In the August 2011 article entitled KICKING HABITS in the Vancouver Courier, staff writer Megan Stewart shares a story prior to a trip to Paris for the team representing Canada at the Homeless World Cup. 

Take a Hike Alumna Erin Backer, was on that team:

Backer, who was previously expelled from Kitsilano and King George high schools before she landed at the specialized outdoor education program, Take A Hike, is enrolled at Langara for psychology classes next fall. She wants to become a social worker and received a $5,000 scholarship from Take A Hike to pursue her goals.

“When I look back, there are some [support workers] who I will remember for the rest of my life. Some of them I don’t even remember and they helped me so much. There is no way I can say thank you to them but I just want to pass it on.”

Backer has begun working at an after-school care and summer day camp program for kids. Her newly learned patience, sense of respect for her leadership position as a role model, and gifted comic timing, make her a natural with kids. Her supervisor agrees.

Read the full story here.

We recently caught up with Erin to hear about her experience in Paris, and plans for the future.

Erin compared this trip to Paris to her expeditions back in Take a Hike.  It was similar she shared, but this time she felt she was "in complete control of my emotions".  Erin feels she has come a long way since her days in Take a Hike.  "Back then, and even after Take a Hike, I didn't really feel I had much going for me.  Now I have a lot in my life."

In June, Erin received the Francis Family Scholarship from Take a Hike to support her studies at Langara College.  In Erin's words:

"Life is good."