The past month the Outdoor Education class fulfilled our most significant community based goal when we introduced the Robertson grade 4/5 Elementary class to the Lexw Qwo:m Community Forest. The rain provided some refreshment for all the hard working students on this successful day! Excited children got to learn about the rich Stolo and community history of the park location, as well as the construction process that brought the park to its current state. Outdoor Education students oversaw small elementary groups. Outdoor Education students took pride in sharing their experience and being ‘park construction’ mentors.
Once the school bus arrived to the park Lloyd, our class ambassador, welcomed the eager students, and took them to the trailhead of the park. Along the way he shared about the process of designing the trails, and about the Indigenous connection to the land and the meaning of the Halq'eméylem names found within the park. Lloyd, a Stolo student, gave thanks to Stolo nation for allowing us to create a park on the unceded territory. Lloyd eloquently allowed the students to discover the power of community when all stakeholders are empowered to work together. After this introduction the students were taken on a hike of all the trails in the park. The next step was the fun stuff, getting dirty. Armed with shovels, pick axes, wheel barrows, and buckets of gravel both the Outdoor Education and Elementary class got to work on constructing the remainder of the trail. Students got to learn about rain drainage systems while building them, the impacts of erosion and how to limit it, and their minds were stimulated with getting to discover the local fauna of the temperate rainforest. We finished off our day with donuts and park trivia. Both classes thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity, and we are in the process of planning more before the year ends. The community aspect of this project is one of the driving forces that has allowed it to be successful. Students were grateful to have adult volunteers in the community mentor and teach us how to make trails. During these times lasting relationship were forged and the opportunity for social/emotional learning was given. My personal highlight was watching my students shine as the ‘paid it forward’ when they took on the role of mentor to the Elementary students. It was an inspiring moment watching traditionally ‘In-Risk’ students take on the role of mentor. Students had a sense of pride and value for their accomplishments. Thus far this has been the most rewarding aspect of the project, and personally I believe it will have the most significant impact on my students down the roads. The grand opening of the Lexw Qwo:m Park is May 4th. Alongside key stakeholders some of the Outdoor Education students have been asked to cut the official ribbon and give a speech to the community. The students hard work has been recognized in the local newspaper, and now they will be honoured at the official opening of the park! None of this would be possible without the strong sense of community found within the the Park Society. I hope this will act as a spark to further my students desire to engage with and continue to promote an inclusive and healthy community.
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AuthorsThe Education Centre's Outdoor Education Class!!! Archives
May 2019
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