The document summarizes Strathcona Park Lodge's outdoor education trip goals for Crofton House School students from October 16-20, 2011. The trip's goals are to develop students' personal skills and environmental awareness through outdoor activities like canoeing while safely managing risks. Students will camp for two nights, learning camping skills, and activities aim to engage students while integrating other academic subjects.

1. Crofton House School: Strathcona Park Lodge Trip October 16-20, 2011

3. At Strathcona Park Lodge, our mission is to teach the wonder, spirit and worth of people and the natural world through outdoor pursuits.

4. Where is SPL? 40 km West of Campbell River About 2.5 hours north of Nanaimo Just outside of BC’s first Provincial Park

5. CHS Outdoor Education Goals Personal and Intra-Personal Development Environmental Awareness Outdoor Skills Safely introduce students to a variety of outdoor activities Academic Integration Recognize outdoor education is part of the total learning experience and can include many subject areas

6. 1. Personal & Intra-Personal Development The outdoors is an ideal teaching ground for developing individual traits and group skills: confidence, empathy, a sense of responsibility, effective communication, working together toward a common goal. Creates bonding of students when groups are presented with and overcome challenges together.

7. 2. Environmental Awareness Time spent outdoors is the most significant factor contributing to adult concerns about the environment. Children love to be part of the solution – especially when they see the effects of their positive interaction with nature first-hand.

8. 3. Outdoor Skills Exposure to a wide variety of engaging and environmentally sustainable outdoor activities. When students perceive there to be a challenge that involves risk, their level of engagement and enthusiasm increases.

9. 4. Academic Integration Nature based education produced gains in social studies, science, language arts, math; improves standardized test scores and grade-point averages; develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making. ( Closing the Achievement Gap , 2002) Integrated and interdisciplinary Students are more readily able to transfer learning to their everyday lives

10. General Canoe Trip Three day/two night canoe trip on Upper Campbell and Buttle Lakes. Total distance: about 27km Elevation change: negligible Time paddling each day: 2 – 6 hours Canoes: Tandems, 3 Seater, 4 person Freighters/McKenzies, Voyageur Campsite locations: Provincial Park marine sites. Different campsite each night. Amenities: outhouse, fire ring, tent/tarp site.

11. Camping Where do students sleep on out-trip

12. Communication What happens in the event of an emergency? Groups camping together for support Communication Methods – send a message, SPOT devices, radios, satellite phones Response – most situations can be handled by SPL. Other resources include BC Ambulance Service, Search & Rescue

13. What are the risks? Over 50% of Canadian children and youth aged 5 to17 are not active enough for optimal growth and development (Cdn. Fitness & Lifestyle Research Institute, 2000) BC Ferries: run aground x 4; collisions with large vessels x 4; marina/terminal collisions x 4; cars falling off during loading/unloading x 3; fatalities x 6 (Wikipedia) Highway driving: you don’t want to know

14. Risk Inherent to the outdoor experience. There will always be risk in the programs we offer but there are also certain reasonable actions that we can take to reduce the likelihood of losses taking place or to reduce their severity.

15. Perceived vs. Real Risk Perceived risk: personal perception of the probability of an event that could cause harm/loss occurring Real risk: actual accurate assessment of the objective and subjective hazards of an event that could cause harm/loss occurring In Outdoor Education we operate largely in the realm of perceived risk and take steps to limit exposure to real risks

16. Is risk undesirable? It is not playgrounds, but the more wild, alternative outdoor settings that offer children the greatest lessons of risk and challenge. If risk is inherent to outdoor activities, and is an important part of achieving our objectives, then we don’t want to eliminate all risk.

17. Inherent Risks Objective Hazards Objective hazards: often environmental hazards such as weather, steep terrain, cold water, animal encounters (external) How to manage objective hazards? Avoidance Prevention – reducing the frequency Reduction – reducing the severity

18. Inherent Risks Subjective Hazards Subjective hazards: human factor hazards such as being hungry, overtired, low skill level, decision making skills (internal) How to manage subjective hazards? Planning Training Looking after self Proper equipment

19. SPL Informed Consent & Acknowledgement of Risk Our youth consent form is not a waiver and does not pretend to absolve us of responsibility for the safety of your child It is an educational tool to inform about the type of activities and risks involved It is an agreement to share in managing the risks for the safety of the individual and group

20. Clothing & Equipment Required Rain jacket & pants 2 pairs of wool or synthetic long underwear 2 fleece or wool sweaters A warm fleece or synthetic fill jacket 2 pair wool, fleece or nylon pants 3 pairs of wool socks 2 toques and gloves Sleeping bag and stuff sac Sleeping pad 60 litre backpack with hip belt Headlamp or flashlight Water bottle, cup, bowl & spoon Sunglasses Garbage bags, plastic shopping bags, Zip-locks

21. Lake Canoe Groups Rubber rain boots Light hikers or runners Additional Items Towel Toiletries Camera Insect repellant Clothing & Equipment Required

22. FAQ’s My child has food allergies. Are they going to be able to find safe foods? What kind of wildlife is there? I understand there are risks, but is it safe? What sort of training do your instructors have? Others?

23. Thank you. To learn more about the program and vacation options available at Strathcona Park Lodge for individuals, families and groups, please visit: www.gowyld.ca www.facebook.com/gowyld