Is there a better way to spend a sunny afternoon than on the beach? For David Greenall's Outdoor Education class at Queen Charlotte Secondary there is. Not only do they get to spend most of their six hour a week class outside, but they get credit for it as well.
The course is a new offering this year, after there had been a lengthy hiatus in outdoor education programming at the school.
The students made it happen, said Mr. Greenall. There are 16 keeners in the class, he says, who wanted an option that got them learning outside.
"So we didn't have to take Law 12," the students piped in when the Observer talked with them on the beach at Spruce Point in Queen Charlotte about why they wanted an outdoor education course.
Other reasons included "learning useful skills for life on the islands" and "understanding the land we live in a little better."
A third of the course is run in conjunction with the Hecate Strait Streamkeepers and the students have been learning about fish habitat and stream rehabilitation.
One recent field trip took them to Leandre Creek, where the mouth of the stream was choked with logs. The students made short work of clearing the channel.
They have also adopted the Haydn Turner Campground and were out in force filling six bags of garbage last week.
The students say they like doing clean up work on the trails because it makes them feel like they've actually accomplished something.
Another trail they've worked on is the Gore Brook Trail and the class has been helping with some projects in Rennell Sound as well.
Soon they will head to Moresby Adventure Camp to do some work and learn about the Outward Bound program.
Next month, Mr. Greenall says, will be focusing a lot more on kayaking and water safety.