GRADE 7
ELKFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
It used to be (before 1992) that the Grade 7 class would pay $3 000.00, jump on a bus, leave the Rocky Mountains and spend the better part of a week in the Purcell Mountains. There they would stay in cabins, eat in a dining hall, be able to shower and use flush toilets. Things changed! As of 1992-1993, the class jumps on a bus, gets driven 30 kms north of Elkford (deeper into the heart of the Canadian Rockies), puts on their backpacks, hikes for 4-5 hours, sets up camp, make dinners, relaxes then goes to bed. While on the trip they learn things like wilderness fire building, edible and medicinal plants, campfire skills, wilderness first aid, orienteering, wilderness shelter building and about the wild animals that are around the camp (especially grizzly bears and black bears).
It is completely organized by the classroom teacher. In class the students learn how to pack backpacks, make menus, itemize and shop for the class, seam seal tents, adjust packs to student size, put up, take down and store the tents, how to stuff sleeping bags, how to keep warm, among other things. Students have to research and write reports on various skills and equipment for the trip.
The class has always fundraised to go on these trips. Money has been raised to purchase the backpacks, tents, foamies, cooking sets, saws, whistles, sleeping bags and the food. All of the basic equipment has been purchased so only enough money to cover the food needs to be raised each year.
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or
Grade 7 Outdoor Ed
Box 39
Elkford, B.C.
V0B 1H0