About
Hiking Boots
Shawnigan Lake School is situated in a natural playground, surrounded by forests, mountains, and valleys just waiting to be explored by those with an adventurous spirit – and a sturdy pair of hiking boots.
On Vancouver Island, hikers can choose from trails to suit every ability and ambition. Nearby routes like Mount Baldy and the Cowichan River Trail offer inviting day hikes, while multi-day adventures beckon farther afield on the West Coast Trail and the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Strathcona Provincial Park provides everything from gentle walks to demanding mountaineering challenges.
On Vancouver Island, hikers can choose from trails to suit every ability and ambition. Nearby routes like Mount Baldy and the Cowichan River Trail offer inviting day hikes, while multi-day adventures beckon farther afield on the West Coast Trail and the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Strathcona Provincial Park provides everything from gentle walks to demanding mountaineering challenges.
The 1926 Shawnigan Lake School Magazine (forerunner of today’s Yearbook) recounts a memorable expedition by a group of boys who hiked to Jordan Meadows, 22 miles southwest of the School. They fashioned packs from “a suit of overalls,” carried food in tins and bottles, and slept in heavy canvas tents with bulky, not-so-warm sleeping bags – surely just one of many unrecorded adventures.
Hiking soon became more formalized. A Boy Scout troop was formed, and in 1962 the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme launched at the School – the first detachment in Canada – with hiking at its core. In 1969, H.R.H., Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, visited in person to present medallions to successful candidates. The program ran until at least 1971, and has been reinstituted as an active program today.
From the mid-1960s onward, Outdoors Club excursions expanded in scope. During the 1970s and 1980s, students climbed formidable peaks such as the Golden Hinde in Strathcona Park and Mount Baker in Washington State.
Surrounded by lakes, rivers, and ocean, it was only natural that paddling joined the mix. Canoeing and kayaking became fixtures, with kayaking emerging as a major focus in the 1980s. Today, the School maintains a fleet of kayaks for student use.
Over the decades, outdoor programs have gone by many names, but enthusiasm has never waned. Interest remains strong, opportunities abundant, and today students can explore the outdoors through both curricular and co-curricular programs.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
Hiking soon became more formalized. A Boy Scout troop was formed, and in 1962 the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme launched at the School – the first detachment in Canada – with hiking at its core. In 1969, H.R.H., Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, visited in person to present medallions to successful candidates. The program ran until at least 1971, and has been reinstituted as an active program today.
From the mid-1960s onward, Outdoors Club excursions expanded in scope. During the 1970s and 1980s, students climbed formidable peaks such as the Golden Hinde in Strathcona Park and Mount Baker in Washington State.
Surrounded by lakes, rivers, and ocean, it was only natural that paddling joined the mix. Canoeing and kayaking became fixtures, with kayaking emerging as a major focus in the 1980s. Today, the School maintains a fleet of kayaks for student use.
Over the decades, outdoor programs have gone by many names, but enthusiasm has never waned. Interest remains strong, opportunities abundant, and today students can explore the outdoors through both curricular and co-curricular programs.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
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 Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
