The numbers of innovative, community and school programs for avalanche awareness is growing. Many programs stem from the structure of an outdoor education component at school and others stem from a grass-roots, community-driven initiative.
Whatever the source, please let us know. We hope that other communities will be energized by these developments and possibly create more, youth oriented, avalanche education programs.
In the spring of 2009, a group of inspired avalanche educators in Nelson, BC formed the "Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries Society" (AABBS). Their mission statement is "to raise awareness and educate youth in decision making regarding backcountry travel and avalanche safety by providing age appropriate courses around in the west Kootenays." This season, thanks to the generosity of many donors, the society provided FREE Canadian Avalanche Centre approved Avalanche Skills Training (AST 1) courses to 30 Nelson and area youth between the ages of 13-18. The society also provided five 1-day Avalanche Awareness courses for approximately 75 youth, aimed to raise awareness and prepare these youth for the AST 1 course.
Fundraising for AABBS will be ongoing into 2010 for the 2011 winter season, starting with the Kootenay Coldsmoke Powderfest March 5-8 and a flower sale followed by the 2nd annual Gear Swap in the fall.
Special thanks to the following businesses for their contributions in making this program a success:
The Nelson Credit Union
Whitewater Ski Resort
Gravity Adventures Shuttle Bus
Kootenay Mountain Culture
A goal for future courses is to have safety packs made available for course participants to use. If you would like to donate items or money towards this end or if you would like to join AABBS or if you would like to get ideas for your own community youth programs, please contact Kirk Jensen at kirk@skiwhitewater.com.
Adventure offers the Snow Smart Education Program (SSEP) which is detailed here under youth programs: http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/community/educators/youth-programs.
AdventureSmart also offers a "Train the Trainer" program for the Snow Smart Education Program as well as their other programs, "Hug a Tree" and "Survive" programs. AdventureSmart Teams have trained SAR volunteers and Scout, Guide, Brownie and Cub leaders in our programs and delivery. These free workshops are hosted by AdventureSmart throughout the province at certain times of the year and upon demand. A minimum of 12 participants is required for each workshop. After attending this full day session, the participants are then certified to deliver the AdventureSmart programs to interested groups in their community. AdventureSmart will only supply the certified presenters with materials/supplies for the three programs: Hug a Tree & Survive Program, Snow Safety Education Program and the Survive Outside Program.
For more information, or if you would like to book a training, please contact Sandra Ferguson at teamcoordinator@adventuresmart.ca.
L.V. Rogers Secondary School in Nelson offers the ATLAS program to help students develop career skills necessary to gain employment in the eco/adventure tourism industry and/or pursue further education through outdoor adventure programs.
ATLAS is a practical, "hands on" course taught in outdoor settings in a variety of seasons. The program introduces students to technical skills and decision making required for safe wilderness travel; provides students an opportunity to develp and practice leadership skills in the outdoor arena; and provide students with basic certification nedded in the field of Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism.
As part of this program, an Avalanche Skills Training level 1 certificate is acquired along with Wilderness and Remote First Aid (Red Cross) and Ground Search and REscue (Justice Institute/Provincial Emergency Program).
For more information contact: Graeme Marshall at gmarshall@sd8.bc.ca.
The Don Ross Outdoor Leadership Program in Squamish is an entire semester that integrates Socials 10, P.E. 10, Planning 10 and Outdoor Leadership credit. The program starts at the end of January with snowshoeing, cross country skiing, winter camping, snow caving, avalanche training, wilderness first aid, team building and winter ecology. The avalanche unit consists of a week of in-class learning and research and one day of practical training, including snowpack analysis and beacon searches in nearby Garibaldi Park.
For more information contact: MHenderson@sd48.bc.ca.
The City of Fernie, Fernie Alpine Resort, and The Canadian Avalanche Centre are pleased to announce a partnership in youth Avalanche Education in the Elk Valley.
Members of the Fernie Ski Patrol Education team will be continuing to travel to local schools in an effort to educate local youth in avalanche safety. On average, the Patrol is able to speak to 1500 youth, parents and community members each year. Their avalanche presentations are designed to be interactive and grade specific. In the fall of 2010 these programs will expand to include all students from K-12, as well as other community user groups. These presentations consist of photos and videos of local avalanche control work, equipment demonstrations, and discussions on risk and decision-making. Although historically the most popular presentation is an Avalanche Awareness presentation, the team of educators is ready to deliver curriculum based and technical snow science classes to all grades.
In addition to in-class programming, the Ski Patrol offers on-hill and practical avalanche awareness sessions and tours. This includes single afternoon sessions, multi day programs or season long courses. Kids and adults alike enjoy this unique and informative opportunity. All presentations are offered free of charge from Fernie Alpine Resort and the Fernie Ski Patrol in partnership with the City of Fernie and the Canadian Avalanche Centre.
For more information and to book a presentation or class, please email Steve Ruskay at education@skifernie.com.
The Whistler Secondary School Outdoor Recreational Leadership Academy is in its twelfth year of operation and focusses on developing senior students' abilities to manage risk, make decisions, and provide outdoor recreational leadership in a semester format program that runs every year at Whistler Secondary. Our classroom is the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, with occasional excursions to the South Chilcotins, the Marble Range, and the Straight of Georgia.
The program focusses on applied outdoor leadership and is broken into winter and summer skills. During the winter skills component, all students complete AST1 training as a part of their skills component. Second-year students also complete AST2, and first-year students with an AST1 component also can choose to upgrade to AST2. In addition, the program offers AST1 programs for youth in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor in conjunction with Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau, and avalanche information activities for the entire secondary school population.
Our AST1and AST2 programs are offered over a longer timeframe to ensure that all students meet the minimum goals of the program; for example, a minimum of four field days are required to complete the AST1 curriculum.
Many of our students go on to post-secondary programs specializing in adventure tourism, recreational management, and guides' programs. We also have a number of alumni who have come back to work with the next generation at our academy.
For more information please contact msulk@sd48.bc.ca.
