SPRING 2010
LET YOUR SPIRIT SOAR — 2010
An enthusiastic group of celebrants from near and far gathered at the school’s site July 9-12 for the biggest reunion Educo has ever hosted.
Nearly 200 Converge for a Rousing 40th Anniversary Stuart Clark Educo Executive Director Educo 2009 — our 40th time around the sun. It was a year of celebration, accomplishment, unique challenges and strategic visioning and planning so that Educo can carry on its important work for many more years. And celebrate we did, on a sunny weekend in July as nearly 200 guests who have been a part of Educo over the years descended on the site to participate in “Educofest”, the largest reunion gathering Educo has seen.
Alumni from four decades of Educo were present, and many of our Junior and Leadership students had an opportunity to meet Educo staff from throughout the ages as alumni participated in some of the course activities. The weekend included a celebration night full of in-house entertainment by our talented community and ended with a community wide council meeting that focused on the challenges and opportunities of Educo. The meeting provided the groundwork for new strategies Educo is undertaking.
(For a closer look, see the “New Developments for 2010” insert in this newsletter.) As families faced economic challenges associated with an unstable economy, Educo faced the challenge of maintaining a sustainable revenue source as our enrolment levels dropped lower than normal. The “Soar 40 More” campaign was successfully launched in July and numerous families and alumni donated to Continued page 2 ...
Box 1978, 100 Mile House, B.C. V0K 2E0 I Phone: (250) 395-3388 I Toll-free: 1-877-245-9191 I www.educo.ca I info@educo.ca
2
EDUCO ADVENTURE SCHOOL
Friends of Educo Enjoy Action-Packed 40th Reunion ... Continued from page 1
the fund that supported our short-term needs. We are extremely grateful to everybody who supported us during that time. Thanks to your support, Educo has developed a financial sustainability plan to create more resilience for our organization, and more options for families in a depressed economy. New developments include the creation of a tiered pricing strategy and a Student Foundation. Educo is in an exciting period of growth! In this newsletter we are introducing our new logo, and announcing the imminent launch of a new website, as well as the expansion of our summer course. New for 2010 is the addition of an All
Rock course and a second Leadership course that rounds out our Leadership Development Program. Along with these changes, we are involved in many conversations with educational organizations about how Educo’s work can reach more communities and people in B.C. and beyond. On behalf of the whole organization, from our recent students to our alumni community of 40 years, I would like to thank all of you for continuing to be supportive, dedicated and amazing people. We could not be where we are today without you. If you would like any more information on our plans and goals, or would like to discuss opportunities on how to get involved, please give us a call anytime.
Big Year Ahead for Educo Board Board of Directors At last year’s AGM, we added two new board members and one previous board member stepped down. Ben Harapat, aka The Granola King, decided to leave the board due to business requirements. We thank Ben for his many contributions to Educo while on the board, not to mention an ongoing generous supply of granola. Anna Horel and Brent Goodman joined the team. Brent has a long history with Educo, and Anna, his life partner, shares Brent’s passion for Educo and for the development of youth. As the board representing an organization undergoing major changes, we have jumped on the opportunity to evaluate our approach and find common working ground within our membership. The Educo board recently convened in Summerland, B.C. to visit our roots, strengthen our foundation and explore new possibilities. This experience helped to define our role as the Educo board and will help us to serve in this capacity with confidence. We are united in guiding our organization through change successfully. To assist in fulfilling our responsi-
bilities we will introduce monthly meetings of the board. These will be in two formats: direct face-to-face meetings as in the past, and teleconferencing meetings, probably through the use of Skype. The meeting schedule for the remainder of our current term is: March 18 (Skype), April 15 (Skype), and immediately following the AGM, May 9. Currently underway are a number of important reviews. A risk management team has been formed to review our organization’s policies. A constitution and bylaw review is ongoing, ensuring that the organization is fulfilling its responsibilities under the Societies Act. We are looking for a lawyer to act as an advisor on legal matters. If you know anyone who might be interested in being involved with Educo in this capacity please email anna@educo.ca. We are also looking for more board members to help guide Educo’s future. Please contact the office in 100 Mile House if you are interested. We would like to thank everyone for their continued advice and support and look forward to soaring 40 more!
