Stories from Beyond the Gates

When I swam in the ice-cold water today, I was out of my comfort zone. At first, I was very scared, because I hate cold water. Everybody tried to convince me to come into the water, but I still didn’t want to. But then one of my friends pushed me in. At first, I was a little bit angry, but then I started to enjoy the cold water. I hope I will remember this wonderful moment: the clear water, which looked like glass, the pink and golden sunset, laughing and screaming together at the same time. It was a new experience. A good experience. – Enna B.

 

Today, when I felt the most out of my comfort zone was when we were in the vast green meadows with dark jade-hued trees surrounding us in every direction. I was tired, my calves were aching, the heavy bag which was two sizes too big for me was weighing down on my shoulders like an elephant sitting on the ground. The end was close, but I didn't know how much further, and the dirt path kept going like an endless math class. Each person was complaining, and the further we went, the more discouraged and tired I felt. But I kept pumping my legs, dust drifting from the chalk-like trail, when I realized we had arrived at our destination. I felt confident in my abilities and happy that the hike was finally over. – Marius W.

 

I hear the waves crash and roar as I sit silently, my mind encompassed in my thoughts. The ocean is loud, yet all my other surroundings are so quiet that I can hear my own breath come and go. All of a sudden I am shaken out of my thoughts by the sound of the familiar BC Ferries “clunk.” My eyes shift towards the sound as I am graced with the sight of the beautiful white boat covered in striking First Nations art, reminding me of my gratitude for the land that I stand on, the breathtaking Newcastle Island, an original First Nation’s home. – Isa A.

Remember that feeling when cold settled over camp, dense and biting, when friends and classmates retreated into their tents, when the warmth of a sleeping bag settled into your bones, and exhaustion made you heavy with sleep. Remember that feeling when you forced your eyes open, the faint light making your face glow under the covers as you told yourself, “Just one more page,” and ended up falling asleep snuggled up to your book like it was a fuzzy teddy bear. Remember that feeling when you were warm and happy and tired and falling asleep in a tent, bundled up in your sleeping bag, everything finally quiet and peaceful and calm. – Ivy R.

My favourite colours from the trip were from the whisky jack birds' feathers. The grey, flowy feathers resemble the charcoal after a fire, and the sharp gust of wind on a foggy day. The white on their heads is like snowy mountains, and every jump they take comes with a chirp of curiosity and a crisp click from their tracking tags. – Poppy R.

When I was kayaking for two hours, I was completely exhausted. My arms felt like they were filled with lead, and my core was loose like an unscrewed screw. Even though I had been through this experience lots of times, this time was more intense and exciting. I enjoyed gossiping with my friends inside the tent and telling creepy stories. In the mornings, we were freezing cold, so we drank hot chocolate; it was fantastic. During kayaking, we saw some little fish swimming past us and little fast crabs moving stupidly across the beach. We also went cliff jumping. The moment I jumped in was biting; the numbing cold seawater filled my body with ice. – Katie H.