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SOLE Centre
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STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
SOLE CENTRE
Goal areas
• Student Health & Wellbeing • Skills Development
In the spring of 2022, Mulgrave announced a partnership with the non-profit organisation Easter Seals. Mulgrave has exclusive school-year access to the 20-acre facility in Squamish, only 45 minutes from our campus, enabling students to explore our natural environment, develop outdoor education skills, and enjoy experiential learning.
A wide range of students visited the Squamish Outdoor Leardership & Education (SOLE) Centre at the end of the school year, including preschoolers for day trips and Grade 3, 6, and 11 classes and Upper School sports teams for overnights.
The health and wellbeing benefits of experiential outdoor education are well-researched and a core element of our strategic plan, paired with an emphasis on social emotional learning. Additionally, the possibilities for experiential learning and curriculum connections in Indigenous learning, the sciences, the arts, languages, math, and the humanities are endless.
To see the impact of the SOLE Centre:
Facility highlights
• Two buildings that can sleep up to 132 • Dining hall • Large sheltered outdoor fire pit and BBQ area • Climbing wall • Accessible treehouse • Low ropes course and giant swing • Indoor swimming pool • Several classroom spaces • Amphitheatres • Basketball courts • Acres of forests • Easy access to worldclass rock climbing, skiing, hiking, paddling, mountain biking, and more
Many thanks to the families who have supported our site improvement plans with their time and financial contributions.
Community Effort Has Immediate Impact
The SOLE Centre has been a community-based undertaking from the beginning. Kickstarting this new location took commitment, both financial and physical, from our generous Mulgrave families and staff. Many braved inclement weather to help clear leaves and branches from massive lawns, and generous donations meant we could refurbish some critical spaces, including the dormitories and main hall.
Students are already sharing how grateful they are to have this facility and the opportunity to learn in new ways. Unsurprisingly, after the past couple of years of COVID-related restrictions, many of our students have expressed joy at being able to be in large groups with their peers again. Our teachers are equally happy to have an expanded range of experiences on offer, noting that some students are able to more easily grasp new concepts through experiential learning versus regular classroom learning. The nature of the activities available at the SOLE Centre also provides opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills.
What we notice when students come here from across the grades, even preschool, is that they are blown away by how this place looks. There can be trepidation, but seeing the space makes students feel more comfortable. Donations have helped make the Centre more welcoming.”
- Amir Fishman
Director of Outdoor Education and the SOLE Centre
