Water-Themed Adventure II Report
August 1 - 5, 2022
The Water-Themed Adventure is a getaway to explore popular water sports in Canada. Ranging from rivers to lakes to the sea, this adventure provides a rich learning environment that nurtures kids’ bodies and spirits.
Download the report here
Good evening dear parents,
Kicking off this water week, I will be sharing a little bit of what we did on each day.
Today our young adventurers enjoyed a great day of Kayaking around Deep Cove through the Indian Arm, traditionally known as səl̓ ilw̓ ət (Sleilwaut) home of the səlil̓ ilw̓ ətaʔɬ ((Tsleil-Waututh) nation, or The People of the Inlet as their traditional name translates to english. During the tour, we learn about the inlet itself, how it was formed and how important its biodiversity is for us and for the peoples that have been living there for thousands of years.
Speaking about wildlife, our group was greeted by a family of Harbour Seals that was enjoying the sun on the rocks and a few curious seals swimming around us.
We all had a great time on our double-kayaks learning different types of stroke, how to use the rudders and form rafts with all the kayaks together. Some of us used our last bits of energy to paddle back to the shore at the end. Great job you all!
Before the end of the day, we establish our social contract for this week. It is a group of 3 simple rules to set the expectations for the week and to ensure everyone is having a great time. Try asking your kids about it during breakfast to see how engaged they were during this part of the day.
That’s all I have for today’s report. Looking forward to meeting this great group again tomorrow for more activities.
Have you all a great evening.
Sincerely,
Spyros Bormann
Program Supervisor
Good evening friends,
Another successful day on the water.
The cloudy skies in the morning moved out revealing a nice and warm weather above Alice Lake in Squamish. The water temperature was very pleasant and our paddlers enjoyed a very fun paddleboard session.
After a quick introduction on paddle strokes and stance on the board, we all jumped in to try these newly acquired skills. Sitting, kneeling or standing, everyone could roam around the lake and jump on the water as much as they wanted for a quick cooldown. We all tied our boards on a floating dock for lunch and a good amount of laughs.
Have you all a wonderful evening.
Sincerely,
Spyros Bormann
Program Supervisor
Hello again.
Today we ventured again through the Sleilwaut inlet. This time paddling a traditional Tsleil-Waututh canoe. Our group was guided by Seth George, member of the Tsleil-Waututh nation and direct descendant of the famous Chief Dan George. Seth shared with us songs, customs and stories from when the Tsleil-Waututh people travelled the area on the red-cedar canoes similar to the one we were paddling today.
Everyone listened very attentively, asked a lot of questions and paddled hard to move the boat around. The weather was quite gentle with a slight breeze and partly cloudy skies, but still warm enough for a perfect day on the water.
May you have a great evening and see you all tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Spyros Bormann
Program Supervisor
Greetings!
Big day for our water adventurers.
Rafting through the Cheakamus was a blast!
The early start was worth the effort. We arrived at the Squamish Rafting Company headquarters with enough time to get our paddling and safety gear and we headed up the river where the rafts were waiting for us.
The participants had the opportunity to decide if they wanted to paddle or just enjoy the ride and we sorted the groups among the rafts. Floating down the river, feeling all its power, waves and turns, we faced the splashes and the light rain bravely until we reached a rocky island. The weather gave us a break right by the time lunch was served and we all could feast on healthy snacks and hot chocolate.
Back on the boats, our tour came to an end on a nice and calm river bay.
May you have a great evening and see you all tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Spyros Bormann
Program Supervisor
Good evening friends!
The week comes to an end and so our water adventure.
Mixing a little bit of everything we learned this week, our little adventurers built some rafts from scratch, with bamboo and blue barrels and we navigated with it in the ocean! How cool is that?
It was the living proof that teamwork and focus can do wonders! All the participants deserve congratulations on their hard work today and during the whole week. We are all happy we could share our time with these amazing kids.
Thank you parents for your trust in our program and for the opportunity to present our work. Hope we could meet again in future programs and new adventures.
Sincerely,
Spyros Bormann
Program Supervisor