“It is not our programmes that make the impact but rather through bringing people into a sense of belonging that we empower them to make their own lasting life changes.”
– Mary Wanhill (Founder & CEO)
Your support will transform lives!
Our Pathways
Youth Encounter delivers therapeutic, mentoring, adventure, leadership, and community pathways that empower young people aged 9–24 to grow in identity, purpose, hope, and resilience.
Through experiential learning, trusted relationships, recreational activity, and evidence-based approaches, we create safe spaces where young people can discover their value, build resilience, and step into their potential.
Therapy – One-on-one and group activity therapy combining professional counselling approaches such as CBT and Narrative Therapy with high-engagement activities like dirt biking and surfing. These experiences create safe environments for healing, emotional regulation, confidence, and personal growth.
Mentoring – Relationship-based mentoring that strengthens identity, belonging, life skills, and future direction through personalised one-on-one and small group support. Long-term connections help young people build resilience, confidence, and hope for the future.
Camps – Action-filled residential experiences where young people discover courage, belonging, connection, and renewed motivation through challenge, fun, faith, and community.
Young Leaders – Leadership development programmes that equip young people through workshops, practical work experience, mentoring, and leadership opportunities — empowering them to become positive role models and contributors within their communities.
Events – Community gatherings, ride days, celebrations, youth events, and shared experiences that strengthen belonging, create connection, and build a culture where young people feel accepted, valued, and empowered.
Every pathway is guided by our Live Life Wide Open Theory of Change — Belonging → Believing → Becoming — and measured through our Strategic Outcome Framework to ensure meaningful, long-term transformation for young people and their whānau.
How to engage!
Make a referral (see button below) - we will assess needs and suitability and contact you
We will create a pathway plan for you to authorise and complete a registration consent form
We will then engage with young person to deliver client plan
and email to airdrie@youthencounter.co.nz
Click on the pathways below to see more...
Action, Growth & Belonging
Resilience, Contribution and Influence
Check out our stories of transformation
Why us?
Too many young people in Aotearoa are struggling with insecurity, disconnection, hopelessness, and a lack of direction for their future. At Youth Encounter, we don’t just respond to surface-level behaviours — we create pathways that address the deeper challenges driving them.
Through trusted relationships, experiential learning, therapeutic support, and action-based experiences, we help young people build confidence, discover their strengths, and move toward a healthier, more hope-filled future.
Here’s why young people, whānau, and referrers choose us:
Proven Outcomes – Our four outcome pillars move rangatahi from Insecurity to Identity, Despondency to Purpose, Despair to Hope, and Victimisation to Resilience.
Holistic & Evidence-Based – We combine professional therapeutic practice (CBT, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing) with high-engagement recreational therapy, underpinned by Te Whare Tapa Whā and Kaupapa Māori frameworks.
Strength-Based & Relational – We meet youth where they are, focusing on acceptance, connection, and empowerment rather than trying to “fix” them.
Inclusive & Culturally Safe – With 60% of our clients identifying as Māori, our programmes embrace tikanga, whakapapa, and poutama (step-by-step growth) to support identity and resilience.
Experienced & Accredited – With over 15 years of impact, we hold Level 2 Social Sector Accreditation, AdventureMark Safety Certification, and a reputation for innovative, life-changing programmes.
Activity-Based Transformation – We intentionally use risk and adventure (like dirt biking and surfing) as tools for building courage, trust, and a growth mindset—turning healthy risk-taking into opportunities for transformation
Our Live Life Wide Open Track
Our Theory of Change is the pathway we use to guide young people from insecurity, disconnection, and hopelessness toward confidence, direction, wellbeing, and positive contribution. We call this journey the Live Life Wide Open Track.
It unfolds in three stages:
Stage 1: Belonging – Young people begin by finding a safe place of acceptance, connection, and trust, where their potential is still untapped.
Stage 2: Believing – – With growing confidence, they start to recognise their strengths, build new skills, and see new possibilities for their future, as their potential is being awakened.
Stage 3: Becoming – Finally, they step into their potential—taking responsibility, developing resilience, and becoming leaders who contribute positively to their communities.
This track is the foundation of all our pathways. Whether through therapy, mentoring, action camps, leadership development, or community events, every young person is supported to move forward on a journey of growth so they can truly Live Life Wide Open.
"My son is really enjoying the course with the Encounter team. He is hard to turn off when he gets home and is excited to tell us about the day. I can see he is building in himself and is more helpful at home. It is doing him wonders. Thank you very much." - Debbie (parent)