Skaha Rock Climbing Trip

Words from Annabel T.

This week in the experiential program we had the incredible opportunity to travel all the way to the Skaha Bluffs, in Penticton. This was our 3rd trip as a class, and the perfect way to kick off our last term as a group. 

On the first day, we arrived at the bus stop at SMUS at 5:30am, and the early start was truly showing on everyone's faces, despite the obvious excitement in the air. The trip started with many hours of driving, plus a while on the ferry, on which Maxi bought a card game of guess who, which surely was one of the highlights of the trip. We arrived at Skaha in the mid afternoon, and went climbing for the first time. Our first session was quite short, mostly made up of the guides making sure we knew what we were doing, and the majority of the group trying to gain some confidence getting high on the wall. We went to our campsite after a few hours, and set up the camp that we would be sleeping at for the next few nights. 

The second day was another early start for us, being woken at 6-6:20am. I know that many of us were disappointed in the absence of Carter's good morning song, which often softened the blow of waking up just a little, but we persevered. We were out of camp by 7:45, and well on our way to a big day. The day was full of climbing, walking 15 minutes to get to the outhouse, learning how to repel down a 27m cliff, guess who, and avoiding any and all plants that looked vaguely like poison ivy. The repel was the highlight of the day for some, and for others it was an opportunity to overcome a fear. Back at camp, we all went swimming. The water was far far too cold in my opinion, but a few people seemed to enjoy it. There were a few card games to pass the time, including a few intense games of spoons, before we all went to bed, preparing for another early morning.

The third day was the highlight of the trip for me. We had a rude and early awakening at 4:30am, by 2 crows, which ultimately put quite a damper on the morning. Once we got to our site for the day, our guides set up some climbs, the coolest of which was a route that went into a crack in the rock. We had another opportunity to show off our confidence on the rock, and repelled down 100 feet into a cave of sorts. It was truly a surreal experience, as you could not see the bottom from where you started. Once you got to the bottom of the repel, you were still at a decent height. The rest of the way down was a zipline of sorts, and the guides did a great job of adjusting the experience to make it fun for everyone. After we got back to camp, we had the opportunity to tour a radio telescope observatory. We learned so much, and were all so thankful to Nick (one of the engineers that worked there) for coming in after hours to show us around. We had pizza for dinner, and enjoyed our last night together as a group with no phones in sight. 

On Thursday we drove back to school, getting back just after the end of the school day and going our separate ways. The final day of the week, we were back in the classroom, discussing leadership roles and opportunities, and how to be a good leader. This week presented us with so many challenges and opportunities, and it was one of the best weeks we have had in the Experiential Program so far.

Strathcona Winter Camp - Term Trip

Words from Juliet Crowe

This past week marked the end of our second term of Experiential. Although we were all sad to switch terms, we made sure to leave on a high note with a winter camping trip to Strathcona Park. 

Although our trip prep began mid February, our adventure began in earnest on Monday, as we packed the last of our things (including our 70L backpacks) into the gear van and loaded up in passenger vans for the drive up to Mt. Washington. At this point, we were split into two groups, each with two guides and one teacher volunteer. Once we arrived at Raven Lodge, we set out for an introductory walk in our snowshoes. There was certainly some getting used to, with several of us tripping over our big, spiked feet before finally getting the hang of it. Nighttime in Bear Lodge was filled with cooking in our apartments, and later a group meeting and some homework Mr. Daly had sent us out with. Although we were supposed to be learning about physical geography and geology while in Strathcona, examining rocks proved difficult under the layers of fresh snow that we were lucky enough to get!

