GUELPH – Could you survive a day in the wilderness?
Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (GCVI) students in the Specialist High Skills Major program learned new survival skills and then put them to the test with a variety of outdoor activities that highlighted the importance of nature, land acknowledgement, and wilderness survival.
On Oct. 14, these students attended the Barber Scout Camp in Collaboration with the Community Environment Leadership Program (CELP).
By the end of the program the students were presented with a Wilderness Survival Certification.
Guelph Outdoor School (GOS) director Chris Green taught the students how to make fire by bow sawing, and GOS staff member Miki Tamblyn taught plant identification.
Students each put their sweat into handling the bow saw to make fire. Like a puzzle, they figured out how to fit each of the pieces of the wooden technology together, and each of their purposes.
A discussion about cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation was held, as students were humbled by being reminded of where the technology comes from and thinking about who teaches it.
One activity, led by Tamblyn, took place in a heavily forested environment and involved “The Art of Questioning” in which students in groups of three practiced being a witness, a questioner, and a leader as they each rotated titles to analyze how each role plays a part in evaluating leadership.
Tamblyn called this game the “Canada Goose Game” serving as an analogy for Canadian geese; as the birds interchange leadership roles when flying in their distinguished v-format migratory pattern.
Being in nature often leads to enhanced mental health and a deeper connection to the world around us.
This combination of leadership development and outdoor immersion emitted a heartfelt impact on students’ wellbeing. While some students became emotionally vulnerable, others were quick to treat them with kindness, support, and provide comfort for them.
Led by Green and Tamblyn, the students attending the Community Environmental Leadership Program gained a unique and holistic education approach that goes beyond the classroom.
They are learning the skills and values that will serve them well in the future, while also developing a deep appreciation for the natural world.
