The Burnaby school district hopes some of its at-risk students take a hike next year. Literally.
Last month, the district entered into a partnership with the Take A Hike Youth at Risk Foundation, a Vancouver-based non-profit that works to engage at-risk youth through a combination of adventure-based learning, academics, therapy and community involvement.
Starting next fall, Burnaby Grade 10 to 12 students who have struggled to find success in regular classroom settings will get a chance to learn in the great outdoors, during multi-day expeditions that could include hiking the West Coast Trail or kayaking off the northern tip of Vancouver Island.
“Its potential is huge,” assistant superintendent Roberto Bombelli said of the new program. “Basically, the way we look at it is that it’s another option for our students.”
The program will start in September at the Canada Way Learning Centre with 20 spots.
Students will tackle between two to four multi-day expeditions a year.
Back at the learning centre, a typical week will see them engaged in one day of adventure learning, a half-day of community volunteer work and the rest of the week in a classroom.
The program will also feature group and individual therapy facilitated by a full-time therapist provided by Take a Hike.
The organization also pays for the adventure-based learning activities, and CEO Matthew Coyne estimates his organization will spend between $100,000 and $120,000 annually on the program.
“We do it because we believe that not all students can learn in the conventional way,” he said. “We believe that the program we offer truly makes a difference.”
The school district, meanwhile, will provide the classroom space, a teacher, a family youth worker and an adventure-based learning specialist – a job description that’s new to the district
The half-time CUPE employee (the position was posted last month) will be responsible for getting kids up to speed on the outdoorsy skills they’ll need for their expeditions.
“They come with an awful lot of experience and certification in outdoor education,” Bombelli said. “They’ll be responsible for ensuring that all the equipment is in place, all the training on the equipment.”
Students have already taken a strong interest in the new program, according to Bombelli.
Intake will be ongoing, he said, and students can apply through their school counsellors.
In the meantime, parents who think the program could be a good fit for their kids can contact district manager of youth services Sue Dorey over the summer at 604-296-6900, [email protected].