Although finding rocks was a challenge, we were supplemented on our second day out with lessons in wildlife biology and avalanche safety. We hiked out to Battleship Lake, this time carrying our backpacks to get used to the weight, and settled down for lunch. While eating, we came across two wildlife biologists researching Gray Jays in the park. They explained how the combination of tags spells out a different name for each individual bird, along with some interesting facts about the little Gray Jays. Did you know that they are able to remember every single little spot they stash their food in? This could include hundreds of individual trees all over their territory. The birds also have a hierarchy similar to other animals, such as wolves, including an alpha male and female. When lunch was over, we learned how to properly use beacons and probes. This included how to search for someone caught in an avalanche, tying into our lesson that morning on awareness when traveling in avalanche terrain. We were then given the opportunity to practice this procedure directly, each of us managing to rescue a buried mitt. Our lesson then progressed to snowpack, and we learned about tests that can be performed on snow to see how stable it may or may not be. We eventually had to pack up and walk home, but we made the most of it by stopping to play a few games in the fresh snow, the highlight of the day for many. Once back at the Lodge, where our full day became a full night as we cooked dinner and packed our backpacks in preparation for the night out. 

Wednesday began fairly early, as we had to clear out completely of the Lodge. It was certainly a process, but we were out of the door in good time and were able to head out on our snowshoes with our loaded packs. The hike to Helen Mackenzie Lake was gorgeous, and we were treated with blue skies and fair weather. After stopping quickly for lunch, we reached the lake around one o’clock. We were not alone at the site, as we quickly caught sight of our wildlife biologist friends from the day before. This time, they had captured birds with them, and one of the biologists pulled one out of the bag and showed us the grips and technology she uses to tag each bird. Although we were initially excited to see this process, the bird's loud squawks while being handled proved to be unsettling to many in our group. We left them to continue their work and began ours, starting with scouting out our tent sites. Once we had picked, we made sure to pack down the snow firmly and set up our tents - surprisingly, the hardest part of the day. Making sure not to rip the tent with our snowshoes was a difficult task itself, never mind trying to keep it dry as we fumbled. However, our efforts did not go unrewarded, as after we completed digging out our snow kitchen, we set up a game of beacon capture the flag. The game was highlighted by Irving disappearing into a treewell without warning, and Finlay securing the win for his team in each round. When we had had our fill of playing in the powder, we began cooking our dinners. The wind down to bed was quite quick, each of us quite eager to slide into our sleeping bags after a busy day. Almost everyone made sure to seal their hot water bottles tightly, and when everything was tidy we all went to our tents, having been briefed at dinner on how to have a warm sleep. I was lucky enough to get a lovely nine hour rest, despite the cold temperatures, although not everyone was so cozy. 

There were a few cold faces when we woke the next morning, but we quickly rose and divided and conquered in our tent groups, some of us starting on melting snow for water and others packing up the tents. We munched on a quick breakfast while watching the sun rise over the frozen lake. In no time, we were packed up, and enjoyed a leisurely hike back to the bus where we loaded up and headed back to Victoria. My group even got some extra bonding time during the car ride back when we found out that the other group had driven off with our phones! It was a great week out, and definitely an experience that each one of us will value. We all learned and saw new things, pushed ourselves, and tried something that many of our peers will never get to experience. All in all, it was an amazing opportunity. 

Term 4: Week Two

Words from Nicholas Lee,

This week was a busy week, spending three of five days outside the classroom. We learned about climate change and energy usage, spent time developing our climbing skills, learned about leadership styles and spent time hiking, alongside finishing up our learning about the causes of WWII.

On Monday, we started with continuing our League of Nations simulation. We created unfulfilled promises and empty threats as Italy took Abyssinia, Japan took China, and Germany remilitarized. Sanctions did little to stop Axis aggression, as France and England prepared their armies.

On Tuesday, we went to Carsa. We continued to learn to lead climb, making sure that we know how to properly clip ourselves in and practicing on the auto-belay. Students who didn’t pass the belay check last time attempted it again, with many passing. Those who didn’t get around to it last time took the fitness tests.

Wednesday we took a trip to the UVIC campus where we meet with enthusiastic students and researchers were we shared opinions and perspectives on climate change. After sandwiches for lunch, we walked across campus to the Pacific Institution of Climate Solutions, where we explored various strategies to mitigate climate change.

