Students in a Take and Hike classroom work on schedules more suited to them and designed to get them outdoors. (Submitted/Take a Hike)

By Spencer Sterritt

Take a Hike

New classroom opens to help vulnerable Nanaimo students

Sep 4, 2019 | 9:14 AM

NANAIMO — A new specialized classroom is helping struggling Nanaimo youth achieve their dreams and accomplish more than just graduating.

The first Take a Hike classroom on Vancouver Island opened at the former Woodlands Secondary School on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The full-time mental health and education program works to help students between Grades 10 and 12 graduate and learn the skills needed for success outside of school.

Take a Hike CEO Gordon Matchett told NanaimoNewsNOW 15 students started their new school year in a classroom modelled to best fit their needs and with a counsellor available at all times.

“You can imagine with spending that much time together there’s going to be some really tight relationships that form. That community is at the heart of what Take a Hike does.”

Students attend class every day and also head out once a week for a nature trip in the Nanaimo area. The excursion helps them become more familiar with the outdoors and will build to a three day hiking adventure in Strathcona Provincial Park.

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Matchett said 97 per cent of Take a Hike students graduated from classrooms across B.C..

“What’s more important is those subtle results in terms of mental health and a students ability to see themselves in a positive light. Across the board we see students succeeding. We want our students to be ready to navigate the challenges of early adulthood.”

Providing the necessary compassion and understanding in Grades 10, 11 and 12 may be the last possible time to save students.

Matchett said roughly 70 per cent of mental health and substance abuse issues develop in childhood and adolescence.

“By providing these early intervention and prevention supports to vulnerable youth, we’re able to get these students onto the right track for life.”

The Take a Hike program is run in partnership with the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public School District and funded by private donations.

Matchett said the school district was very receptive to their program and has committed to many other similar programs through their Learning Alternative initiative.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit