An Outdoor Education program offered at Savanna School is continuing to grow, thanks to some local support. Chris Young is a teacher at the school who got the course started two years ago, though at the time he could only afford to rent and borrow equipment. Since then Arc Resources, Devon Canada, Encana, and the Savanna Fire Department have all jumped on board to outfit the program with it’s own equipment. Young says the donations were even more invaluable because of the extra cost that comes with winterized outdoor gear.
“Things can often cost triple the normal cost. Our sleeping bags were nearly $300 each, just to make sure that it’s equipment that can actually handle what we’re going to be throwing at it. We’re having kids out there so we like to invest in quality equipment that will last and that will work.”
This year the program has been equipped with new canoes, paddles, and personal flotation devices so students can learn how to canoe properly. Young says he will be testing out those skills later this spring when he and the students head out on a three day camping trip down the Peace River..