Outdoor Education

Through multi-sensory, experiential learning in nature-based contexts, the programme builds resilience, an appreciation for our surroundings, and the skills to actively participate in, and advocate for, our remarkable region. Often, themes of Indigenous ways of knowing are also woven through the experiences as are connections to classroom learning in various subjects. The following are highlights from the 2021-22 school year:

Due to COVID, our traditional Upper School fall camp programme was re-imagined into a series of day trips instead of overnight experiences. Seasonally-appropriate activities for all students enabled social connections, developed students’ skills, and created greater appreciation for our local surroundings. Activities ranged from a day excursion to the SOLE Centre for PK3 and local hikes at Capilano and Yew Lake for Junior School students to snow school (snow kitchen building, snowshoeing, curling, and more) for Upper School.

Senior School students can sign up for voluntary informal activities to help them unplug and engage with nature and their peers. Activities included indoor rock climbing, avalanche refresher course and winter backcountry ski trip to Elfin Lake, laser tag, and an invasive species Earth Day activity.

As part of the Middle School LEAP elective programme, Summit offers progressive opportunities to develop a broad understanding of outdoor skills and knowledge.

• Summit 1 (Grade 7): mountain biking, hiking, skiing/snowboarding, trail maintenance, shelter building and fire starting, camp skills, snowshoeing, rock climbing, and camp crafts, all culminating in a year-end overnight at the SOLE

Centre.

• Summit 2 (Grade 8) and Summit 3 (Grade 9): overnight canoe trips to Alouette Lake, an avalanche course, and winter trips to Seymour

Mountain. Summit 2 finished the year with a camp at the SOLE

Centre while Summit 3 embarked on a kayaking expedition around

Gabriola Island.

Founded in 1956 by Prince Philip, this worldwide programme of distinction allows youth to develop a sense of responsibility to themselves and to their community. Their practice and adventurous journeys included:

• Bronze: hiking to

Cheakamus Lake • Silver: snowshoeing to

Cheakamus Lake and

Red Heather • Gold (3 groups): hiking the

West Coast Trail, kayaking in the Broken Group, kayaking in

Nootka Sound

Mulgrave has a trail that encircles our campus, giving all students the opportunity to spend time in the local forest, appreciating our surroundings. Often, teachers incorporate curriculum learning into trail activities such as math practice creating patterns for Early Years students, measuring and calculating the diameter and circumference of trees for Junior School students, and more complex trigonometry equations in older grades.

An incredibly exciting addition to our Outdoor Education programme in 2021-22, the SOLE Centre is a 20-acre facility in nearby Squamish. See page 8 for more information.