This is the first post in a series of student reflections about living and teaching in a rural setting.

Learn ~ Live ~ Love … Lucerne

Do parents really move from across BC to the tiny Kootenay village of New Denver on the placid shores of the Slocan Lake so their children can go to Lucerne School? Apparently, though the numbers are small, the answer is yes, and for good reason. As a student teacher I am absolutely enthralled by what this small, but far from modest, rural school offers its students.

For the past four years Terry Taylor’s secondary English students and Gary Parkstrom’s Social Studies students have spent a week each year making documentaries under the expert guidance of award-winning, Vancouver filmmaker Moira Simpson. This is place-based learning at its best. The subject matter has ranged from the story of the Doukhobor – Russian émigrés who settled in the area – to an examination of the internment of Japanese Canadians in New Denver during the Second World War. This year’s project: “A Place of Peace and Belonging” – a look at the unique culture of the valley the school is set in which is home to many US war resistors, pacifists and individuals of every persuasion.

The Grades 7 to 9 all get to study Outdoor Education. It is also available as an elective for Grades 10 to 12. It includes all the life skills one might need in the wilderness (with a little bit of recreation thrown in for good measure) like First Aid, Mountain Survival Skills, Canoe and Kayak skills, Mountain Biking and Parks and Recreation Management. During the week-long Fall and Spring into Learning events each year, at least one of the choices is an outdoor environmental experience. Students can choose from glacier hikes, paddle the lake, study “Mountains as Teachers” across cultures and history, or learn to about fish and wildlife in different ecosystems — all on the doorstep of the school.

Then there is just the sheer range of subjects available or as Lucerne says on its website, “No matter what course the student needs, we can find a way to offer it!!!” So maybe that is what impressed me most … the can-do attitude of the school, of the teachers, of the students and of the parents. Lucerne School is a community of leaders, learners and friends. No more, and certainly no less.

Jane Hicks, WKTEP Teacher Candidate, 2012-13

The Debate and Speech Association of British Columbia held its annual provincial championships, the Law Foundation Cup, in the Kootenays this year, and many of our UBC-WKTEP students were there to help judge. Hosted by J.L. Crowe Secondary School and St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School, the event was an amazing success. Thanks to Marilyn Lunde, one of the tournament’s coordinators, for inviting our students to take part. Check out an impressive video of the event here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4013NwVOh8

In February, several of our UBC-WKTEP students volunteered with the Young Naturalist Club of Nelson. Students were engaged in planning and leading outdoor activities for elementary aged students and their families. The event took place at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park just north of Nelson. Many thanks to Linda Homeniuk and Monica Nissen for supporting our students with such exciting and meaningful opportunities.

UBC-WKTEP students got out of the classroom yesterday and into the great outdoors, taking part in Wildsight’s winter outdoor education program, Below Zero. Facilitated by education program manager Monica Nissen, the experience helped our students to learn about local flora and fauna as well as winter safety and survival. They were also challenged physically as they snow-shoed into Strawberry Pass near Rossland’s Red Mountain resort and took part in a variety of games and activities in the deep snow.

UBC-WKTEP students will be wrapping up classes before the holidays with a visit to Crawford Bay Elementary Secondary School. This K-12 school is nestled in the small community of Crawford Bay on the east shore of Kootenay Lake. Our students will be able to spend their final Friday touring the school, visiting classes, and getting to know the community. Many thanks to Principal Dan Rude and the entire staff of the school for hosting us.

Once again our students were able to benefit from professional learning opportunities offered through local school districts. Last Thursday and Friday, WKTEP students joined staff from SD 20 (Kootenay-Columbia) for two presentations by Adrienne Gear on Reading Power and Writing Power. It was a great chance for our students to learn from one of B.C.’s education experts.

WKTEP students got a chance to help out with the annual SD20 (Kootenay-Columbia) Grade 6/7 Volleyball Playday! Under the direction of Elementary PE Methodology instructor Brian Baldwin, our students acted as referees, scorekeepers, timekeepers, and general helpers. With over 200 students on 19 teams from 8 local elementary schools, our students had more than enough to keep them busy for a few hours.

Many thanks to Wildsight’s Environmental Education Program Manager Monica Nissen for including our students in a Get Outdoors workshop last Tuesday. Despite the wet and chilly weather, it was a great morning  with Monica, learning more about education and the outdoors.

WKTEP is fortunate to have Dr. Linda Farr Darling as one of its instructors throughout the year. Dr. Farr-Darling has been the Eleanor Rix Professor for Rural Teacher Education since 2009. She has long had an interest in and connection to rural and remote education and helps bring that focus to the West Kootenay Teacher Education Program. Find out more about rural education and Dr. Farr Darling’s work at ruralteachers.com.

WKTEP teacher candidates joined the staff and students at Edgewood Elementary School for a true rural school experience. Half of the WKTEP students joined the K-2 class for the day, while the other half joined the grade 3-7 class. It was an insightful look into the flexibility and challenges of learning in a small rural school. Many thanks to the staff for welcoming us so warmly.