Beyond the Gates – An Opportunity Not to Be Missed
Beyond the Gates is a dynamic year-long program that takes our Grade 9 students out of the classroom and into the beautiful and diverse wilderness of Vancouver Island and beyond. Each year closes out with a 10-day Capstone Expedition, a hiking and kayaking adventure on the west coast of Vancouver Island that is optional for students, although they are strongly encouraged to sign up. Dora Andrew had reservations about participating in the trip, but came away with memories that will last a lifetime and immense gratitude that she signed up.
If you were to ask me eight months ago if I would ever participate in the 10-day Beyond the Gates Capstone Expedition, the answer would be a clear “no.” When registration began and I made the decision to sign up, many people told me I would regret going on this trip. But in reality, it turned out to be something many people regretted not signing up for.
Naturally, the day before the trip I was extremely nervous. Coming off playing at the provincial soccer championships, I was extremely worn out and was debating whether I had made the right choice or not. That day, I went to a girl in my House, who went on the trip in a previous year, and voiced my worries. She told me I was going to have the most fun in my life, and although it may seem scary now, it will turn out to be the highlight of my time at Shawnigan. I am so grateful for what she said, and throughout the trip, at any time of hardship I always remembered what she told me. Having a big sister and mentor like her makes me so proud to be a part of the Shawnigan community.
When I think of the 4 Cs at Shawnigan – the core values of curiosity, compassion, community and courage – the one that sticks out the most is community. Everything we do at Shawnigan takes a community, and the BTG trip was no different. Whether it was cooking meals, setting up camp or starting fires, no matter what we did, we did it as a community. Disconnecting from online really gave me the chance to step back and notice how strong the community we built on this trip was. I got closer to people on the trip who I never thought I would, but I also was able to build strong connections with pre-existing friends.
Sitting on the rocks on the last day, looking out onto the shining sun disappearing behind the mountains in front of me, I had the realization that time moves so quickly. You never know when your last moments with these people will be, and you have to cherish every moment. There is so much of the world to see and not enough time. There were moments of hardships, such as almost being swept away by the king tide, and moments where you wish you could freeze time, but in the end, it will be a life-changing experience. From the trip at the start of the year to this Capstone Expedition, I have grown so much as a person, and I have Beyond the Gates to thank.
It is a mental and physical challenge, but without challenges life would be so boring. I now have a lifelong connection with people I never thought I would, and I wish I could do it all over again 20 more times. Having the opportunity to travel beyond the gates is something not everyone is able to experience, and I am grateful I had this opportunity as I will carry with me the memories I made on this trip for the rest of my life and the people in my group will always have a special place in my heart. My advice: take the chance, sign up for the Beyond the Gates Capstone Expedition because it might just be one of the most meaningful experiences of your Shawnigan Journey.
Dora Andrew is going into Grade 10 at Shawnigan Lake School for the 2024-25 school year.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