Thursday was outdoors at Mt. Doug. We explored styles of leadership in various activities before learning about hiking. We learnt about the lead and the sweep, and what responsibilities those roles carry. After that we went on a beautiful hike about halfway up the mountain, as our activities had taken longer than expected.

Friday we finished up our League of Nations simulation, with more empty threats and unfulfilled promises of safety from France and the UK, resulting in a complete annexation of the Czechoslovak Republic by Germany. Complete inaction from the League resulted in Germany invading Poland before the League could even know what to make of the annexation of the Czechs, ultimately resulting in the outbreak of war in Europe for the second time within three decades. Once we finished up the simulation, we took an alumni donation to buy products for the Mustard Seed foundation. These products included food and clothing and other essentials to support local families in need.

Although quite busy, I believe that the week was rather productive, getting us to think about the causes and consequences of various nations actions during the interwar period, expanding our climbing skill set, learning about the world we live in, and developing our leadership skills.

Term 4: Week One

Words from Declan Longridge

This was our first week back in experiential and we jumped right into doing activities such as rock climbing, learning about the Interwar Period and what causes of World War 2, we did strength tests, and we went to Boulderhouse.

Tuesday was our first day back and we went straight to Carsa at UVic to do rock climbing and do some strength tests for the first time. We were able to remember how to tie the knots and climb and belay people up and down the rock. The strength tests are new this term and involve push ups, pulls ups, finger strength, and core strength. Everyone was able to belay and climb up the rock and most people were able to do the fitness and strength tests. We also got the opportunity to practice lead-climbing by yourself and develop our “clipping” skills. This wrapped up our first day back in experiential.

Wednesday was our first day in the classroom and we did a simulation about the League of Nations. This includes countries like Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Sweden, Canada, USSR, Portugal, the UK, Japan, New Zealand, and Italy. Japan immediately withdrew from the League followed by Germany and then Italy also left the League of Nations. This simulation created arguments, votes, and a lot of new perspectives about this interwar period and what could have happened to change the outcome, which resulted in World War 2.

Thursday was another day inside the classroom, we continued the league of nations simulation and we discovered more about the war and decisions that were made and what happened. We also talked about other better outcomes that could have ended in a much better result. We also made a slideshow about a certain event we were assigned. There were multiple events ranging from 1918 to 1939. All of these activities helped us get a better understanding and perspective of WWII and how everything happened from start to end.

Friday was another day outside the classroom. We went to Boulderhouse, which included a lot of climbing up a rock wall. There were many different levels of climbs. After climbing for a while, we went upstairs to do more fitness and strength tests. These tests included finger hangs, push ups, planks, and other core exercises. We did these for a few minutes each and then we finally left, ending the first week back doing experiential and I think it was a great first week back.

Week 5: Ridgelines & Coastlines

Words from Kate McQueen & Kimberly Koo

Week 5 

Hello! We’re Kimberly and Kate, and we’re very excited to share with you our 5th week in the experiential program. 

Day 1: Duke of Edinburgh intro & Through Their Eyes project 

 Monday, our class worked with Ms. Gardiner, our school’s Service and Community Engagement Coordinator, to set up goals and log hours as first steps towards our impactful completion of the bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh award. We also continued working on our Through Their Eyes project, a project that we both love participating in. 

Day 2: Fleming Beach Climbing Day

It was beautiful on Tuesday with good weather. We were able to conquer our fears and push ourselves to new heights with the support of my belayer, Mr. Daly, and all our classmates! We were fortunate to have the opportunity to put the rock climbing skills that we’ve accumulated over the past weeks to the test.  We can’t wait to come back next week and challenge ourselves again! 

