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OUTDOOR SKILLS
Instructors teach the basics of the outdoor pursuits and activities listed below:
• Backpacking • Campfire
• Canoe and Kayak Expeditions
• Canoeing (flat and whitewater, ocean) • Group Dynamics
• Group Games • High Ropes Course
• Kayaking (flat and whitewater, ocean) • Leadership
• Local Culture and History
• Minimum Impact Camping
• Mountaineering • Natural History
• Navigation • Night Walks
• Nutrition • Orienteering
• Outdoor Cooking • Outfitting
• Rappelling • Rock Climbing
• Sailing • Snowshoeing
• Solos • Survival Game
• Survival Skills • Trip Preparations
• Voyageur Canoeing
• Winter Camping • Zip-Line

QUESTIONS?
Contact our Program Department: paul@strathcona.bc.ca

OUTDOOR SKILLS

Strathcona's programs will inspire future outdoor pursuits and introduce students to the skills necessary for safe outdoor recreation and wilderness travel.

Outdoor Skills instruction are the building blocks of Strathcona Park Lodge's programs. Skills are valuable in themselves as recreational pursuits and also as vehicles for our curriculum goals of Environmental Awareness, Personal Growth and Group Development.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
At Strathcona, students will examine the wilderness around them and develop a sense of responsibility and belonging within it.

They are taught how precious and fragile the wilderness ecological systems are. Whether teaching skills on land or water, the emphasis is on low-impact recreational pursuits, camp craft and wilderness ethics. Interrelationships and ecosystems are emphasized and attitudes of responsible stewardship are fostered through analysis and critical thinking.

PERSONAL GROWTH
Students coming to Strathcona will challenge themselves, work alone and in groups and set and achieve goals. Students will experience new personal insights and greater self-esteem.

A series of progressively more difficult challenges including rock climbing, ropes courses and expeditions, coupled with guided processing of these experiences, provides opportunities for individuals to uncover real strengths within themselves and even leadership qualities. Students who may not excel in school often shine when faced with real-life problems and the informal learning environment at Strathcona.

Away from civilization and surrounded by natural beauty, individuals become introspective and think about what is really important to them. Feelings of accomplishment and a stronger self-concept carry over into everyday life.

Testimonial: I think that the trip was a real success. I learned a lot about myself and about others.....we had to trust people, the equipment, and ourselves if we wanted to complete things. I think Strathcona taught us a lot about cooperation, and the great things that go along with it. (Ben, grade 7, North Oyster School)

GROUP DEVELOPMENT
At Strathcona, students work to become a cohesive group on a foundation of trust, respect, openness and common goals.

Groups face challenges ranging from initiating tasks to cooking dinner over a campfire and they are empowered to develop their own solutions.

Through instructor facilitation, group members lead, support and encourage one another. Group energy supports individuals through challenges which they would not normally contemplate on their own.

Group experiences are transforming. Young people emerge more thoughtful, more self-assured and perhaps more mature. Reliance on other group members and friendships are fostered as individuals share new discoveries, acquire knowledge and face the challenges before them. The worth of each individual in the group becomes apparent when their insight and co-operative spirit allow the group to accomplish a task or reach a decision by consensus.