Fairfield College students are the first in Hamilton to take part in a new physical training programme designed to develop youth leadership.
Cactus - the Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit and Support programme - was initially developed and launched by Senior Sergeant Mick Lander and has since been rolled out throughout the country.
The Cactus programme at Fairfield College is headed by Sergeant Craig Taylor of the Fairfield/Enderley Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The group consists of 10 "achievers" and 10 "middle of the road" students who applied to be part of the programme and five who have been referred to the programme from various agencies and are considered 'at risk'.
The five referred students have generally been truanting, or difficult in the classroom and may have unstable family lives.
The eight-week programme sees students complete three one-hour fitness sessions each week. They are expected to be at school by 6am for exercise sessions that become increasingly difficult as the weeks progress.
Craig said the early weeks saw students run through basic exercises before being introduced to weights, resistance training, and high intensity training.
This is week four for the students and will see them lugging a huge pole around hilly Donny Park in Chartwell in the dark. The programme culminates with 'the longest day', which will see the students complete a gruelling eight-hour course consisting of several demanding activities.
Cactus participants are monitored for attendance and behaviour at school and academic achievement. Their physical fitness is also measured at the beginning, middle and end of the programme, so students can gauge their progress.
Craig and his team will also follow-up with participants in six months.
Craig is getting positive feedback from teachers and families that students are concentrating and participating in class and helping with chores at home without being asked.
While physical challenges form the core of the programme, Cactus also focuses on team work, goal setting, leadership and discipline. All aims to culminates in a huge boost in self-esteem.
Craig said while attendance and academic performance wasn't an issue for the achievers, he said they also gained a lot from the programme.
Generally the achievers wouldn't ordinarily mix with the at-risk students but Cactus breaks down those social barriers and can help the achievers realise they have things to offer other students.
And while it could be assumed the achievers emerge as leaders in the programme, that's not always the case.
Craig said there may be an opportunity for some participants to go on to be leaders in subsequent programmes.
While the Neighbourhood Policing Team has been instrumental in getting the programme up and running, the aim is to get it to a point where a school can take ownership of the programme and run it.
The programme is funded by Fairfield Rotary and Taiohi Toa Trust.