Day 3: Through their eyes project

On Wednesday, we continued working on our Through Their Eyes project on our characters. We have been looking at the war through the eyes of St. Michaels school boys who fought in WW1. It has been a few weeks since we started the project and it is coming to an end. We also completed a perspective-shifting simulation that reflected what life was like in the trenches of WWI. It was an eye-opening experience that will be remembered for years to come

Day 4: Summit day Mt Finlayson & fire building

Summit day on Mt. Finlyson was an astounding experience that required physical endurance and pushing ourselves to the max. The push to the summit was worth it, as the view from the peak was breathtaking. At the base of Goldstream, the other group was mastering the Tuckers hitch and bowline knot, necessary for setting up camp and putting up tarps. Our guide Carter taught us safety precautions, and we learned how to chop blocks of wood and build fires. 

Day 5: Mustard Seed Christmas Cards

On Friday, we spent the experiential block writing Christmas cards for families through Mustard Seed. The Mustard Seed Church is a local organization that has been fighting hunger in Greater Victoria since 1975. The Christmas cards we wrote will be distributed to families in need alongside food and gifts provided by the center. We enjoyed being able to give back to our community and taking part in this meaningful role.

It has been a successful week of trying new things, learning valuable life lessons, and growing inside and outside of the classroom. All these skills and experiences will be applied in the future and will be great assets! This is all for week 5. Stay tuned for the final week of our first term of the experiential program!

Ridgelines & Coastlines: Week 3

Words From Desmond Grant

Hi, I’m Desmond and I’m excited to deliver you a quick rundown of one of the lucky weeks we get to spend in the Experiential Program. 

Monday: Inquiry Projects Wrap-up

We began the week by completing the last details of our inquiry projects. Our goal? To investigate Clayoquot Sound's diverse array of Indigenous nations. We all came up with a compelling question, did extensive research, and gained a profound understanding of the diverse cultures that make up this amazing region.

Wednesday: Climbing Plans Dashed, but Skills Soared

The idea was to go outdoor climbing at Fleming Beach, but the wet and gloomy weather had other plans. Just relax, though! We then spent a day at Carsa honing our belaying and climbing techniques. The highlight? Our first chance to rappel down the wall, which quickly fired adrenaline into our veins. We are excited for our outdoor climbing day and are crossing our fingers for better weather the next time.

Thursday: Scaling New Heights at Boulderhouse

Returning to the climbing, Boulderhouse this time. It's all about boosting those strength and climbing abilities while also, of course, having a blast. We're making incredible progress, which is a credit to both our commitment and the excitement of taking on new challenges.

New Project Alert: Through Their Eyes

Following climbing, we started the "Through Their Eyes" campaign as our first new venture. Imagine being assigned to a student who attended our school more than a century ago and suffered a terrible fate in World War I. Our investigation brought us to the SMUS archives, a hidden gold mine that greatly enriched our knowledge of the past.

Friday: Remembrance Day Ceremony

Learning cinematography and going deeper into our "Through Their Eyes" project coupled in a unique way on Friday. We assembled for a touching Remembrance Day ceremony at 11 a.m., honoring those who gave their lives in battle. Our classes were shortened, and we were let out early to begin the much-needed long weekend.

Our week was, to put it briefly, a combination of climbing new heights, historical explorations, and wonderful learning. It's been a week of growth, camaraderie, and life-changing experiences, from scaling climbing walls to learning about the past of SMUS alumni. Till we meet again!

Ridgelines & Coastlines: Week 4

Words from Finlay Hlannon

Greetings!

I'm Finlay Hlannon, and I am glad to have the opportunity to tell you about our eventful week 4. I invite you to join me as I recount the series of our eventful days hiking, climbing, bouldering, and learning through the eyes of historic figures.

Wednesday, the first day of the short week, was spent in class. We started our Through Their Eyes project in the morning which was really interesting. The Through Their Eyes project is where we get to learn about historic events by learning about historic figures and their role in the events. In our case, we learnt about University School boys who went to WWI. I got to learn about Hugh A.B. Jackson, who was not much older than me when he left for war, and I learned some really interesting things. Later that day we learned about the Duke of Edinburgh program. We signed up for the Bronze level award, which I am very excited to achieve this year.