SPRING,
2010
Stuart Clark, Educo’s Executive Director.
B.C. Gaming Grant Gives Programs a Boost Educo thanks the B.C. Gaming Branch for the 2009 grant of $32,400. These funds were for three specific areas of Educo activities. ● The Schools Program funding assisted hundreds of students coming to Educo in the spring and fall. ● The Community Initiatives Program provided funding for the Peter Skene Ogden School Leadership Program and the Canim Lake First Nations Integrated Leadership Program. ● The Mentorship Program funding allowed the continuation of this valuable program which brings 100 Mile Junior youth and community adults together in a powerful day of relationship building.
EDUCO ADVENTURE SCHOOL
A Round of Applause Educo wishes to thank these organizations for their generous donations to Educo: ● BC Camping Association ● Carraresi Foundation ● CKNW Orphans’ Fund ● Martin Cecil Foundation ● Mountain Equipment Co-op ● South Cariboo Community School Society ● Speed Scene Enterprises Ltd. ● The Emissaries BC
Mark May 9 for AGM The Educo School Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 9, 2010 after breakfast at the Educo site. All members of the Educo School society are eligible to vote in the AGM. For more information contact the Educo office or come to the site cleanup that same weekend and talk directly to one of the board members.
Students Get CKNW Boost The CKNW Orphans’ Fund awarded a $2,380 donation to the Educo Scholarship Fund in 2009. This generous donation assisted six students to attend Educo in 2009. Thank you CKNW Orphans’ Fund!
Leadership Course is the Next Level Daniela Nardelli Leadership Dev. Program, July 2009 My journey with Educo started when I was 13 years old. Looking for a way to pass some time in the summer, I encountered a truly life-changing experience. Five years later, I am thrilled to be moving into a new role in the Educo family, that of a young leader. The Leadership program at Educo creates a seamless transition from the mindset of a student to a leader. It integrates the old favourites at Educo with some new and exciting surprises. This chance to bond with the next generation of Educo leaders was invaluable in my growth Daniella Nardelli (left) encourages fellow — both as a young adult and a future leader students to consider the leadership course. in the Educo community. I learned a valuable lesson: Educo is not a summer camp; it is a lifestyle. I chose to accept Educo, and by doing so, chose to live a life of wonder, curiosity, joy and communion with the earth and my fellow man. For those of you who have not attended Leadership, I challenge you to find the courage within yourself. The Educo leaders, my leaders, have only enlightenment and truth to teach.
You Can Have the ‘Time of Your Life’ Will Millar Intermediate Boys, July 2009 Educo has meant so much to me. In 2009 I went on a trip up into the mountains with Educo. When you are with your instructor and your peers, you have a feeling that you only get on rare occasions. You are so happy and so proud that you
Are You a Member Yet? Your membership is important to us! As a non-profit society we must have a voluntary and broadly based membership involved in the management and control of the society. Cost of yearly membership is $2 per individual or $5 per family. All members of the Educo School society are eligible to vote in person at the AGM.
3
Heading off into the mountainous backcountry of B.C. suits Will Millar just fine. SPRING,
2010
did what you did. For 10 days I was in the wild, having the time of my life. Six of those days were on a hike, four were on the site rock climbing, swimming in the lake, doing high ropes, low ropes, and games such as virus. It’s not your average camp. It’s so much more unique. At other camps I didn’t have the freedom to go into the wild. Everyone in Educo is open and friendly. Fellow students are among the few that you can relate too. The counsellors are your friend; they are always there for you. I recommend this camp to people who want to get out of the city and into the wilderness. I go to Educo because of all the new ways that I learn to connect with myself. It helps me with my independent ways. I learned to push myself in many ways through mountain climbing, rock climbing, rappelling, and tenting up in the wilderness with my friends. I recommend it to everyone who wants to push themselves like I did.
4
EDUCO ADVENTURE SCHOOL
Save the Date for Our Annual Site Cleanup
Kate MacLeod (back row, 4th from right) cherishes the experiences during her time on staff.
