"What I most enjoy about Encounter Camps is the awesome uplifting atmosphere on the track, in the pits and back at camp" - Participant
Your support will transform the youth of NZ!
OUR CORE VALUES
FUN
Creating a fun environment for people to belong
ACCEPTANCE
Meeting people where they at at with acceptance
CONNECTION
Developing a strength-based community through genuine connections
EMPOWERING
Empowering people to release their God-given potential
Our Purpose
Youth Encounter has a vision to see all young people across Aotearoa New Zealand empowered to thrive, or as we say, live life wide open. We are dedicated to creating an environment where genuine acceptance can be found and authentic connections formed.
Through our fun culture, we create a space where people not only discover their true value but are also empowered to live life to the fullest.
To Live Life Wide Open is the ultimate expression of ones truest self, to thrive as the person you were created to be. We believe every person is born with mana — an inherent value that can be nurtured and developed.
Our Story
Youth Encounter began in 2009 when Mary and Joel Wanhill launched their first teen camp. By 2012, the growing impact led to the registration of Youth Encounter Ministries Trust as a charitable organisation.
Mary, known internationally as “Scary Mary” for her world-record motocross achievements, brought her love of thrill-seeking and her professional counselling background into Youth Encounter. Joel’s own journey of challenge, belonging, and resilience resonated with hers. Together, they built a movement that uses high-energy, activity-based programmes to engage young people, giving them a safe place to belong and discover their full potential.
For over 15 years, Youth Encounter has been inspiring rangatahi across Aotearoa to take risks in healthy ways, grow in confidence, and live life wide open.
“A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!” - Jesus (John 10:10)
Our Approach
We believe lasting change happens when deeper needs are addressed, not just surface behaviours. That’s why our programmes are built on our Theory of Change — the Live Life Wide Open Track:
Belonging – finding safety, acceptance, and connection.
Believing – recognising strengths, building confidence, and seeing new possibilities.
Becoming – stepping into potential with resilience, leadership, and purpose.
Our approach integrates the Te Whare Tapa Whā model of hauora, acknowledging the physical, mental, spiritual, and social wellbeing of every young person. With 60% of our clients identifying as Māori, we also draw on Kaupapa Māori frameworks and the concept of poutama (step-by-step growth) to ensure cultural strength and identity are nurtured.
Our Impact
Youth Encounter walks with rangatahi through some of life’s toughest challenges. Guided by our four outcome pillars, we empower young people to move:
From Insecurity → Identity
From Despondency → Purpose
From Despair → Hope
From Victimisation → Resilience
Over 400 young people engage in our programmes annually. Measurable outcomes show increases in self-worth, school attendance, resilience, and future aspirations. Stories of transformation remind us daily of the incredible potential in every young person.
Click here to read stories of transformation from our services
Our Location & Reach
We are based in Paengeroa, Te Puke, with young people accessing our programmes from across the Bay of Plenty, (including Whakatāne and Rotorua), and North Island-wide through our camps.
Our Home Base (Tūrangawaewae), set in a therapeutic country environment, provides a safe second home where young people and whānau can connect, grow, and belong.
Youth Encounter is led by founders Mary and Joel Wanhill, supported by a passionate team of staff and volunteers. With 40% of our regular staff under 24 years old, we are proud to be a youth-led organisation where lived experience and youthful leadership shape the way we work.