Thursday was quite the experience. We got to hike up Mt. Finlayson the whole afternoon, and what a way to spend the afternoon! We got to reconnect with our surfing leaders once we got there which was really nice. We split the group into two, one group hiking up and one group staying at the bottom learning valuable wilderness camping skills. I am extremely grateful to be in the first group. The hike up, although at some times was more of a scrambling climb, was really fun and a good workout. The view at the top was absolutely stunning, we could see all of Victoria over Bear Mountain, Mt. Baker shining in the background, and the beautiful Olympic Mountains off to the side. Overall definitely worth it.

Finally, on Friday, we worked more on the Through Their Eyes project in the morning, solidifying our understanding and learning some more context. A bit later, we left for Bolderhouse and had an amazing time there. I got to learn more climbing routes, and I feel like I definitely improved a lot since the first time we went. I really enjoyed bouldering, maybe my hands didn't, but it has probably been my favourite activity yet. I am really excited to hopefully get the chance to go to Fleming Beach to climb in the future, fingers crossed.

Although it was a short week this week, it was filled with super fun activities and lots of learning, and I really enjoyed getting to spend more time doing great things with this class. Thank you for joining me this week, until next time.

Ridgelines & Coastlines: Week 2

Words from Yingfan Bai

Greetings!

Welcome to the blog for the second week of the experiential program! My name is Yingfan Bai, and I had the privilege of embarking on a week filled with unforgettable adventures. Join me as I recount the thrilling days of rock climbing and the fascinating experiences of visiting a local farm.

The week kicked off on a Monday morning, where we set out for BoulderHouse, an indoor rock climbing gym in Downtown, Victoria. With 40 climbing routes to choose from, we were in for a day of bouldering that promised both challenge and excitement. As a beginner rock climber, I found it very challenging, yet a very good learning experience. Although the walls were relatively low, the climbs were tough. They required a great amount of technique, such as hand and foot placement, which we learned more about as we did more climbs. 

Tuesday was a relatively calmer day in the classroom. After a busy week in Tofino and rock climbing, we were finally able to settle down and relax. Most of the class was spent doing self reflections and evaluations from the trip, which helped us learn our strengths and areas of improvement. 

This remarkable Wednesday, we had the privilege of visiting Ms. Beeston’s local farm behind her house. She shared with us her love of gardening and her garden-to-table lifestyle. We learned that she mostly eats the produce from her garden in the summer, and that she plants and gets ready for the next growing season in the winter and spring. As the day went on, we learned about many plants and participated in gardening tasks such as digging out potatoes and carrots. Ms. Beeston showed us the composting system, and while digging, many of us found worms of our own! However, in my opinion, the real treat was when we tasted her farm's delicious produce, which included pesto, mint tea, and other homemade jams. However, the adventure didn't stop there. We visited the garden of Ms. Beeston's neighbor, who also shared the garden-to-table concept, although it was a little more "wild". There, we enjoyed tasting the special hidden rose apple, a rare kind of apple that has a red interior.

Thursday brought us yet another dose of exhilaration as we visited the CARSA climbing facility on the campus of the University of Victoria (UVIC). This time, we faced higher walls, pushing our limits to new heights. It was also a day full of learning, as we learned how to belay. As someone who has never rock climbed before, the knots and sequences were very confusing, but after many failed attempts, we finally learned how to prepare for a climb both as a belayer and climber. Many of us reached the very top of the climbs, including me, and I can say for sure that the thrill and rush of excitement when looking down from the 55ft climbing wall is one of the best feelings ever. Next week, we will be bouldering more and doing an outdoor climb at a beach. I'm already looking forward to it!

