Run WYLD
Donation protected
The Run WYLD Project
As the Program Manager at Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre, I see the direct impact adventure and outdoor education has on youth. And yet, for those living in remote isolated communities access to these programs isn’t always easy or feasible.
The aim of the Run WYLD project is to fund 5 spots for youth from the Vancouver Island West School District to attend Strathcona Park Lodge’s summer Wilderness Youth Leadership Development camps.
In the spirit of adventure, on June 5th I will run my first marathon (42.2km) to raise money for these 5 wonderful youth to attend camp this summer.
Strathcona Park Lodge will subsidize the total cost of these 5 spots by 15%. The goal of $6000 will cover the remainder.
What is WYLD
Wilderness Youth Leadership Development expeditions are 8-12 day long summer camps for teens, ages 12-17. They are all out-trip based and take campers into the wilderness playground that is Strathcona Provincial Park. Along the way, they will canoe, hike, camp beneath the stars, learn skills to navigate the backcountry, make new friendships, and create lasting connections.
These expeditions touch on the value of “the journey,” the importance of shared experience, and the freedom of living from what you (and your group) can carry. Through these authentic experiences groups learn to trust, to embrace adventure and uncertainty, and find joy in both times of struggle and triumph.
The hope is that WYLD participants will return home with the awareness that they are both capable and resilient. That they feel driven to acquire new skills, gain an appreciation for the natural world, and go after what they believe in. That by experiencing the wonder and freedom of the wild woods, they leave with a renewed sense of self.
The Ripple Effect of Camp
For teens, summer is a time of new adventure, freedom, and possibility. It is during these years that we develop a sense of identity, and our experiences during the summer months are fundamental to this exploration.
Between social expectations, school, and finding a way in the world, navigating life as a teenager poses it’s challenges. And yet, camp allows us to break away from our daily lives and everything that comes along with that. It offers the opportunity to see ourselves and the world around us with a fresh set of eyes, to pause, live in the moment, have fun, and create lifelong friends.
A place to be yourself leads to a blossoming sense of confidence. New opportunities unlock newfound accomplishment. And taking on challenges and overcoming fears opens us to an eagerness to take on the world. These are our mountain top moments – they cultivate the feeling of being closer to oneself, while connecting with something bigger.
Camp doesn’t just answer the question “who am I?” but gives us the autonomy to decide who we want to be.
Vancouver Island West School District
Made up of 5 schools in the communities of Gold River, Kyuquot, Tahsis, and Zeballos.
-Ray Watkins Elementary School
-Gold River Secondary School
-Kyuquot Elementary Secondary School
-Captain Meares Elementary Secondary School
-Zeballos Elementary Secondary School
----
1 student from each community will be selected by school staff and community members to attend a WYLD program based on the following criteria:
-a youth who might not otherwise be able to access these programs.
-a youth who could benefit from an outdoor leadership experience.
-a youth who could gain a positive experience from meeting new people and broadening their horizons.
The schools will also build in their own criteria in order to make it community specific. Youth do not need to demonstrate a distinct ability or characteristic, therefore honouring the unique capabilities of all youth.
Why I Chose to Run
Running brings me to a place of freedom, a place where I am able to navigate my thoughts with more ease, a place where I feel more in tune with myself. Running not only takes me out into the natural world it also allows me the space to step outside myself and gain clarity.
Running 42.2km will be a new and challenging experience. With that in mind I will take the spirit of WYLD with me. I will value the journey, embrace the adventure and take joy in both the struggle and the achievement.
Run Information:
When: June 5, 2021
Where: From Lower Myra Falls to Strathcona Park Lodge.
Distance: 42.2km
Proceeds
100% of the money raised will go towards youth from the Vancouver Island West School District to access a WYLD program in 2021.
Funds will be managed by Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre.
Transportation costs provided by Nootka Sound Outdoor Program.
How to support
-Monetary donations
-Kind words & encouragement
-Sharing the Run WYLD project
Thank you for all the support - It will mean a lot to some very deserving youth!
