Take a Hike Okanagan Skaha
In partnership with SD 67.
Opened in 2024 and serves up to 15 youth.
For intake information, please contact Sondra McGuire, Vice Principal at 250-770-7700 or smcguire@sd67.bc.ca
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 67 in 2024 to open the Okanagan Skaha program at Penticton Secondary. Together, we engage up to 15 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.
100%
graduation rate in the Okanagan Skaha Program in 2024
96%
of youth reported learning skills and knowledge to be successful in the workplace
99%
reported having safety in expressing their feelings at Take a Hike
Youth in the Okanagan Skaha program regularly explore the outdoors and take part in community-building opportunities that foster connection, growth, and confidence. From a two-night camping trip at Idleback Lake to a guided visit to Skaha Bluffs with a museum naturalist, each outing creates space to connect with nature and learn together. Alongside these shared experiences, youth are celebrated for both academic success and personal growth through meaningful traditions like Circle reflections. Last year, they received bracelets and personalized certificates honouring their unique strengths. One youth proudly shared that she planned to hang her “Biggest Positive Change” certificate on her wall. The program’s culture of care and encouragement supports youth to thrive, reflected in a recent 100 percent graduation rate.