To end off the week, we had a day in the classroom, filled with lots of learning. Using our experiences and learnings from our trip to Tofino and Clayoquat last week, we started an inquiry project to dive deeper into a topic that Joe and Gisele Martin talked about. As an example, I am diving deeper into the language that Gisele talked about; the Nuu-chah-nulth language. It’s a very unique language, and there is lots to learn about it. 

As we close the second week of our incredible experiential program, I'm grateful for the growth and adventures we've shared. Thank you so much for joining me on this incredible week. Goodbye for now!

Tofino/Clayoquot Trip

Words from Juan Pablo Tamez-Munoz

Greetings from Tofino!

I'm Juan Pablo Tamez, and I'm thrilled to recount the incredible adventure we embarked on this week. Our journey began bright and early on a Wednesday morning. En route, we made a pit stop at McLean Mill, where we delved into the life of a logging family. Our guide walked us through the intricate steps and processes they undertook. We even got our hands dirty trying out some of the tasks.

After a while, we hit the road again, arriving at our campsite. Setting up camp was a new experience for me, and I acquired this new skill. The first day was all about settling in around the campfire and enjoying a delightful dinner. Each of us took turns preparing meals, which added a fun twist to our stay. Of course, we all pitched in with the dishes too. The next morning, I had the chance to whip up some eggs, a small victory for someone who hadn't cooked breakfast in a while.

With our bathing suits and wetsuits on, we headed to the beach for an early surf session. Little did I know, this would turn out to be the highlight of the trip for me. Surfing was an absolute blast, and I couldn't wait for our session on Saturday. We spent a solid 2 hours riding the waves, receiving valuable guidance from our instructors. Once we were done, a hot shower was a welcome relief. After lunch, we took some time on the beach to reflect in our journals, answering prompts about our experiences.

The rest of the day was spent in leisurely pursuits. As the sun set, we congregated on the beach for games like football, spike ball, and soccer. We returned to camp, gathered around the campfire, and shared stories of our day. The weather had been kind to us, but the nights were chilly. I, for one, found myself wrapped up tight against the cold.

We gathered as a group to discuss our reflections on the Indigenous culture, gearing up for our session with Tla-o-qui-aht Elder and carver, Joe Martin and his daughter Giselle the next day. Friday was a full day, starting with a bus ride to catch a water taxi with Joe. We journeyed to Meares Island, where we absorbed lessons about nature and history. In our first classes, we had studied the history of the protection of the old growth forest by the Nuu-chah-nulth nations, and it was incredible to experience the place first hand. Joe regaled us with stories about how animals played a pivotal role in their lives, and the lives of the Tla-o-qui-aht nation. We also heard about the Indigenous efforts to establish the area as a park, and how resources such as forests and fish are currently being managed.

Later, we visited Joe's carving studio and met his daughter Giselle, who enlightened us about the Tla-o-qui-aht language. It was fascinating to learn how animal sounds contributed to their vocabulary. After the bus ride back, we headed to the beach for some games, relishing the extended time together. With the day drawing to a close, we packed up for our final day, eager for one last surfing session before our departure.

Surfing turned out to be an absolute delight, and I'm already looking forward to doing it again. The trip concluded on a high note with a warm shower and a well-deserved nap. Tofino, you've been a wonderful host! Until next time.

Juan Pablo is a grade 10 student in the Ridgelines & Coastlines program from San Diego.

Experiential Program: Ridgelines & Coastlines 2023-2024

The planning has begun as we look ahead to the relaunch of the Experiential Program: Ridgelines & Coastlines, set to begin in the second term. Trips are being booked and gear prepped, and the year of rich outdoor education, carefully planned.

Research into experiential teaching methodologies note that for greatest impact, and to provoke greater reflection and subsequent learning, instruction needs to aim to put learners into situations when they are either “stuck” with a problem to tackle or “struck” with novel experiences. It is while being interrupted from their normal flow of learning that “deep experiencing” can take place; It is here that big changes in beliefs and behaviour, or refinement in skill take place.

