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Comox Valley and Qualicum School Districts sign historic Park Use Permit!

Permit to continue operating an outdoor education centre in Tribune Bay Provincial Park

School District 69 (Qualicum) and School District 71 (Comox Valley) under the leadership of Mr. Gord Campbell have negotiated a new 10 year Park Use Permit to continue operating an outdoor education centre in Tribune Bay Provincial Park. The School Districts wish to also acknowledge the local First Nations, whose traditional lands the centre is situated on. This agreement paves the way for the partner school districts to continue to work with the Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Society, who maintain the Centre and create and operate programs. It expands the Centre’s mandate from introductory grass roots outdoor living experiences for elementary and secondary students to certification and credit academies for secondary students and to adult, family and senior group programming from every sector.

 

The partnership between the two school districts is a strong one and the support for the outdoor centre impressive. Each school district has guaranteed capital investment funds over the next two years so that the Executive Director may proceed with facility improvements that allow year round use and will attract more users at every age group. The Tribune Bay Outdoor Centre will soon be seen as a world class outdoor facility and destination in every way. Some know it as a “jewel of the Pacific” already.

 

The Executive Director is supported by educational leaders from each school district and this team is active in putting together new initiatives and programs. In addition to the historically offered team-building and experiential programs the Centre presently offers, the Centre has started offering short term academies (a recent example is the Ground Search and Rescue Academy), offering life changing experiences for interested and motivated students. The skills they learn position these students for both work place and community volunteer opportunities. More academies are being considered and a new post-secondary partner, Thompson Rivers University (TRU), is working with the District and the Centre on accredited programs and new initiatives.

 

On the drawing board:

•  a series of specific dual credit certification courses for secondary students - Outdoor Travel Skills, Backpacking, Introduction to Paddle Sports, Canoe Skills, Kayak Touring, Introduction to Sea Kayaking, Whitewater Kayak Skills, Rock Climbing Skills, Avalanche Skills Training, Ski Touring Skills; from the TRU undergraduate degree in Outdoor Adventure and Adventure Tourism Program.

• a teacher training program that qualifies them to the highest risk management standard in leading outdoor excursions/activities and;

 

Finally, the significant achievement of adding adult, senior and family programs to the Centre’s repertoire will bring a new and enriched revenue stream to the Centre and this will result in capital assets improving, the development of a dedicated and year round staff team, and program offerings that broaden and deepen the outdoor experience.

 

This is an exciting and momentous time in the history of the Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre. If you would care to become a society member please email the chairperson, Rob Moore – rmoore2@shaw.ca .