Love of outdoors leads to award | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

A New Brighton teenager's love for the outdoors has led him to win the outstanding achievement award for his work in the YMCA Conservation Corp.

Ben Pavitt won the award after his tutor saw his potential and nominated him.

The 19-year-old was modest in his win and said after hearing he had been nominated for the award just slipped his mind.

"I forgot about it for a while until suddenly they told me I had won it.

"I was pretty stoked," he said.

The award for outstanding achievement is a national honour and is the highest awarded to members of the YMCA Conservation Corp.

Pavitt said he did not realise the significance of the award when he first heard he had won.

"I didn't realise the importance of it until I realised it was a national thing and it involved the whole of the YMCA," he said.

The YMCA Conservation Corp is a 20-week course in which students get to take part in outdoor activities, learn about conservation and leadership.

The award is for the most outstanding member of the course and is the highest award given to students.

Tutor John Hannam said Pavitt had excelled in the course with outstanding attendance, leadership and contribution to the course but said Pavitt also had something else.

"He's really got that X factor," he said.

Pavitt completed the course in June, but came back for the second intake to work as a supervisor.

He said he had always wanted to work in the outdoors and is currently getting his CV together in hope of getting a job with the Department of Conservation.

However, Pavitt plans to go back to the course next year to take hopefully take part in some of their tramps.