For the fifth straight year, Capilano University students from the Destination Resort Management program hit the trails on April 6 and worked alongside District of Squamish trails co-ordinator Todd Pope and other Squamish Trail Society members to help improve the state of local trails.
Pope said he appreciated the hard work and dedication of the 12 students.
"It's a really great partnership," he said. "And I really think we did great for a few hours of work. We cleared some of the Ray Peters Trail and also re-installed five new signs along it."
He explained that a typical day involves a little bit of everything for the students.
"The students usually come out and we do a little talk with them about trail maintenance," he said. "Then they got in and get to use some of our equipment like leaf blowers and become familiar with other trail-building tools to help clear the trail. The students pick projects and I think the students really worked well together. They developed a greater understanding of trail maintenance and it's good for them to see the impact they've made in a short time."
Catherine Boniface, an instructor in the program who participated in the trail work with her students, said the trail work is a valuable lesson for her students.
"They definitely get a feeling of being more connected to the community," she said of the trail work. "This partnership gives them an opportunity to contribute something worthwhile and gain some new experience."
She added that the students seemed to have a good time on the trails.
"They really enjoyed it," she said. "I think they really felt a sense of accomplishment after we were done because you can literally see the work you've completed."
Pope said some of the more valuable experience the students received could have been the knowledge they gained interacting with the four trail society members who were working with them.
"Their work helped save the district over $2,000, but I think they like the experience and the opportunity to interact with some of our trail veterans," he said. "The interaction with myself and the trail society members was great. I absolutely loved it and it's such a fabulous partnership we've developed with Capilano University."
Pope added that in addition to the Destination Resort Management programs, he has also worked with Capilano's mountain biking and wilderness leaderships programs for several years.
For more information on the program, visit www.capilanou.ca/programs/destination.html.
