Ski Week
Ski Week has been a unique and integral part of Shawnigan’s annual calendar since 1973. Taking place in February each year, Ski Week is timed to take everyone off campus to a fresh, fun environment at a point when the usual dark, rainy West Coast winter days seem to be stretching unrelentingly on. Manning Park Resort is located in the beautiful British Columbian Cascade Range, and for the duration of Ski Week, Shawnigan takes over the whole resort, turning it into an experiential learning playground where students, teachers, and staff families spend memorable quality time together outside of the classroom.
The week is designed to be a tremendous experience for students of all skill levels. From downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding lessons, to snowshoeing, sledding, snow sculpture, ski races, snow camping, and polar coaster, the days are a celebration of an active outdoors life, with the whole community coming together in the cozy evenings for broomball, karaoke sessions, our classic Reach for the Top quiz night, and the ever-popular Shawnigan staff skit, the Staff Review.
For each student, the Ski Week journey might look different—from embracing new snow sport skills to trying out a winter camping experience or taking on a leadership opportunity—but at the core are the shared aspects of rejuvenating adventure and a profound sense of togetherness. Each year, we return from the mountains to campus as an even closer-knit community than we set out.
Ski Week seeks to encapsulate our core values in a different, wilderness location – Curiosity leading students to try new activities; Compassion and support shown to beginners; Community-building underpinning the whole week; and Courage displayed by students facing fresh challenges, forging new friendships, and charting their own path in the BC wilderness.
Ski Week News
List of 4 news stories.
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Ski Week 2023
It was with a mix of anticipation, delight, and uncertainty that the Shawnigan community departed for Manning Park on February 12 for our first Ski Week since early 2020. One of Shawnigan’s most cherished and longstanding traditions, this year’s Ski Week was particularly special not only because it marked our post-pandemic return, but because it meant we had reached a milestone.Read More -
Apres Ski Week a Success!
Read MoreShawnigan Lake School’s much anticipated annual Ski Week looked different this year, because, like so many things, the pandemic has required a shift in how things happen. The creative minds at the School took to the challenge and designed and executed a week to be remembered. With the goal of providing an opportunity for the students and staff to enjoy a change of pace midway through the academic year, the week was rebranded as Apres Ski Week and succeeded in encapsulating the core values of Shawnigan: Curiosity, Compassion, Community, and Courage. Curiosity and courage were witnessed in the many who challenged themselves and tried new activities – from skiing and snowboarding to bowling, esports tournaments and Reach for the Top quiz games. Compassion was shown to the younger students as older students led activities and helped on ski days, gaining valuable leadership skills. Throughout the week, with all that was taking place, the community building that occurred only made our foundation as a School community stronger. -
Ski Week
Snowy adventures for the whole SchoolRead More
For five wonderful days, Shawnigan Lake School was transplanted to Manning Park Resort. Our 47th annual Ski Week was at once unique and yet rich with beloved traditions. Thanks to several newly built accommodations at the resort, we were able to include our grade 12 students for the first time in many years. That was not the only change Manning Park had in store for us – they also had a brand new four-seater chairlift servicing one of their two hills!
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Four weeks to go!
47th annual Ski WeekRead More
The start of the winter term at Shawnigan means that Ski Week is just around the corner! In a little under four weeks, the majority of the School community will make the annual trek to Manning Park, where we will take over the resort’s accommodations and fill the mountain slopes.
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.