Educo Years Won’t be Forgotten Kate MacLeod Departing Director of Program & Staff Development Writing a farewell note to Educo is difficult when the time, involvement and impact on my life has been so tremendous. And yet what I have to say is so simple: Thank you. My relationship with Educo started four years ago. And like any relationship it started with enthusiasm, trepidation, willingness and excitement. I was challenged to grow, I was faced with obstacles, I cried a lot and laughed even more. My weaknesses became apparent, while my strengths were celebrated. And now all of the Educo lessons, moments, and memories will be assets in my life. I came to Educo following my “personal legend” seeking my truth. This way of life isn’t necessarily easy, but it is
honest. My relationship with Educo has been rich with challenge and abundant with love for others and myself. And so, Educo, you are one of the very best things that has ever happened in my life. You crept into my life unexpectedly and ignited opportunity and opened my eyes at a time I needed it most. My heart will always remain with Educo. The lessons continue to unveil themselves, and I believe this will continue throughout my life. Some relationships are longer, some shorter, but all serve a lesson and all leave an impression. My impression of Educo remains as it did when I first arrived: You, Educo, are perfect! To everyone in the Educo community, thank you for this time. Thank you for this space. Thank you for this growth. Continue to live so well Educo.
Look Online for Educo’s Supporters Each year we print a list of the individual donors and volunteers who contribute in so many ways to the health and longevity of Educo. This year we’re happy to report that an abundance of new names has made the list too long to include in our newsletter. But you haven’t been forgotten! Those generous individuals who donated time, energy and funds to Educo will now find their names listed on our website: www.educo.ca As always, we can’t thank you enough for your support – it’s the cornerstone of Educo’s success. SPRING,
2010
May 8 & 9, 2010 are the dates for the annual Educo site spring clean. Bring your boundless energy and enthusiasm along with your sleeping bag and warm clothes. Join with friends to help wake up the site by cleaning, raking, checking over equipment and a variety of other jobs! If you plan to arrive on Friday, May 7, please come after 6 p.m., having had dinner. Food will be supplied Saturday and Sunday along with accommodation. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. Please email (info@educo.ca) or phone the office at (250) 395-3388 or 877-245-9191 and advise us if you are coming so we have enough food for everyone. We look forward to seeing you in May!
Join in the Fun at Annual Open House The Educo 6th Annual Community Open House will be held Sunday, May 30, 2010. Come visit the beautiful Educo site, have lunch, play some games and try the highs and climbing wall. Contact Educo by phone or email for details and registration.
Enroll Now For Summer Programs Just a reminder that it’s never too early to enroll for a summer program at Educo. If you pay IN FULL by April 30 you pay only 5% GST rather than 12% HST. You can download our application form from the website: www.educo.ca
NEW Introducing Educo Canada Starting in 2010, the official name for the non-profit organization will now be Educo Canada. As Educo continues to get more involved in community projects, partnerships and international activities that are beyond the scope of our summer and school programs, we have decided to formally recognize our growth in a new name that encompasses all that we do. However, the name Educo Adventure School is not going anywhere! The place that you’ve grown to love, including the dock, the high ropes, the swamp, the school programs, the summer mountain trips, all your favourite instructors and the entire 100 Mile House show will all still be Educo Adventure School as it has been since 1969.
The New Look We are excited to unveil our two new logos! The design process involved many designers and a large group of former students and staff who worked to establish an image of Educo that best captured the essence of where we’ve come from and what we do. We have chosen a logo that is simple, creative, dynamic and represents a connection to nature and a sense of adventure. We really like it, and we hope you do too!
Summer Course Changes Educo is now offering two new courses: an “All Rock” course and a “Leadership II” course. All Rock focuses on rock climbing as a tool of self-reflection and character development. Leadership II is part of the Leadership
FOR EDUCO IN 2010 Development Program, a two-part program that draws forth powerful leadership skills relevant to today’s society. Full details of these programs, including prices and dates, can be found on our course calendar on our website. Our summer schedule has changed from our usual format, and we now offer separate dates for intermediate and senior programs. This allows us to focus more on the unique differences between these programs, so that students moving from intermediate to senior are getting a different experience. Note that all courses for both girls and boys are now offered only once a summer. Please see our calendar or website for details.
