This newsletter is intended to provide information to the parents of students who have opted to take the Wilderness Trail Blazers (WTB) program next semester.

The program offers students an unique opportunity to enhance their academic learning by moving beyond the traditional classroom and incorporating outdoor environmental and experiential learning into the curriculum. Students are provided with opportunities to explore and understand our dynamic world by experiencing it, first hand. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of outdoor activities and environmental issues, which will allow them to develop their own personalities and skills.

Overview of the Wilderness Trail Blazers program:

The Wilderness Trail Blazers (WTB) offers students in grade 11 and 12, the opportunity to earn two
credits in Environmental Resource Management (CGR4M) and Interdisciplinary Studies (IDP3O). These courses focus on environmental science and studies. The students will learn through these courses an in-depth knowledge of the environment.

The WTB blends traditional academic studies with practical outdoor skills that allows students to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the environment. The students will stay together for half the day with one teacher. Classes are not limited to the school property, as most high school classes are, and we will exploring different means of learning from our local community.

The WTB program will be using a variety of unique opportunities for the students to enhance their
environmental awareness and experiences. The outdoor trips will include a winter camping to Blue Springs Scout Camp near Guelph, Ontario in March, a hiking trip on the Bruce Trail in April and a canoe trip on the Grand River in June. Students will also have the chance to participate in workshops, volunteer at restoration and naturalization projects in the community, elementary teaching days, and workdays at Taquanyah Nature Centre.

A students’ sense of responsibility, not only to themselves but to their classmates, teachers and the environment will be enhanced during this program. The WTB program goal is to inspire students to make personal contributions with respect to the environment, school, local community, country and the world.

 

Attendance:

It is required that students attend ALL classes throughout the semester. Any absences must be discussed with the teacher before hand, if possible. Students or parents/guardians are required to phone the school between 8:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., on the day they are absent, if they have not discussed this previously with the teacher. Unexplained absences will count as a "skipped day" and will result in the loss of future field trip privileges. The Wilderness Trail Blazers attendance policy will be explained in greater detail to the students, once the course begins.

Equipment:

Students are expected to provide their own basic equipment for the majority of the activities they will be
participating in throughout the semester. More complete equipment lists will be provided prior to all overnight field trips. Students should try to acquire some of these items now, to ensure that they are available on short notice during the course. It is strongly recommended that each student have access to the following items:

- a backpack (size: 65 Litres and 90 Litres) and day pack (size: 35 Litres to 55Litres)

- warm winter boots, coat, toque, mitts, gloves, vest, gloves, etc.

- a warm sleeping bag (rating: approximately -10 C) and fleece or warm blanket

- hiking boots or running shoes (These will get dirty!!!)

- wet weather gear (rain jacket and pants) - just in case!

- a 500 mL or 1 L water bottle (a nalgene bottle or any type of water bottle)

- tent (2-4 person tent, these can be borrowed)

- a hard covered journal for the students’ daily journal writing assignments

Medical Information:

Students should be in good physical condition and the teacher MUST be made aware of any medical
conditions that might interfere with the students’ physical performance in this program. If your son/daughter has any allergies to food (i.e. peanuts) or to insects stings (i.e. bee stings), please ensure that the school and the WTB teacher are made aware of this, the severity of the allergy and if your child carries with them an allergy kit, as prescribed by their doctor. If there are any medical conditions that you would like to discuss in person, please contact Mr. M. McCormack

Activity Fee:

The overall cost of the program is $300.00 per student. Students are expected to pay this fee in full by the end of April 2009. We will be fundraising for the course throughout the year, using various methods. Students are encouraged to pay the course fee as soon as possible. This money will be used to pay for transportation, food, equipment rentals, instructor and guest speaker fees. If you have any questions concerning the program,

Please call Mr. M. McCormack at the school at (905)774-7401, or email at mark.mccormack@granderie.ca

 

Thank You, Mark McCormack, Wilderness Trail Blazers teacher