Holiday Programmes

Each of our holiday programmes are led by qualified and passionate MERC staff who are dedicated to our mission of providing safe, fun, high quality marine environmental education and outdoor experiences for young New Zealanders.

- Payment is required within 2 hours of bookings being made to secure spaces - please see MERC's updated Terms and Conditions through EnrolMy. 

- Please note that MERC do not offer refunds or day swaps for the School Holiday Programme.

Standard Holiday Programme 

Our standard holiday programme provides your son/daughter with the opportunity to experience MERC missions which are themed around marine and land-based adventures. These missions can include a variety of activities and are dependent on conditions and group dynamics. Activities will be decided the day of to ensure they are best suited to weather conditions. 

• 7-13 years
• Activities commence at 9.00am and conclude at 4.00pm
• A regular session costs $56 per child per day with drop offs available from 8:00am and pick-ups until 4:30pm
• Early drop-offs from 7.30am-8.00am are charged an additional $5 per person
• Late pick-ups from 4.30pm-6.00pm are charged an additional $10 per person

Boating Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD)

Have your kids join us on a voyage of discovery on our BOLD (Boating Outdoor Leadership Development) during the upcoming school holidays. BOLD is an opportunity for your kids to learn about themselves and leadership through the adventure of sailing.

• 10-13 years 
• Opportunity to book in for a single day through to the entire week 
• Early drop-offs from 7.30am-8.00am are charged an additional $5 per person
• Late pick-ups from 4.30pm-6.00pm are charged an additional $10 per person

City Nippers

In collaboration with Surf Lifesaving Northern Region, we are offering a city nippers programme to provide surf safety and beach awareness. Participants will learn how to understand rips and rescue people, safe boating messages and developing confidence in boats, and flotation through experiencing different types of boards and flotation tools.

• 7-13 years
• 3 day experience

Blake Nga Rangatira Mo Apopo - Leaders for Tomorrow

Learn about the infamous leadership principals of one of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s greatest - Sir Peter Blake and the interconnectedness of our ecosystems. Working alongside our experienced team to develop your knowledge/skills in different outdoor settings, these skills will then be used to design and run an outdoor experience for school-aged kids during MERC’s school holiday programme.

• 16-18 years 
• 5 day residential experience 
• Successful completion of this programme will also meet the requirements for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - Gold Residential Project.
• A specific gear list for this programme will be sent out to participants following enrolment 

Blake Haerenga (Duke of Edinburgh Award Recognition)

Take part in an overnight residential or off-site experience with our Blake Haerenga programmes. These trips are a fantastic opportunity for participants to achieve personal growth, challenge themselves, build confidence, develop a deep appreciation for the outdoors, and build lasting connections.

Depending on the Haerenga journey, participants will have the opportunity to explore areas within Tīkapa Moana (Hauraki Gulf), connect with, and learn about te taiao (the natural world) around us.

These experiences are personalised for all levels of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, however any participant between 13-17 years is welcome to take part.

A specific gear list for these experiences will be provided to participants in a pre-planning meeting prior to the experience.

For more information about our specific Haerenga programmes, look for details for trips at enrolmy.com/merc

What to bring for a successful day at MERC

This gear list applies to MERC's standard holiday programme, city nippers, and BOLD. Haerenga and Leaders for Tomorrow Programmes have a separate gear list which will be sent out following enrollment. 

• Day Pack – morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, drink bottle, sunhat, sunblock, lip screen;
• Comfortable and sturdy closed-toed footwear (no sandals, crocs, or jandals);
• Weather appropriate clothes + spare clothes (warm shirt, long pants, woollen hat, socks, t-shirt, shorts, raincoat, windproof jacket – no singlets please).
• Swimming togs (Rash shirt if possible), towel, plastic bag for dirty and wet clothes.

Testimonials

“My daughter does many holiday programs and extracurriculars, she has consistently said her merc days were by far her favourite. I also feel she is safe with the staff that lead the kids”. - Noreen R. 

“Best value holiday program with the most uplifted, energetic and welcoming team. We travelled a distance to attend and will be back next term! Have already made recommendations to several others to attend”- Andrea B.

“Thank you for providing a great, local school holiday programme option. My 12 year old came back and said his day was an 8.5 out of 10 - which I was thrilled with considering all he wants to do at the moment is spend the day inside on screens! Your staff engage with the age group really well and you provide a great range of outdoors activities that challenge the kids enough to keep them interested and wanting more. Please pass along our appreciation to all your hard working team." - Keryn G.