What can adventure and the outdoors do for you?

In the early 1900s, German educator Kurt Hahn envisioned a kind of education that took place beyond a traditional classroom. Part of this vision incorporated lived experience and expedition to add value to what was being taught in schools. This soon became a profound model of an education system, designed to be accessible to all students, intending to develop future citizens of the world whose character and skill development were enriched with experience, challenge, and resiliency. Hahn’s vision has impacted what we now refer to as “experiential education,” where the process of learning requires actions and reflection to solidify one’s understanding.

 

It has not gone unnoticed that Hahn’s vision for education is reflected in other practices and principles. The month of October encouraged our student body to regard the First Peoples Principle of Learning that “learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).”

There are two particular offerings within Shawnigan Lake School where the intention is to create expeditions full of challenge, adventure, and experiential, reflective and relational learning. These programs hold onto the mission that we want to support the development of character and foster well-being through outdoor experiences: the Outdoor Leadership and Development Club (OLD) and the Adventure Sports team.

 

Those two groups undertook a multi-day mission to Quadra Island over the last weekend of October. Vans were packed to the brim with bins filled with a variety of kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, camping, cooking, and personal gear. The trailer was loaded to haul the kayaks, and we took off knowing that there was a reasonable (but safe!) amount of rain in the forecast and the potential for a windstorm, but that we were ready to handle the conditions and had prepared for us to do so safely.

 

The weekend was action-packed and connected us to Shawnigan alumni, Quadra Island, the land and ocean, the environment, and new opportunities. Despite the rain, each group had their respective adventure days, whether it be summiting Chinese Mountain, where the layers of mountains in the distance are home to three of the highest peaks in North America, or kayaking alongside the playful seals in Hyacinth Bay, where many experienced their first full-blown ocean kayak. Even with the rain, the spawning salmon didn’t stop their journey to find their home riverbeds, the birds kept searching for their meals, the trees held onto their leaves, and all beings continued to pursue their day, building resiliency through successfully achieving these tasks. Our connection to the land grew greater through a bit of adversity and hardship, allowing us to have a greater appreciation for the comforts that our typical daily lives hold.

 

 

A beautiful part of our wider Shawnigan community is the ability to connect with so many diverse alumni and friends who support students learning. Our first alumni visit was with Brad Assu ’83 (Lonsdale’s) who welcomed us in the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre after our adventurous days. It was a gentle and warm welcome, but the reality of the Cultural Centre and why it was there quickly flooded our minds and hearts. We heard stories of his family dances, saw regalia of the traditional Potlatches that were banned by the federal government from 1885 to 1951, stood in awe at the height of the totem poles, and learned the minuscule value at which culturally important items were “purchased” from the families. Despite these challenges that Brad and his community suffered, they remain connected to each other and the land, create reciprocal relationships, and continue to develop a strong sense of place. From history to the future, we transitioned into the carving workshop where two giant cedar trees were slowly being transformed into totem poles, each with a unique story and design. Little did we know these giants are set to be gifted to Shawnigan in the near future, erected on campus as a gift from Brad and his family. As we all grabbed a carving tool and slowly began to strip off long slices of the rich cedar wood, the reality hit us that we contributed to a significant project that will remain with Shawnigan Lake School for the greater future ahead. We are forever grateful to Brad and his family who continue to collaborate with SLS and who welcomed us in for a truly cultural experience.

 

Expanding our views of learning and experience was further supplemented by Tim Fairbanks ’81 (Copeman’s) who is an integral volunteer member of Campbell River Search and Rescue. Tim began collaborating with the OLD Club (formerly Search and Rescue) last year on an expedition to Gold River and we are grateful that he continues to be involved. Opening up the CRSAR station was an eye-opening experience for us, and some students reaped the benefit of experiencing that station firsthand.

 

 

When asked why Tim wanted to give up even more of his time to support Shawnigan students, he replied, “During my time at SLS, the Outdoors Club became my single biggest passion. I want to share my enthusiasm for search and rescue, and have a desire to contribute something back to SLS.” It is alumni like Brad and Tim that enable programs like the OLD Club and Adventure Sports to continue pursuing holistic learning, where experiences and reflection add value to the understanding and knowledge students walk away with.

 

The impacts and influences that multi-day excursions have on students may not be tangible in the same way that they receive an assessment grade on their report card, nor may it be evident immediately in their character and instead manifest itself years after the experience itself. However, Oscar’s mother took the time to reflect on her son’s progression through these experiential, outdoor-based programs offered at SLS.

 

 

So, what can adventure and the outdoors do for you? That is something that can only truly be answered through immersion in the unknown, rugged, raw, intentional time spent in nature. Through challenges and adversity, we can develop and grow our character, foster relationships with each other and the land, as well as become citizens whose lives are enriched through experience and hands-on knowledge. So get outside and have yourself an adventure!