Get Outside BC: Teens host outdoor events

B.C. youth celebrate International Youth Day by heading “outside”: Teenagers first participants in provincial program to foster love of outdoors

Vancouver - In honour of International Youth Day (Aug. 12), 40 teenagers will hold outdoor events in their communities across British Columbia. Their goal: to get more youth outside and interacting with nature.

These 40 students are the first participants in a new provincial program called Get Outside BC – an outdoor leadership program for youth led by Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and BC Parks.

Get Outside BC launched in July, when the teenagers arrived in Squamish for a week-long series of workshops. These teens, 14-18, earned their spots after an application process showcasing their passion for the outdoors.  Many travelled from northern and coastal communities; all their expenses were paid.

In Squamish, the students learned outdoor skills and event planning as their initiation into the world of outdoor leadership. They left with a task: to create a community event that will inspire others to “get outside”. Each event promises to be unique; many will be held on August 12, but other events will stretch into September.

In October, the students will meet again in regional groups to discuss their events and future outdoor initiatives in their regions.

Get Outside BC is co-created by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and BC Parks, with additional support from Mountain Equipment Co-op, Parks Canada, and the Child and Nature Alliance. It’s sparked by a desire to get digital youth into the great outdoors.

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More information:

Elyse Curley, CPAWS-BC, 604-685-7445, ext. 25