Crofton House Crofton House School: School: Strathcona Park Strathcona Park Lodge TripLodge TripOctober 16-20, 2011October 16-20, 2011

At Strathcona Park Lodge, At Strathcona Park Lodge,

our mission is to teach the our mission is to teach the wonder, spirit and worth of wonder, spirit and worth of

people and the natural world people and the natural world through outdoor pursuits.through outdoor pursuits.

Where is SPL?Where is SPL?

40 km West of 40 km West of Campbell RiverCampbell River

About 2.5 hours About 2.5 hours north of Nanaimonorth of Nanaimo

Just outside of Just outside of BC’s first BC’s first Provincial Park Provincial Park

CHS Outdoor EducationCHS Outdoor Education GoalsGoals

1.1. Personal and Intra-Personal DevelopmentPersonal and Intra-Personal Development 2.2. Environmental AwarenessEnvironmental Awareness 3.3. Outdoor SkillsOutdoor Skills

Safely introduce students to a variety of Safely introduce students to a variety of outdoor activitiesoutdoor activities

4.4. Academic IntegrationAcademic IntegrationRecognize outdoor education is part of the Recognize outdoor education is part of the total learning experience and can include total learning experience and can include many subject areasmany subject areas

1. Personal & Intra-1. Personal & Intra-Personal DevelopmentPersonal Development The outdoors is an ideal teaching ground The outdoors is an ideal teaching ground

for developing individual traits and group for developing individual traits and group skills: confidence, empathy, a sense of skills: confidence, empathy, a sense of responsibility, effective communication, responsibility, effective communication, working together toward a common goal. working together toward a common goal.

Creates bonding of students when Creates bonding of students when groups are presented with and overcome groups are presented with and overcome challenges together.challenges together.

2. Environmental 2. Environmental AwarenessAwareness Time spent outdoors is the most Time spent outdoors is the most

significant factor contributing to adult significant factor contributing to adult concerns about the environment.concerns about the environment.

Children love to be part of the solution – Children love to be part of the solution – especially when they see the effects of especially when they see the effects of their positive interaction with nature first-their positive interaction with nature first-hand.hand.

3. Outdoor Skills 3. Outdoor Skills

Exposure to a wide Exposure to a wide variety of engaging and variety of engaging and environmentally environmentally sustainable outdoor sustainable outdoor activities.activities.

When students perceive When students perceive there to be a challenge there to be a challenge that involves risk, their that involves risk, their level of engagement and level of engagement and enthusiasm increases.enthusiasm increases.

4. Academic 4. Academic IntegrationIntegration Nature based education produced gains Nature based education produced gains

in social studies, science, language arts, in social studies, science, language arts, math; improves standardized test scores math; improves standardized test scores and grade-point averages; develops and grade-point averages; develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking, skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making. (and decision making. (Closing the Closing the Achievement GapAchievement Gap, 2002), 2002)

Integrated and interdisciplinaryIntegrated and interdisciplinary Students are more readily able to Students are more readily able to

transfer learning to their everyday livestransfer learning to their everyday lives

General Canoe TripGeneral Canoe Trip

Three day/two night canoe trip on Upper Campbell and Buttle Lakes.Three day/two night canoe trip on Upper Campbell and Buttle Lakes. Total distance: about 27kmTotal distance: about 27km Elevation change: negligibleElevation change: negligible Time paddling each day: 2 – 6 hoursTime paddling each day: 2 – 6 hours Canoes: Tandems, 3 Seater, 4 person Freighters/McKenzies, VoyageurCanoes: Tandems, 3 Seater, 4 person Freighters/McKenzies, Voyageur Campsite locations: Provincial Park marine sites. Different campsite each Campsite locations: Provincial Park marine sites. Different campsite each

night.night. Amenities: outhouse, fire ring, tent/tarp site.Amenities: outhouse, fire ring, tent/tarp site.

CampingCamping Where do students sleep on out-tripWhere do students sleep on out-trip

CommunicationCommunication

What happens in the event of an What happens in the event of an emergency?emergency? Groups camping together for supportGroups camping together for support Communication Methods – send a message, Communication Methods – send a message,

SPOT devices, radios, satellite phonesSPOT devices, radios, satellite phones Response – most situations can be handled Response – most situations can be handled

by SPL. Other resources include BC by SPL. Other resources include BC Ambulance Service, Search & RescueAmbulance Service, Search & Rescue

What are the risks?What are the risks?

Over 50% of Canadian children and youth Over 50% of Canadian children and youth aged 5 to17 are not active enough for optimal aged 5 to17 are not active enough for optimal growth and development growth and development (Cdn. Fitness & Lifestyle (Cdn. Fitness & Lifestyle Research Institute, 2000)Research Institute, 2000)

BC Ferries: run aground x 4; collisions with BC Ferries: run aground x 4; collisions with large vessels x 4; marina/terminal collisions x large vessels x 4; marina/terminal collisions x 4; cars falling off during loading/unloading x 3; 4; cars falling off during loading/unloading x 3; fatalities x 6 (Wikipedia)fatalities x 6 (Wikipedia)

Highway driving: you don’t want to knowHighway driving: you don’t want to know

RiskRisk

Inherent to the outdoor experience.Inherent to the outdoor experience.

