Tofino/Clayoquot INFORMATION:
RIDGELINES and COASTLINES PROGRAM
DATES: Oct. 21-24th, 2024
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP: On this 4-day overnight surfing/kayaking and camping trip students will begin their year in the Experiential Program building outdoor skills, as well as jumping into their Social Studies exploration of Indigenous history and culture. Both surfing and kayaking will be delivered as an introduction, however, programming will be extended for those who have previous experience. They begin surfing in the “whitewash” close to shore and gradually progress to deeper water and larger waves as they develop their skills. Students wear a surf wetsuit and wetsuit boots for this activity. Kayaking will be completed as an introduction to paddling, with students in double kayaks. As an overnight camping trip, students will also develop their camp skills such as cooking over camp stoves, setting up tarps and tents. Any time the students are in the water will be under the supervision of trained surf guides from Swell Surfing Tofino or Paddle West Kayak instructors.
Curricular aims extend beyond the Outdoor Education, as students consider themes of land-use, sustainability, resource management and Indigenous governance and self-determination. Social Studies curriculum will be integrated into the trip, with a focus on Indigenous education, studying local culture and First Nations groups and lands they historically and currently live. Students will investigate the history of conflict, and subsequent protection, of the old-growth forest in Clayoquot Sound. Students will connect with renowned Elder and carver, Joe Martin, for a guided hike through the Big Tree Trail on Meares Island, a newly protected forest managed by the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation. The day spent in Clayoquot will also include a visit to local carving studio and a volunteer opportunity for the students. Students will also participate in a Nuu-chah-nulth language workshop, with local teacher Gisele Martin. Art and English course work will be covered on the trip including writing and journaling assignments and Art workshops on topics of environmental art, sketchbook use and watercolour painting.
*Lenses of Social Studies Curricular Inquiry: Sustainability, Resource Management, Indigenous Governance & Self-Determination
TRIP PRE-REQUISITES: Students must be able to swim 25 meters
GROUP EQUIPMENT: The guides will bring activity-specific equipment for the group. This will include surfboards, leashes, wetsuits and booties, and rash guards. Kayaks will be provided by Paddle West. The guides will also bring emergency response equipment (emergency communication device, first aid kit…).
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT: We have a wide range of clothing and equipment available to students for the trips. This includes sleeping bags, foamies, rain coats, rain pants and clothing items such as fleece layers and puffball jackets. We will spend the morning on Monday, Oct 21st preparing gear at the Derby Building. Students will do a gear check with their guides on this prep day prior to departing for Tofino. At that point the guides will outfit the students with any missing items. The following link will allow you to access the SURFING TRIP EQUIPMENT LIST.
MEALS/FOOD: Students should bring a card or cash to buy meals while on route to and from Tofino, as there will be stops in Port Alberni for food. Students and guides will be cooking all other meals in the campsite. The group will also visit the town of Tofino. While in town, students may want to buy snacks or other small meals.
TRANSPORTATION: Students will be traveling in a school bus.
TRIP COST: Covered by the Experiential Program
DAILY ITINERARY: Note: This is a tentative schedule that may change due to weather, water conditions, etc.
Oct. 21st
-Students arrive 8:30am at Derby Building for gear check & group packing.
-Bus travel to Tofino & Arrival at Surf Grove Campground
-Evening activities on beach: English & Art workshops
Oct. 22nd
-Gisele Martin Workshop- Nuu-chah-nulth Language & Cultural workshop on Mackenzie Beach
-Environmental Art “Andy Goldsworthy Session” on Mackenzie Beach
-Ocean Kayak Session - Paddle West Guiding Company
-Evening journal writing session
Oct. 23rd
-Water Taxi to Meares Island/Clayoquot Sound
-Clayoquot Big Tree Trail hike on Meares Island
-Guided hike by Joe Martin Workshop (Elder, Carver & Friends of Clayoquot advocate). Watercolour Art Session on Meares Island.
-Joe Martin Carving studio tour
Oct. 24th
-Surf Clinic with Pacific Surf Co
-Depart Tofino & Return to SMUS Derby Building 5pm approx. pick up time (Reagan Daly will email specific time as we travel home).
ACCOMMODATION: Students will be sleeping in 2-4 person tents.
CAMPING LOCATION: Students and guides will be camping at Surf Grove Campground on Cox Beach.
STAFFING: SMUS hires outdoor guides for the wilderness travel, camping and surfing components of the trip. The guide pool on the trip has a combination of First Aid Certification, Guiding/Surfing/Surfing instruction experience, Experience working in this location with similar groups. SMUS Faculty Leads are Reagan Daly (Head of Experiential Education), Ryan Dewar (English) and Krista Jones (Art).
INSTRUCTOR/STUDENT RATIOS: 1:5
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: This is a school-sponsored outing and school rules will apply. Participants are expected to follow the guidelines set by the instructional staff. A failure to meet these guidelines or a failure to follow school rules may result in the participant being removed from the activity at their own expense. This is a phone-free trip and all student cell phones should remain at home.
