Take a Hike Burnaby
In partnership with SD 41 and based at the Canada Way Education Centre.
Opened in 2014 and serves up to 20 youth.
For intake information, please contact Eryn Hart at 604 296 6900 or eryn.hart@burnabyschools.ca (available year-round).
Applicants will be interviewed, and notified of their status. Upon acceptance to the program, youth must sign a medical clearance form before attending classes.
Take a Hike empowers vulnerable youth through a full-time mental health and emotional well-being program embedded in an alternate education classroom. Over the past 25 years, Take a Hike has supported over 1,000 youth to change the trajectory of their lives.
Take a Hike partnered with School District 41 in September 2014 to open the Burnaby program at Canada Way Learning Centre. Together, we engage up to 18 youth each year by combining high quality education with intentional, continuous clinical counselling, community initiatives, and land-based learning. We empower youth with the skills and resilience they need to graduate high school, build healthy relationships, and achieve success – however they define it.
As the youth mental health crisis continues to grow across Canada, the demand for Take a Hike’s transformative program is rising. Take a Hike demonstrates the powerful combination of mental health supports and land-based learning, as youth report a greater sense of purpose, community and self-awareness and are more likely to graduate high school.
The impact of Take a Hike’s approach is clear:
90%
of eligible Grade 12s graduated
76%
report significant mental health improvements
96%
of youth reported learning skills and knowledge to be successful in the workplace
Youth in the Burnaby program regularly explore nature and build community through activities like canoeing at Buntzen Lake, hiking in Lynn Canyon, biking at Pitt Lake, and snowboarding at Seymour. These experiences help youth connect with their surroundings and support one another through new challenges. One highlight was a 5-day kayaking trip through Desolation Sound, where excitement quickly turned to resilience as strong winds forced the group to change course. Coming together to reassess, they learned to adapt and even took part in an impromptu outdoor lesson on weather systems and climate. With new insight and confidence, the group pushed forward and made the most of the journey. These land-based learning moments are deeply transformative, helping youth grow, adapt, and discover what they’re truly capable of.