There will always be risk in the programs There will always be risk in the programs we offer but there are also certain we offer but there are also certain reasonable actions that we can take to reasonable actions that we can take to reduce the likelihood of losses taking reduce the likelihood of losses taking place or to reduce their severity. place or to reduce their severity.

Perceived vs. Real Perceived vs. Real RiskRisk Perceived risk: personal perception of the Perceived risk: personal perception of the

probability of an event that could cause probability of an event that could cause harm/loss occurringharm/loss occurring

Real risk: actual accurate assessment of the Real risk: actual accurate assessment of the objective and subjective hazards of an objective and subjective hazards of an event that could cause harm/loss occurringevent that could cause harm/loss occurring

In Outdoor Education we operate largely in In Outdoor Education we operate largely in the realm of perceived risk and take steps to the realm of perceived risk and take steps to limit exposure to real riskslimit exposure to real risks

Is risk undesirable?Is risk undesirable?

It is not playgrounds, but the more wild, It is not playgrounds, but the more wild, alternative outdoor settings that offer alternative outdoor settings that offer children the greatest lessons of risk and children the greatest lessons of risk and challenge.challenge.

If risk is inherent to outdoor activities, If risk is inherent to outdoor activities, and is an important part of achieving our and is an important part of achieving our objectives, then we don’t want to objectives, then we don’t want to eliminate all risk. eliminate all risk.

Inherent RisksInherent Risks Objective Objective HazardsHazards Objective hazards: often environmental Objective hazards: often environmental

hazards such as weather, steep terrain, hazards such as weather, steep terrain, cold water, animal encounters (external)cold water, animal encounters (external)

How to manage objective hazards?How to manage objective hazards? AvoidanceAvoidance Prevention – reducing the frequencyPrevention – reducing the frequency Reduction – reducing the severityReduction – reducing the severity

Inherent RisksInherent Risks Subjective Subjective HazardsHazards Subjective hazards: human factor Subjective hazards: human factor

hazards such as being hungry, overtired, hazards such as being hungry, overtired, low skill level, decision making skills low skill level, decision making skills (internal)(internal)

How to manage subjective hazards?How to manage subjective hazards? PlanningPlanning TrainingTraining Looking after selfLooking after self Proper equipmentProper equipment

SPLSPL Informed Consent & Informed Consent & Acknowledgement of Acknowledgement of RiskRisk Our youth consent form is not a waiver Our youth consent form is not a waiver

and does not pretend to absolve us of and does not pretend to absolve us of responsibility for the safety of your childresponsibility for the safety of your child

It is an educational tool to inform about It is an educational tool to inform about the type of activities and risks involvedthe type of activities and risks involved

It is an agreement to share in managing It is an agreement to share in managing the risks for the safety of the individual the risks for the safety of the individual and groupand group

Clothing & Equipment Clothing & Equipment RequiredRequired

Rain jacket & pantsRain jacket & pants 2 pairs of wool or 2 pairs of wool or

synthetic long underwearsynthetic long underwear 2 fleece or wool 2 fleece or wool

sweaterssweaters A warm fleece or A warm fleece or

synthetic fill jacketsynthetic fill jacket 2 pair wool, fleece or 2 pair wool, fleece or

nylon pantsnylon pants 3 pairs of wool socks3 pairs of wool socks 2 toques and gloves2 toques and gloves

Sleeping bag and stuff Sleeping bag and stuff sacsac

Sleeping padSleeping pad 60 litre backpack with 60 litre backpack with

hip belthip belt Headlamp or flashlightHeadlamp or flashlight Water bottle, cup, bowl & Water bottle, cup, bowl &

spoonspoon SunglassesSunglasses Garbage bags, plastic Garbage bags, plastic

shopping bags, Zip-locksshopping bags, Zip-locks

Lake Canoe GroupsLake Canoe Groups Rubber rain bootsRubber rain boots Light hikers or Light hikers or

runnersrunners

Additional ItemsAdditional Items TowelTowel ToiletriesToiletries CameraCamera Insect repellantInsect repellant

Clothing & Equipment Clothing & Equipment RequiredRequired

FAQ’sFAQ’s

My child has food allergies. Are they My child has food allergies. Are they going to be able to find safe foods?going to be able to find safe foods?

What kind of wildlife is there?What kind of wildlife is there? I understand there are risks, but is it I understand there are risks, but is it

safe?safe? What sort of training do your instructors What sort of training do your instructors

have?have? Others?Others?

Thank you.Thank you.

To learn more about the program and To learn more about the program and vacation options available at Strathcona vacation options available at Strathcona Park Lodge for individuals, families and Park Lodge for individuals, families and groups, please visit: groups, please visit:

www.gowyld.cawww.gowyld.ca

www.facebook.com/gowyldwww.facebook.com/gowyld