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT: The Leader-in charge has immediate access to: An appropriate first aid kit, Cell phone or pre-established means to communicate with the school or emergency services, Emergency Call Plan, Student Medical Information
EMERGENCY MEDICINE: Students should not be self-administering ANY medication, even if it is part of their own regular routine, without discussing it first with the guides. Students with asthma, severe allergies and medical conditions should bring a clearly labelled set of the appropriate medication and discuss the treatment plan with the guides prior to the trip
EMERGENCY CONTACT- Reagan Daly 250-686-8700
STEAM PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP: On this 4-day overnight trip students will begin the year in the Experiential Program exploring themes of Science 10 relating to bouyancy, waves and forces. Students will be completing place-based units of study as they explore tides and planetary motion on the beach, work on data collection and complete engineering challenges. Plant identification and Marine Science will be integrated into the trip, with engagement with the Ucluelet Aquarium and Raincoast Education Society. Students will get an introduction to astronomy with an evening night lab telescope viewing, should the weather cooperate. As well, students will explore coastal marine life with a wilderness tour offered through Subtidal Adventures out of Ucluelet
Curricular aims extend beyond the Science and Engineering curriculum, as Art and English course work will be covered on the trip including writing and journaling assignments and Art workshops on topics of environmental art, sketchbook use and watercolour painting taking place on the local beaches and parks.
*Lenses of STEAM Curricular Inquiry: Astronomy, Marine Science, Engineering, Forces, Data Collection, Botany
TRIP PRE-REQUISITES: Students must be able to swim 25 meters in order to surf
GROUP EQUIPMENT: The guides will bring activity-specific equipment for the group. The guides will also bring emergency response equipment (emergency communication device, first aid kit…).
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT: We have a wide range of clothing and equipment available to students for the trips. This includes clothing items such as fleece layers and puffball jackets and rain jackets. We will spend the morning on Monday, Oct 21st preparing gear at the Derby Building. Students will do a gear check with their guides on this prep day prior to departing for Tofino. At that point the guides will outfit the students with any missing items. While this is a STEAM trip focused on academic curriculum, students will spend a considerable amount of time “in the field” and should be prepared to be outside.
MEALS/FOOD: Students should bring a card or cash to buy meals while on route to and from Tofino, as there will be stops in Port Alberni for food. Meals will be prepared for students in the accommodation.
ACCOMODATION: The group will be staying in cabins at Ocean Village, separated by gender. SMUS faculty will be staying in separate cabins at the same location.
TRANSPORTATION: Students will be traveling in a school bus.
TRIP COST: Covered by the Experiential Program
DAILY ITINERARY: Note: This is a tentative schedule that may change due to weather etc.
Oct. 21st
-Students arrive 8:30am at Derby Building for gear check & group packing.
-Bus travel to Tofino & Arrival at Ocean Village accommodation.
-Group norms and welcome circle on beach, combined with Ridgelines & Coastlines cohort. English 10 & Art 10 workshops
Oct. 22nd
-Tofino STEAM Engineering Challenge - data collection
-Environmental Art “Andy Goldsworthy Session” on Mackenzie Beach
-Tofino Earthquake Risk & Tsunami Hazard civil engineering & planning workshop
-Evening night lab - Telescopes and introduction to astronomy on the beach
Oct. 23rd
-Travel to Uclulet- Raincoast Education Society - Plant identification workshop on Pacific Coast Trail
-Marine Science session at the Ucluelet Aquarium with the Collect and Release exhibit
-Wilderness marine tour with Subtidal Adventures
-Tide workshop & Tide verification activity and data collection
-Evening English 10 writing session
Oct. 24th
-Surf Clinic with Pacific Surf Co
-Depart Tofino & Return to SMUS Derby Building 5pm approx. pick up time (Reagan Daly will email specific time as we travel home).
ACCOMMODATION: Students will be sleeping in cabins with other students. SMUS faculty will be in adjacent cabins at Ocean Village.
STAFFING: SMUS hires outdoor guides for the wilderness travel and surfing components of the trip. The guide pool on the trip has a combination of First Aid Certification, Guiding/Surfing/Surfing instruction experience, Experience working in this location with similar groups. SMUS Faculty Leads are Wonjin Kim (STEAM Program lead), Ryan Dewar (English) and Krista Jones (Art).
INSTRUCTOR/STUDENT RATIOS: 1:5
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: This is a school-sponsored outing and school rules will apply. Participants are expected to follow the guidelines set by the instructional staff. A failure to meet these guidelines or a failure to follow school rules may result in the participant being removed from the activity at their own expense. This is a phone-free trip and all student cell phones should remain at home.
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT: The Leader-in charge has immediate access to: An appropriate first aid kit, Cell phone or pre-established means to communicate with the school or emergency services, Emergency Call Plan, Student Medical Information
EMERGENCY MEDICINE: Students should not be self-administering ANY medication, even if it is part of their own regular routine, without discussing it first with the guides. Students with asthma, severe allergies and medical conditions should bring a clearly labelled set of the appropriate medication and discuss the treatment plan with the guides prior to the trip
EMERGENCY CONTACT- Reagan Daly 250-686-8700