Pitt River middle school students learned some lessons about orienteering, leadership and how not to tip a canoe from teens not much older than themselves.
The result was a Grade A for Gleneagle secondary school's COAST program. COAST stands for Coquitlam Outdoor Academic School Term.
For the past week, Grade 10 students from the decade-old outdoor education program have been educating their younger counterparts about safety in the wild.
Kids bused to Buntzen Lake by COAST teacher Adam Hayes got to explore the beach and nearby forest, learn how to use a map, play leadership games and paddle out onto the lake safely under the guidance of the older students.
"It was really fun for everyone; they showed us how it was done and then (we got to) try it ourselves," said Cain Beebe, a Grade 7 student who was one of about 60 students who participated in the program last Wednesday.
The students spent the morning at the lake and got to have hot dogs prepared by the older teens in the afternoon.
"I learned canoeing isn't easy," admitted Rilley Gelinas, also in Grade 7 at Pitt River middle in Port Coquitlam. Gelinas said it was hard to stop the canoe from tipping at first, but then, the students figured it out although a few running shoes got soaked in the process.
"Everyone was helping out each other. It was a great day," said Grade 7 student Meghan Houliahan.
COAST teacher Krista Bogen said the student mentorship program is a key part of the curriculum that teaches the students to be independent, mature and care about the environment.
Approximately 24 students are in the program that gives them credit for English 10, Social Studies 10, Planning 10 online, Leadership 11 and PE 10 and 11. The teachers integrate these subjects through project-based learning and field trips to the Stein Valley, Manning Park, kayaking and other outdoor activities.
The students recently returned from an 11-day canoeing trip across the Bowron lakes.
"It teaches them maturity is really what it does," Bogen said.
Several COAST students The News talked to said they enjoyed teaching the Pitt River middle school kids and found they learned a lot themselves about leadership and outdoor skills.
One student even said it changed his life.
Mitch Howey said he is now a very enthusiastic outdoorsman, who loves canoeing and camping.
As the kids packed up for the day, a few took a canoe out for one last ride. Howey, Hannah Tvergyak and Aarman Bondar donned life jackets and pushed the watercraft onto the still waters of Buntzen Lake.
And then, like real pros they hopped in, and not a single running shoe got soaked.