Educo Presentations To help ensure as many youth as possible experience Educo, we have set a goal of selling out our summer courses in 2010. To that end, we have developed an 11minute video presentation that shows pictures of Educo students on course, with some excellent music and words from students and staff from the many years of Educo programs.
We Could Use Your Help! Anyone interested in hosting a presentation at their home to other families that you know, or at a club, workplace or another audience that has parents or students interested in what Educo offers, is encouraged to contact us. We would love to team you up with other families, students and staff in your area to make these presentations meaningful and fun. You will get expert support and access to materials and the new video. Give us a call if you would like to see more youth from your community attend Educo summer programs.
‘Soar 40 More’ Club The “Soar 40 More” campaign of last year involved contributing a minimum $100 and getting to sign your name to our giant Soar 40 More flag. Our goal is to reach 1,000 signatures. ... Over
NEW FOR EDUCO IN 2010 ... Continued Some of the contributors to the Soar 40 More campaign chose a monthly donation option, contributing $10 to $25 a month indefinitely. About 15 families or individuals now contribute easy monthly donations to Educo on their credit card. To carry on the momentum of the Soar 40 More initiative, we have created the Soar 40 More Club, a community of supporters contributing a minimum of $10 a month. Everyone who signs up for monthly donations will have their name added to the Soar 40 More flag and the money will go towards supporting Educo’s day-to-day operations. Since many people helping out in a small way can make a big impact, our goal is still to reach 1,000 names on the Soar 40 More flag. To sign up for a monthly donation, visit our secure online donation partner Canada Helps (www.canadahelps.org) and enter “Educo” in the search field.
The Student Foundation Educo has launched The Educo Student Foundation for 2010. The Student Foundation will be a special fund reserved for students and families that cannot afford the full costs of coming to one of our summer programs. It also allows for us to continue providing a below-cost price known as the “subsidy price.” Partner organizations, foundations and private donors are supporting Educo in building this fund. If you would like to contribute to the Student Foundation to help send youth to Educo, please contact the Educo office.
Educo Website Goes Interactive In March 2010, Educo will be launching a brand new website. The new site will have very similar content but the technology will be upgraded significantly. The new site will feature a photo gallery, an interactive page where students, staff and parents can read submitted Educo stories in print and video, an online booking and payment feature and many other exciting features. A final announcement of the launch will occur when the site is ready, which is currently expected to be late March.
A Guide to New Educo Pricing At Educo, we strive to offer high quality wilderness experiences for youth that impact their lives in a meaningful way. We believe that every person who wishes to participate in our programs should be able to do so
despite any barriers. For 2010, we are introducing a cutting-edge tiered pricing system that allows students and families to choose the price that is right for them. Every program now has three price options to choose from which are described below. All students and families are free to choose the price option which is best for them and the decision will remain private. This pricing strategy allows us to maintain the quality of our programs while continuing to exceed current safety standards and incorporate the outdoor industry’s everincreasing costs of insurance, training and equipment. This is essential for us to remain competitive and sustainable and, most importantly, it will make our programs more accessible to more people. If you have any questions about this pricing system or need some guidance on choosing the right price for you and your family, please call us at our office and we will be more than happy to help. Please note: If we receive your payment in full by April 30, 2010, you will pay 7% less than the listed prices. See our Price Summary for 2010 at: www.educo.ca/A_Guide_to_Educo_Pricing.pdf
Description of Price Options Support Educo Price This price covers the full cost of attending an Educo program and supports the growth and reach of the organization. This support includes building upgrades, equipment purchases, and also contributes to the Educo Student Foundation which helps provide Educo experiences to students and families who need financial assistance.
Sustainability Price
This price covers the full cost of attending an Educo program without contributing additional support toward the growth of the organization or the Student Foundation.
Subsidy Price This price is approximately 30% below the full cost of an Educo program and is made possible by the Educo Student Foundation, a fund set up to provide support for students and families who need financial assistance. Please select this price if you cannot pay the other prices and are unable to find other financial support.