Beyond the Gates
Where losing sight of land, / We shall find the stars.
~ Sir Francis Drake
~ Sir Francis Drake
Beyond the Gates is an exciting opportunity for Grade 9 students at Shawnigan Lake School. This dynamic year-long program takes students out of the classroom and into the beautiful and diverse wilderness of Vancouver Island and beyond. All students participate in a series of experiential learning and outdoor activities, allowing the connection between the classroom curriculum and real-world applications to be explored. This is accomplished by blending lived learning experiences with academic classes, all facilitated by a dedicated team of dynamic education staff. Through these experiences, students additionally gain skills such as teamwork, leadership, curiosity, and flexibility, while seeing benefits in mental health and self-confidence. By participating and actively engaging in outdoor adventure, multidisciplinary projects, and cultural activities, students add meaning, experience, and intent to their academic journey.
Activities
Surrounded by the vast, rugged wilderness of British Columbia, Shawnigan Lake School is perfectly suited to take advantage of the many outdoor activities and experiences the region has to offer. Whether on the water, on the trail, or in the mountains, there is something for everyone to gain. By connecting classroom curriculum, resilience, and adaptability to real-world experiences, the program is equipping students with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Throughout the year, a series of activities supplement classroom-based teaching, challenging themselves by exploring new horizons and applying new knowledge, skills, and values to their world and in turn allowing the Grade 9 students to discover themselves. The program was launched in 2021 with a small group of students, and has grown since then to include the entire Grade 9 class.
Throughout the year, a series of activities supplement classroom-based teaching, challenging themselves by exploring new horizons and applying new knowledge, skills, and values to their world and in turn allowing the Grade 9 students to discover themselves. The program was launched in 2021 with a small group of students, and has grown since then to include the entire Grade 9 class.
Beyond the Gates culminates in the Week Without Walls, the program’s capstone, as students choose between a variety of week-long outdoor pursuits. Recent options have included hiking all or half of the 75km West Coast Trail on the outer edge of Vancouver Island, kayaking and camping in the Broken Group Islands, and staying closer to campus for a wide range of activities, such as canoeing and archery.
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When I greeted my son upon his return, I saw a young man standing taller, with a smile that spoke of pride and peace. His kind eyes and calm energy said more than words ever could. In just over a week, something within him had matured – and it was beautiful to witness. There is something sacred about being fully present in a moment – in nature, in community, in challenge. For a time, he experienced the raw emotion and clarity of simply being human: connected, capable, and aware. You gave that gift to our child. And for that, we are so profoundly thankful. – current parent
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 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
