Activities
Be our guests
Well maintained, high-quality gear; attentive staff; delicious food; your perfect, memory-making hike – our staff are committed to making the most of your group's time in the forest. Getting away is an investment. Let us help you design a pinnacle experience, whether you’re bringing a class of 30, a wedding of 150 or a group retreat.
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The Powell Lake Outdoor Learning Centre prides itself on providing the highest caliber of instruction and group processing and debriefing in all its activities.
As with all of our program activity designs, we anchor the activity to a clear objective, consider all the program variables and then build a metaphor around it. Many of our programs use human powered multi-day journeys on water and land for this reason.
Many programs are linked to the BC Education Curriculum. Teachers can select from different areas or concentrate in a specific area. We will tailor-design a program to fit a unit of classroom study or to modify existing programs to emphasize an area of learning that you want to focus on. Students benefit from a low student to instructor ratio (approx. one instructor to twelve students) which allows our instructors to provide them with the special attention they need to excel in outdoor learning. For more details on our Curricular linked programs please see: https://integralearning.org
Activities on site
- Outdoor Leadership and Technical Skills Sessions including trip planning and preparation and other outdoor group living and traveling skills
- Sweat Lodge Teachings and other First Nations Cultural learning programs
- First Nations Canoe Programs
- Tree Climbing
- Rock Climbing Wall
- Mountain Biking trails
- Immediate access to several Hiking trails
- Big Canoe and Tandem Canoeing (single or multi-day journeys), Paddle Canada Certification
- Sailing
- Rowing
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Paddle Canada Certification
- Aquatics area and beach
- Orienteering Course
- Group Challenge / Low Ropes Course
- Field Sports and Games
- Star Gazing and night sky lecture
- Wilderness Technology and Survival Skills
- Disc Golf
- Nature Arts & Crafts
Outdoor Education Programs
Extra-Curricular and Curricular Programs for Grades K-12
At the Outdoor Learning Centre, we know that inspired learning comes has to come from inspired teaching.
In order to make this happen we offer participants engaging, educational programs which feature hands-on activities, drama, storytelling and active games. Our educators, many of whom are teacher-trained, share a lifetime commitment to excellence in education in the outdoors. They combine a wide range of knowledge and experience in natural & environmental science, Canadian history, outdoor living skills, and adventure learning. They are continually upgrading their skills by attending workshops, conferences and courses.
We can offer programs in the following Subject Areas
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Arts
- Canadian History & Social Studies
- Adventure & Leadership
- Health & Physical Education
Program are linked to the prescribed learning outcomes in the BC Curriculum . Teachers can select programs from different areas or concentrate in a specific area. We will tailor-design a program to fit a unit of classroom study or to modify existing programs to emphasize an area of learning that you want to focus on. Students benefit from a low student to instructor ratio (approx. one instructor to twelve students) which allows our instructors to provide them with the special attention they need to excel in outdoor learning.
Where is this magical place?
The Powell Lake Outdoor Learning Centre is located overseas on the Upper Sunshine Coast, a 15-minute drive from downtown Powell River. From Vancouver, it’s a pleasurable (we promise) two-ferry, five-hour commute by vehicle, or a 20-minute flight from YVR. From Vancouver Island, it’s across the Salish Sea from Comox.
Off Site Activities
Rock Climbing
at the Eldered Valley and other locations
Mountain Biking
at places like Duck Lake Trails, Inland Lake or Mt. Mahoney
Powell Forest Canoe Route
Journeys of varying lengths
Day and multi-day hikes
along the Sunshine Coast Trail
Expeditions to Alpine Huts
accessible by water from the Centre
Ocean Kayaking
Single and multi-day journeys, Paddle Canada Certification
Interpretive Boat tours
in Desolation Sound and Mittlenatch Island
Fishing charters
on the Salish Sea
Duke of Edinburgh Award Program Support
Free Time
Built into each day, of a custom OLC program free time is a structured way for students to pursue activities that they may wish to have more experience with.
Debrief
At the end of your stay, each group’s instructors will debrief the experience with your students. The purpose is to encourage reflection of what was learnt and accomplished in each activity area.
Teacher Debrief
Communication with your school teaching staff is an integral part of shaping your experiential learning experience. At periodic intervals throughout the experience and on the final day, our Director will meet with your staff to debrief the program.
“The students absolutely loved it.”