The North Vancouver Outdoor School's (NVOS) Open House is a deep-rooted tradition stretching back to when it was established in 1969. Each year the school opens its doors to the 樱桃视频community for a day of discovery and firsthand experiences of its many innovative learning programs, and this year the Open House is set to take place on Sunday, May 1.
Initially promoted as a day solely for parents with children who were going to attend NVOS to give them a glimpse of the school and to ease anxieties, the open house has evolved into a community outreach event, said principal Victor Elderton. It is a way of sharing NVOS not only with the kids who come to the school, but also local residents.
Elderton said one of the aims is to educate people about the school's role in the 樱桃视频community.
"When we were looking at the re-visioning of NVOS... one of the things that came out of the survey was that we don't actively do things with the Squamish, Brackendale, Whistler - the corridor people," he said.
Students from two local schools, Mamquam Elementary and Garibaldi Highlands Elementary, attend programs at NVOS, explained Elderton, but the challenge was to initiate ways in which the school could get more involved with the community. And the open house is one of many strategies being discussed to make the school more accessible, he said.
"We've looked at 樱桃视频as being an 'education destination' in the same way that Whistler is looked at as a 'recreation destination,'" he said.
The goal is to set more general public programming at the school. Elderton described one idea on the table - running educational package tours in collaboration with the West Coast Railway Heritage Park and estuary education groups.
There has been a dramatic shift in the demographics of visitors at the open house in recent years, according to Elderton. "I would say when I started 27 years ago, it was maybe two-thirds [visitors] from North Vancouver and one-third locally," he said. "Now it is at least one-half locals, which is great."
Recreation leader Joan Fawcett, who has been involved with the open house for 17 years, said she loves the event as "it's a time to share NVOS with the rest of the community."
Fawcett explained that the farm, forest lab and salmon hatchery will be open to the public and people can experience the sensation of stepping back in time at the Salish Bighouse. Visitors will be encouraged to try their hand at bannock making, cedar bark weaving and paper making. Canoeing and archery activities will also take place, allowing people to experience a day in the life of the school. Food stalls will be on the grounds, a barbecue will be held or people can bring a picnic.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to view the building site of the North Shore Credit Union Environmental Learning Centre. Elderton said the new structure will help facilitate the event next year, providing a large, covered area and easy accessibility to visitors. He also hopes to offer sustainable building tours of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum building.
When asked about his favourite component of the open house, Elderton replied, "For me, it's the volunteer and staff involvement - we'll have about 100 people helping out, running stations and co-ordinating activities," he said. "We really depend on our volunteers and the highlight for me is re-connecting with our wonderful volunteers that make it all possible."
Alexandra Kortchevich, volunteer and NVOS alumnus sums up why she loves being a part of the open house. "It's teaching people about nature. It's good to reiterate to the parents so they get a feel for what it's like to be up here."
It's also a day to raise money for disadvantaged kids, said Elderton. Money from a silent auction helps support a program run by the North Vancouver Outdoor School Alumni Society.
The Outdoor School for Kids Bursary Fund ensures that no child is denied access to NVOS for financial reasons. In the past five years more than $100,000 has been raised for the fund.
Vice-president Brendan Brooks gave his take on the open house. "Every year it's a mad scramble right at the last minute, but we always seem to pull it off," he said with a smile. "This year is looking to be a good one. I'm excited."
This free community event will be held at NVOS on Sunday, May 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 2170 Paradise Valley Rd. For more information contact the school at (604) 898-5422.
