Gr. 9 Outer EDGE trips

Starfish and sea urchins, wildlife, eagles and sea birds... West Coast nature was the star of two different Outer EDGE adventures for all Gr. 9s over the past two weeks, with four groups making camp on tiny Portland Island, and three others hiking part of the rugged Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.

 

A small flotilla of kayaks headed out six kilometres from Sidney to Portland Island. The 575-hectare island (in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve) perches along a major BC Ferries route, but is an under-the-radar destination for savvy boaters and kayakers. Students also spent time working with Parks Canada to remove invasive species from sensitive parts of the island.

 

Two nights of camping and many happy, informative (and cell phone-free!) hours were spent learning about nature on the sandy, shell-covered beaches, and ten kilometres of hiking trails.

 

The remaining Gr. 9s bused to Juan de Fuca Provincial Park on the west coast of southern Vancouver Island, where they set up camp, cooked great meals, and spent two days hiking sections of the storied oceanside trail.

 

Botanical Beach, the trail’s western terminus, is home to a sensitive and archetypal marine ecosystem, with old-growth forest, estuaries, shale and quartz rock formations, and protected tidal pools filled with colourful starfish and sea urchins, green sea anemones, blue mussels, white gooseneck barnacles, and tentacled, spiky Pacific sea cucumbers!

 

Outer EDGE trips immerse students in outdoor adventure journeys and shared common experiences, thereby introducing them to service, teamwork and group dynamics.

 

*Thanks to staff – Mr. Mayes, Mr. MacDonald, Mr. McDaniel, Ms. Urzua, Ms. Robson, Mr. Elskens, Mr. Massimo, Ms. Bateman, and Ms. Hamilton – for helping make these new trips a success! A special thanks to Mr. MacDonald for organizing the whole program.

 

*Photos: Mr. Mayes + Mr. MacDonald.