School during term three 2012.