Students in the Ridgelines & Coastlines program will be engaged in new and dynamic environments throughout the year, as well as connecting with unfamiliar people and ideas. They will be stuck with new challenges, whether tackling a steep rockface, or paddling into a stiff headwind and struck with new perspectives and differing viewpoints. These pure experiences will take the students on a journey through learning cycles that will ultimately leave them changed and lead to growth throughout the year and beyond.

Ridgelines & Coastlines: Paddling - Expedition #3

Words & Photos from Allegra N.

Day 1

In our last circuit of paddling experientials, we got to go paddle boarding at the Gorge Waterway first. We all met in the morning at Derby, and we were able to leave on the bus earlier because of our adaptation to the paddling preparation routine. Once we arrived, we unloaded the paddleboards onto the dock, making sure not to damage the fins during the process. We set off with our lunches onboard so we could eat on the go instead of returning back to the dock. We faced plenty of wind on our way up the waterway, which gave us ample opportunity to showcase our paddling skills. With wetsuits on, it got pretty hot in the sun, and we took lots of breaks to swim and jump off the public docks. We docked to eat lunch at Craigflower-Kosapson Park, taking advantage of the time to rest our arms after paddling upwind. We took off again shortly, eager to utilize all of our time having fun on the boards and in the water. We didn’t see much wildlife on the waterway, aside from one otter and a few herons. We passed by many people on the water, even encountering the kayaking group twice. We paddled quickly to arrive at the small community dock where we tied up our boards to spend time jumping off of it. After lots of swimming and splashing, we detached our boards and hopped back on our boards in order to make the bus in time. At the dock, we rapidly loaded up the boards and paddles to barely make the bus in time. We returned to Derby after a fairly short bus ride, and helped our guides unpack and clean off our gear. 

Day 2

On the second day we went to Brentwood bay, and we combined with the other group (considering its small size) and were able to paddle board again instead of kayaking. The bus ride was a little longer than usual, but afterwards we helped unload all of the equipment upon our arrival, and got off to an early start on the water. It was quite sunny with some clouds and a little bit of wind. We first went across the bay and followed the shoreline past Willis Point for a while, taking plenty of breaks to cool off in the water, either accidentally or intentionally. We turned around to paddle back to the bay after an hour, and continued into Tod Inlet where we saw starfish and plenty of jellyfish of different sizes. We stopped at a beach to eat our lunch and enjoy a nice break. We discovered we were short of time, so we had to paddle upriver very quickly so we could make it in time for the bus. The journey back was long and challenging due to the headwind, but our practice and expertise came to our advantage. Once we arrived, we  helped load the equipment back into the truck and then bussed back to Derby to clean off our gear. We were all disappointed for the day to end, and I know everyone in our paddling experiential group will look back on our adventures fondly in the future.

Ridgelines & Coastlines: Hiking - Expedition #3

Words & Photos from James K. and Alex. R.

Day 1: On Friday, my group went to a mountain near Mt. Work and did a 10.5km hike. The walk started on a trail just off the road, but after a little bit of climbing, we reached the side of the mountain, which overlooked the Saanich inlet. We hiked along the hillside for a while until we reached the top of the hill. We kept on going and eventually stopped for lunch at a small clearing with a view. After finishing lunch, we went back on the trail and hiked the rest of the way back to the bus and left for the day, ready for the weekend.

Day 2: On Monday, my group went to East Sooke Park, which was about a forty-minute bus ride from the Darby building. After exiting the bus and letting those who needed to use the outhouse go, we set down a trail outside the parking lot and marched into the forest. The route we took was a shortcut to Beechey Head. After walking and talking about some plants, we arrived at Beechey Head and started down the Coast Trail. We kept walking until we found a small beach with a tiny island and had lunch there. A few of the hikers went onto the island to eat their lunches. Some people were also skipping and throwing rocks into the ocean. Upon finishing lunch, we walked back to the parking lot. But during our walk, we stopped and discussed potential dangers in nature. We arrived back at the bus at 2:00 and headed back to SMUS.

