News Archive
Grade 9s Go Beyond the Gates
Back for its second year, Shawnigan’s aptly named Beyond the Gates program has been taking Grade 9 students off campus in recent weeks to see firsthand the beautiful and diverse wilderness of Vancouver Island while gaining valuable lifelong skills. A core aspect of Shawnigan’s commitment to experiential learning and part of our intentional design of the Shawnigan Journey, Beyond the Gates is a year-long program that blends lived experiences with academic classes, teaching teamwork, leadership and other valuable qualities in a setting outside the classroom.
Every Grade 9 student takes part in an excursion in the fall, choosing between a sea kayaking adventure in the Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and the Mainland, and a hiking trip along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail on the southwest coast of the Island. Groups were divided up, with one kayaking group and one hiking group heading out over each of the last two weekends.
On each Friday, the sea kayaking groups learned the basics of sea kayaking, including how to pack their kayaks, then paddled about seven kilometres to Portland Island off the north tip of the Saanich Peninsula. They camped in two groups on the Island, with everyone helping to set up tents and prepare dinner.
On Saturday, the groups did a service project, removing invasive species and learning about how they are impacting the land. The first group cut down non-native Himalayan blackberry plants, and the second group tackled Scotch broom. They also kayaked around Portland Island. On Sunday, staff taught students how to navigate, and had the students lead the group back to Vancouver Island.
The hiking groups travelled along about half of the 47km Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, moving camp each day and lugging all their gear from place to place. They camped on the beach and hiked through mud, crossing rivers in a couple of places. They were exhausted when they returned to the School.
All the groups benefited from beautiful weather — “We couldn’t have asked for better,” outdoor education teacher Mr. Kyle Leis said. For some of the students, this was their first time camping, so it required them to get out of their comfort zone and have an entirely new experience, which is the essence of Beyond the Gates.
The goal of the fall trip, Leis explained, was to teach fundamental outdoors skills, while also hopefully inspiring them to sign up for the optional capstone trip in the spring: a hike on the 75km West Coast Trail, taking about five days, followed by a visit to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, and several days kayaking in the Broken Group Islands.
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 West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
