Outdoor Education Activities
Sasamat Outdoor Centre offers a full range of outdoor education programs that are carefully designed meet your educational goals, promote environmental stewardship, and help students develop core and sub-core competencies defined in the BC School Curriculum. See all of our available activities below. Not seeing the program you were hoping for? Let us know, and we can work with you to develop a program that meets your expectations.
Tandem Canoe
Working with a partner to paddle and steer a tandem canoe, students will receive instruction on safe boating and basic paddling techniques. Verbal communication and problem solving with others will be emphasized.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Communicating, Collaborating
High Ropes
The ultimate team building activity, students will need to use communication, teamwork, and perseverance to reach the top of one of our high-ropes challenge course elements together as a team.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Communicating, Collaborating, Personal Awareness & Responsibility, Creative Thinking, Social Awareness & Responsibility
Archery
A classic outdoor education activity, students will be given safety and technique instructions on how to use a bow-and-arrow, focusing on muscle coordination and concentration.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Critical & Reflective Thinking
Shelter Building
An excellent team exercise, students will first learn basic knots and the basics of A-Frame shelter structures, and will then work in groups to construct their very own tarp shelter in the forest.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Collaborating, Communicating, Critical & Reflective Thinking, Creative Thinking
Raft Building
Using barrels, planks, and rope, students will be challenged to construct a life-sized raft, which will then be tested in the lake by Outdoor Education Instructors.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Collaborating, Creative Thinking, Critical and Reflective Thinking
Swimming
Jump in and enjoy the fresh water of Sasamat Lake at our private beach and dock area which features an enclosed swim area. Certified lifeguards will supervise, and all levels of swimming ability are welcome. PFDs are available, and are mandatory for non-swimmers.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Personal Awareness & Responsibility
Voyageur Canoe
In groups of 8-12, students will practice their communication and teamwork to paddle a 29-foot Voyageur canoe.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Communicating, Collaborating
Low Ropes
A series of obstacles, elements, and physical activities that the instructor guides a group through, focusing on group development, overcoming obstacles, problem solving, and using verbal communication to support peers.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Communicating, Critical & Reflective Thinking, Social Awareness & Responsibility
Wood Chop
After being taught about the different types of local trees, students will learn the mallet-and-wedge method of chopping wood for a fire and have hands-on practice.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Social Awareness & Responsibility
Fire Building
Geared towards older students, this program will introduce students to basic fire-building methods and techniques. Students will then work in groups to build their own miniature fire.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Critical & Reflective Thinking, Social Awareness & Responsibility, Communicating, Collaborating
Arts and Crafts
Choose from a variety of nature-inspired arts and crafts that will stretch creativity. Often our arts and crafts will use a recycled piece of the forest as one of the main craft supplies!
BC Curriculum Competencies: Creative Thinking, Social Awareness and Responsibility
Micro Worlds
Students will tap into their imagination and critical thinking by creating their own Micro World out of supplies they find on the forest floor. Instructors will emphasize taking into consideration everything their world will need to exist: roadways, weather patterns, government structure, and more.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Communicating, Creative Thinking, Critical & Reflective Thinking, Positive Personal & Cultural Identity
Kayak
After receiving instruction and dry land practice on basic paddling techniques, students will be challenged individually to paddle a single-occupancy kayak.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Personal Awareness & Responsibility
Team Building Initiatives
A series of fun challenges and group initiatives that will require students’ creative thinking, problem solving, and collaboration to overcome.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Creative Thinking, Collaborating, Critical & Reflective Thinking, Social Awareness & Responsibility
Outdoor Cook
Students will learn about different methods of building a fire with their instructor, then use the fire to make a delicious snack together.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Social Awareness & Responsibility, Collaboration, Creative Thinking
Hiking
Hiking through beautiful Belcarra Regional Park, students will be shown different highlights of the local eco-system along the way, including water cycles, nurse logs and more.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Social Awareness & Responsibility
Campfire Sing-A-Long
A camp classic evening program, students and staff will embrace their silly side with a campfire and sing-a-long of some of our favourite songs and skits. This program can be modified to include student-led songs, skits, or dramatic performances too.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Communicating, Creative Thinking, Social Awareness and Responsibility
Drama Games
Students will be led through a series of creative games and dramatic skits that will exercise their imagination and performance skills. The Drama Games program can also involve student-written and performed skits.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Communicating, Creative Thinking, Collaborating, Social Awareness & Responsibility
Eco Hub
A collection of exploratory nature-based activities that will connect students with the local eco-system by learning about local vegetation, wildlife, insects and more.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Social Awareness & Responsibility
Rock Climbing & Vertical Playground
Using a JRD belay system, students will work together to belay each other on our 40-foot Climbing Wall and Vertical Playground aerial structures. Instructors will encourage students to challenge their comfort zone and climb as far as they choose, debriefing the exhilarating experience to conclude.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Personal Awareness & Responsibility, Collaborating, Communication, Critical & Reflective Thinking
Orienteering
After being taught how to find bearings on a compass, students will work in partner teams to complete an orienteering scavenger hunt.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Critical & Reflective Thinking, Collaborating
Wide Games
A large group game with wide boundaries that all students play together, such as Capture the Flag. A selection of physically active, team building, and education focused games are available.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Communicating, Collaborating, Creative Thinking, Personal Awareness & Responsibility, Social Awareness & Responsibility
Frisbee Golf
A full 18 holes of Frisbee golf will take students on an adventure across the entire property, through the forest and trails!
BC Curriculum Competencies: Critical & Reflective Thinking, Personal Awareness & Responsibility
Creek Exploration
Put on your boots and head down to Windermere Creek! Students will have the opportunity to wade into the creek, learn about the local water cycle, and find out what creatures live in and rely on the creek for survival.
BC Curriculum Competencies: Social Awareness and Responsibility, Critical & Reflective Thinking
