The GO! Program has had an exciting winter season, filled with lots of time outdoors exploring new activities and places within Vancouver and the surrounding area.
Back in December, before the break, the GO students completed their Avalanche Safety Training course while backcountry snowshoeing at Mount Seymour with Canada West Mountain School. The day was absolutely perfect, as students got to implement their new skills learned in a snowstorm while on the mountain. Talk about hands-on learning!
These past few months, the students and Ms. Brennan have been trying new winter sports, exposing themselves to different ways to stay active and appreciate the outdoors. In January, the class went cross-country skiing at Cypress Mountain, where students had the opportunity to try skate skiing with Ms. Atkinson or classic with Ms. Brennan. It was a beautiful day “above the clouds” and we got some amazing shots of the students. It was lovely to see them outside and enjoying winter, and all the fun that comes along with it!
February has been another busy month, starting off with an afternoon of bouldering at The Hive. Students learned new climbing skills and techniques, pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones to take risks and challenge themselves. These new skills will be extremely helpful for when the program goes outdoor climbing in the spring.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The GO! Program also got out for an afternoon of skating at Kerrisdale arena and snowboarding at Grouse Mountain. Thank you to Ms. Louis and Ms. David, who joined the group on these excursions. Everyone’s balance drastically improved during these two activities and the excitement was real as new skills were developed!
Finally, the GO! Program has been learning about nutrition and the importance of fueling their bodies with nutrient-rich food while out in the wilderness. Andrea McDonald, a YHS alumna and nutritionist, gave a very informative presentation to the class, passing on valuable and relatable information. The students have implemented this new knowledge by creating trip meal plans and preparing a class brunch together, testing out recipes that can be prepared while out on a trip.
Coming up after the break, the group looks forward to more adventurous days in the outdoors, including hiking the Stawamus Chief, outdoor climbing in Squamish, and canyoning in Mission. The GO! Program will also be embarking on their next multi-day trip to Tofino at the end of May, and students are thrilled for the return of overnight excursions!
Katrina Brennan
Outdoor Education Coordinator
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
