“I never anticipated having as much fun as I did,” says Maya, a student from Revelstoke, reflecting on a two-week journey along the Columbia River. “It was hard, but the support I gained from my peers really helped me through it.”
Maya was one of 16 teens who joined this summer’s Columbia River Field School, a 15-day journey of paddling, camping and discovery. Students returned home with minds full of knowledge, pockets full of memories and hearts full with a deeper understanding of the river that ties our communities together.
Every summer, Wildsight invites students to explore the ecology, history, politics and future of this watershed. Along the way, participants meet community leaders, knowledge holders and experts who bring the river’s stories to life.
Students felt the hot summer sun on their necks and the soft marshy ground underfoot as they explored the winding shallows of the river system. They donned hard hats and entered the vast concrete belly of an operational hydro dam. They discovered aching muscles as they learned to paddle long hours. They learned the value of teamwork as they cooked, cleaned, set up and took down camp through their travels. Along the way, they found connection and wisdom with their peers.
For Raya, a student from Nelson, the experience opened her eyes as to how special the Columbia Basin is and why it’s worth protecting: “I learned about the biodiversity and ecosystems along the Columbia River. It’s important to know about the area that you live in.”
For Maya, the takeaway was self-discovery and a deeper desire to understand the world around her: “What I learned through two weeks on the Columbia River Field School was that there’s such a big world to explore, and if you just take the time and spend some time with yourself, you really can see that it’s so amazing, despite everything that’s going on in the world. It was really special.”
Monica Nissen, Wildsight Education Director, says while the annual field school is always a highlight in her year, this year’s cohort in particular made the program a standout experience.
“It was a really supportive group with diverse students from different backgrounds and skills. But the way the group worked together this year was phenomenal,” says Monica. “Everyone came away with a really rich place-based experience that will shape them and their perspectives and outlook into the future.”