-Sophie O'Brien
As the Program Manager at Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre, I see the direct impact adventure and outdoor education has on youth. And yet, for those living in remote isolated communities access to these programs isn’t always easy or feasible.
The aim of the Run WYLD project is to fund 5 spots for youth from the Vancouver Island West School District to attend Strathcona Park Lodge’s summer Wilderness Youth Leadership Development camps.
In the spirit of adventure, on June 5th I will run my first marathon (42.2km) to raise money for these 5 wonderful youth to attend camp this summer.
Strathcona Park Lodge will subsidize the total cost of these 5 spots by 15%. The goal of $6000 will cover the remainder.
What is WYLD
Wilderness Youth Leadership Development expeditions are 8-12 day long summer camps for teens, ages 12-17. They are all out-trip based and take campers into the wilderness playground that is Strathcona Provincial Park. Along the way, they will canoe, hike, camp beneath the stars, learn skills to navigate the backcountry, make new friendships, and create lasting connections.
These expeditions touch on the value of “the journey,” the importance of shared experience, and the freedom of living from what you (and your group) can carry. Through these authentic experiences groups learn to trust, to embrace adventure and uncertainty, and find joy in both times of struggle and triumph.
The hope is that WYLD participants will return home with the awareness that they are both capable and resilient. That they feel driven to acquire new skills, gain an appreciation for the natural world, and go after what they believe in. That by experiencing the wonder and freedom of the wild woods, they leave with a renewed sense of self.
The Ripple Effect of Camp
For teens, summer is a time of new adventure, freedom, and possibility. It is during these years that we develop a sense of identity, and our experiences during the summer months are fundamental to this exploration.
Between social expectations, school, and finding a way in the world, navigating life as a teenager poses it’s challenges. And yet, camp allows us to break away from our daily lives and everything that comes along with that. It offers the opportunity to see ourselves and the world around us with a fresh set of eyes, to pause, live in the moment, have fun, and create lifelong friends.
A place to be yourself leads to a blossoming sense of confidence. New opportunities unlock newfound accomplishment. And taking on challenges and overcoming fears opens us to an eagerness to take on the world. These are our mountain top moments – they cultivate the feeling of being closer to oneself, while connecting with something bigger.
Camp doesn’t just answer the question “who am I?” but gives us the autonomy to decide who we want to be.
Vancouver Island West School District
Made up of 5 schools in the communities of Gold River, Kyuquot, Tahsis, and Zeballos.
-Ray Watkins Elementary School
-Gold River Secondary School
-Kyuquot Elementary Secondary School
-Captain Meares Elementary Secondary School
-Zeballos Elementary Secondary School
----
1 student from each community will be selected by school staff and community members to attend a WYLD program based on the following criteria:
-a youth who might not otherwise be able to access these programs.
-a youth who could benefit from an outdoor leadership experience.
-a youth who could gain a positive experience from meeting new people and broadening their horizons.
The schools will also build in their own criteria in order to make it community specific. Youth do not need to demonstrate a distinct ability or characteristic, therefore honouring the unique capabilities of all youth.
Why I Chose to Run
Running brings me to a place of freedom, a place where I am able to navigate my thoughts with more ease, a place where I feel more in tune with myself. Running not only takes me out into the natural world it also allows me the space to step outside myself and gain clarity.
Running 42.2km will be a new and challenging experience. With that in mind I will take the spirit of WYLD with me. I will value the journey, embrace the adventure and take joy in both the struggle and the achievement.
Run Information:
When: June 5, 2021
Where: From Lower Myra Falls to Strathcona Park Lodge.
Distance: 42.2km
Proceeds
100% of the money raised will go towards youth from the Vancouver Island West School District to access a WYLD program in 2021.
Funds will be managed by Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre.
Transportation costs provided by Nootka Sound Outdoor Program.
How to support
-Monetary donations
-Kind words & encouragement
-Sharing the Run WYLD project
Thank you for all the support - It will mean a lot to some very deserving youth!
-Sophie O'Brien
Organiser and beneficiary
Sophie O'Brien
Organiser
Campbell River, BC
Strathcona Park Lodge WYLD Camps
Beneficiary
