Training grants

Need a hand getting your club’s training off the ground? FMC Training Grants help cover costs for training courses for FMC member clubs — from bush craft and alpine skills, to navigation and outdoor first aid, to outdoors leadership and club governance.

Established in 2020, these grants make learning and skill-building more accessible for clubs, thanks to the support of the FMC Mountain and Forest Trust.

Recent recipients’ stories

Developing our Club’s capability to lead trips

WTMC’s Intermediate Bushcraft Course gave emerging trip leaders practical experience in navigation, off-track travel, emergency skills, and group leadership in the outdoors.

Trip Leader Course

Canterbury Mountaineering Club's inaugural Trip Leaders Course equipped future volunteer leaders with skills in risk management, navigation, river safety, first aid, and backcountry leadership.

Navigation and River Crossing

Rotorua Tramping Club members built confidence in navigation and river-crossing skills through hands-on training in map and compass work, pack-floating, strainer escapes, and river safety with Outdoor Training NZ.

How it works

Any FMC member club. The applicant should be the person in the club who is organising the training activity. The application must be endorsed by the Club Treasurer.

  • FMC Training Grants can help clubs cover courses that build skills and leadership, including: backcountry leadership, club leadership & management, like governance, administration, IT, or officer training, specific hard-skills, like technical skills needed by trip leaders, general outdoor skills – anything that strengthens your club’s capability in the outdoors. Essentially, if the training benefits your FMC club and its members, it’s eligible!
  • Grants are paid on a reimbursement basis to the club and proof of expenditure/receipts are required before payment.
  • Grant can be used for any genuine expense needed to deliver the training, but not equipment.
  • Clubs must provide FMC with a short report (400–800 words) once the course is complete.

Once you’ve checked the training grant criteria above, fill in and submit this simple application form. The application form also provides the same information about the grant, including the criteria, that you are reading on this webpage.

The closing date for applications is 15 September each year.

2026 grant round

  • Packrafting Association of New Zealand, Packrafting Leadership & Safety Training for 8 trip leaders
  • Nga Tapuwae o Taneatua Tramping Club, Outdoor First Aid by Peak Safety for 15 club members
  • Canterbury University Tramping Club, Avalanche Skills Course for 8 club members

2025 grant round

  • Heretaunga Tramping Club to run a Basic First Aid Course
  • Wakatipu Tramping Club to run an Outdoor First Aid Course
  • Canterbury University Tramping Club to run an Outdoor First Aid Course (Report: Backcountry March 2026, p.52)
  • Pukekohe Tramping Club to run an Outdoor First Aid Course
  • Victoria University of Wellington Tramping Club to run an Avalanche Skills Course
  • Tararua Tramping Club to run a First Aid Training Course
  • Canterbury Mountaineering Club to run a Trip Leadership Course with professional guide
  • Christchurch Tramping Club to run an Outdoor First Aid Course
  • Hagley Tramping Club to run an Extended First Aid Course

2024 grant round

2023 grant round

2022 grant round

  • North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club, for a snow skills course
  • New Zealand Packrafting Association (PRANZ), to support leadership training.
  • Otago Section New Zealand Alpine Club, to run a First Aid Course. (Report: Wilderlife)
  • Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club, to run a First Aid Course. (Report: Wilderlife)

2021 grant round

2020 grant round

Yes we do. Safety in the Mountains is a practical guide for trampers and outdoor enthusiasts — small enough to fit in your pack, big enough to give you helpful tips when you need them! Grab a printed copy from our online shop or check out the free online version on Wilderlife.

Yes. Your club may also be eligible to apply for funding from the following organisations to help fund your training course, including for outdoor first aid courses:

  • Aotearoa Gaming Trust (check they have gaming venues in your locality)
  • Grassroots Trust
  • Harcourts Foundation
  • NZ Community Trust
  • Pub Charity
  • The Lion Foundation
  • The Trusts Community Foundation