by Judy Breen
Only a few of us are fortunate to make a living doing what we love, and young Maleny man, Kyle Ebenezer, is one of the lucky few. Kyle spends his days trekking through bush, canoeing up rivers, climbing trees and abseiling down rock walls – and he actually gets paid!
He is flown regularly to Sydney and Melbourne to have more fun because he is employed by Co-efficient Adventure Resources. Through the company, he is contracted out to schools and youth camps to take students on a journey of self discovery. Kyle helps them overcome their fears so that they begin to feel stronger through the experience.
A typical five day camp involves Kyle and a teacher taking a group of about 15 students into the bush, carrying everything they will need including clothes, food and camping equipment. They can take as little or as much as they like, and can eat simply or as lavishly as they choose, but ultimately it is their responsibility. 
During these five days, the youngsters are taught the basics of bush survival as well as completing a canoeing journey, abseiling and rock climbing. Kyle has experienced the joy of watching students conquer their fear of heights and believes there is a lot of psychology involved in the process besides the physical demands.
Another aspect of Kyle’s job is taking day camps at Mapleton Holiday Park where he is required to set up and run the activities for children of all ages. These include rock climbing, abseiling, high ropes, low ropes and flying foxes.
Kyle’s love of the outdoors was born when he and his family did a six day overland trip through Tasmania. “He has always been a bit of a dare devil”, says his mum, Tina. “ When I look back through old photos, he was always climbing on, or hanging off something or other.”
The TAFE Certificate IV in “Outdoor Recreation” consists of learning wilderness first aid, evacuation, ropes and gaining a certificate in canoeing, abseiling, and a bronze medallion for swimming. “It is not a job for the faint-hearted, because we do a lot of working at height”, said Kyle, whose skills have broadened on the job.
Last winter for example, he worked at the Canadian Olympic Park in Calgary as an ice scraper on the bobsled track in minus 40 degree temperatures.
Kyle would eventually like to open his own adventure business, and if leaping into the unknown is a prerequisite, he is bound to succeed.
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