Cathy Jenkins has several generations of experience at The Cheakamus Centre.
The current project manager was a former student and runs into past grads all the time.
“I think if you’re from North Van it was a rite of passage,” she says. “We all grew up thinking every kid went to an outdoor school.”
The 48th annual Open House celebrating environmental education is taking place on May 7. A cabin enhancement development campaign and major carving project will be launched the same day.
“We invite the community to enjoy the property,” Jenkins says, and is looking forward to seeing new faces on the 420 acres.
Having three generations move through the school, the Jenkins family was the first donor to the enhancement program.
Enhancements are necessary to make the cabins more energy efficient, she says. And the experience in field school is important, she says.
“Everything is immersive,” she explains of the curriculum-based programming which reinforces the environmental message. The idea is to make a personal connection with nature so “as you grow up you care about the environment in your conservation habits,” Jenkins says.
The event expects to see around 2,000 people attend from the Sea to Sky Corridor to the Lower Mainland. Activities include releasing fry from the salmon hatchery, fun outdoor games, gardens, river floats and crafts.
The farm “is a super bustling place,” Jenkins says, where kids can wander in and feed the goats, pigs or baby chicks. Families are welcome to bring their own picnic, though Jenkins encourages bringing personal bottles for water.
Interactive team-building activities like cedar bark weeding, drumming and singing will be spread along the walk from the longhouse.
Everything is free with opportunities for donations with parking, concession or river floats. Proceeds are donated to the alumni society, made up of past students who volunteer their time to help and fundraise for the learning centre.
The Squamish Arts Council provided a grant to create a pole for the south entrance that recognizes reconciliation and Canada’s 150 anniverary, while connecting Squamish Nation families that have been sharing cultural practices with students for almost 50 years.
Artist Xwalactun (Rick Harry) will carve live on May 7 at the centre of the property. He designed and helped build the longhouse in 1983 and “loves going back there.”
Adults still approach him with memories of their experience.
“Anything to touch their heart,” he explains with a chuckle, adding it gives them a tool to share their story when they are grandparents.He teaches in seven school districts, incorporating drumming, singing, humour and directive storytelling.
Still in preliminary stages, the 12-foot-tall, two-foot-wide yellow cedar post features a wolf, two salmon, the Coast Salish eye, an eagle and a house person, and is topped with a butterfly whose wings are spread for future additions.
“Every time someone sees it, the story comes to life,” he explains, opening further dialogue. Xwalactun is honoured to be a part of the community connection saying, “It brings me home.”