Alex R.

Friday

After a long week of school and the conclusion of the 5th term of the year, we were more than ready to head into the end of the week with a hike. Today’s destination was Gowlland Tod once again with a greater emphasis on hiking. This time it was to be a “point to point” hike, meaning that we would start at one place and end at another place. We arrived at Derby by 8:30 and departed right away. Upon arrival, we got straight to work. Unlike the last few trips, we didn’t take any mats or supplies with us, so as soon as we got out of the bus and did a quick head count we set out on the trail without a second thought. 

We found ourselves mostly surrounded by lush forest with a plethora of different species of greens. While none of the hills were steep, we found ourselves walking up long stretches of gradually elevating rocky path, and it was quickly taking our energy away. We kept going however, and with a couple of quick breaks to regroup, we found a nice place relatively high up to eat. We spent a good 20 minutes there, eating and conversing with each other, before we realized that we could not waste anymore time. Quickly packing our bags, we set off at a quicker, rushed pace. The afternoon part of the walk was rather uneventful, but it gave us all a chance to appreciate the good weather and the nature around us. The many different fresh smells coming from the plants were soothing to say the least, and made the afternoon pass by very quickly. However, before we reached the bus where we would be picked up, we stopped by a huge waterfall, which we went and admired for a few minutes, listening to the constant crashing of water against the rocks. It was a great way to end the hike. 

We got to the parking lot shortly after, and after allowing each other some time to do their business we boarded the bus and headed back to the school. 

Monday:

Unlike the other trips we had, the whole weekend was there for us to recover. Due to this, we were just as energized and excited as if it was the first day. Today’s destination was another one that we had already been to: East Sooke. Once again, we set off quickly from Derby on the long bus ride ahead. Once we finally arrived, we were greeted with the hot blinding sun shining in our eyes, and we knew straight away that it was going to be a lovely hot day.

We began by going through the forest trail as a shortcut, the same trail we took the other way back a few months ago. Within just a few minutes of walking down what resembled an old logging road, we arrived at the same point where we saw a group of orcas, and took our first rest. The hot morning had already shaken us, but we kept going after a quick swig of water. We continued along the waterside trail, which was accompanied by a nice breeze from the water next to us. This part of the trail was very steep; we were slowly going up and down the trail as if we were traversing a tiny mountain range, and it took a lot of energy out of us, forcing us to move slower and slower and break frequently. In fact, the more energetic of us got so carried away that one of us got lost because they went so far ahead. However, we found each other again and continued on until we settled on a place to eat. We picked a nice, small, tucked away beach with a decently sized island that some of us ate on. 

After we ate and rested, we departed once again. Due to the lack of time, we decided that we would turn back instead of going to the point we had originally planned. While it was slightly disappointing, we were able to meet in the middle by taking a route back which we had never taken before. We went through a much flatter route through the forest, observing the diverse range of plants and trees around us. Before we knew it, without a single break taken, we arrived back at the parking lot where we started, and headed home.  

Digital Storytelling: Video & Photography - Expedition #3

Words & Photos from Steven S. and Diamond H.

We left the school in the morning, and went to Tod Inlet, Gowland Tod Trail, and stayed there until 11:35am. We were given the opportunity to film whatever we want, a short movie about topics we enjoy. Some of us chose to do a trailer, some chose to do a review of the experiential program, some did interviews of teachers, and my group tried to do a story about conflicts between the natural and civilization. Most of the filming are done in the morning, and we could either do more filming or do editing in the afternoon.

In the morning, we were given the choices to go to downtown to do more filming or to edit our videos at school. Afternoon at 2:00pm, all groups finished editing and we gathered to watch all our short movies. Then, feedbacks were given from teachers and schoolmates.