Lenny’s Story
I graduated from Take a Hike’s Saanich program in 2025, having been in the program for 3 years. I’ve just finished my first year at college, studying Community, Family, & Child Studies. I recently returned to the classroom in Saanich to speak to the current TAH cohort and lead a college preparation class for them. This was something the program’s Mental Health Clinician, Amber, and I collaborated on. It was important to me to speak to current youth about the unique experience of being in TAH rather than mainstream high school, and how to prep for college accordingly.
Before I joined TAH, I was a very anxious, angry, and unstable teenager. Grade 9 was one of the lowest points in my life, and my school didn’t offer me adequate mental health or academic support. I was pretty depressed and uncertain about my future.
Being in TAH changed my life’s direction. Feeling supported daily in a community setting was transformative for me. Not only did I receive academic and mental health support in a way that actually worked for me, but I also received physical support in terms of my diet. Before the program, I wasn’t eating a whole lot, so it was really nice to have structure around food and access to free food with no shame attached. This helped me to fuel my body so I could focus on the things that mattered.
Gradually, I started to shift from living day-by-day, to looking ahead and thinking about what might make me happy long-term. In Grade 12, I felt ready to jump forward and start planning for life after high school. TAH gave me the support I needed so that I could have that foresight despite mental health challenges, and a shift in my family dynamics at home helped too. Learning in a small cohort community was extremely beneficial for me, which isn’t an opportunity most get at high school. I initially struggled to find my people, but after a while we grew together. The small group dynamic allowed me to build out deeper connections with my peers and program staff. We had such good chemistry in the classroom; it was beautiful to witness.
My experience in the program wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows. I had my ups and downs, and towards the end I felt like I was outgrowing my class. As an older member of the program, I was looked to for leadership, but being in a leadership role didn’t always suit me, especially when I wanted to focus on graduating and things felt like they were moving fast. But I think that’s reflective of life, and it speaks to the growth I’d undergone as I built up to graduation.
The same applies when I look back on the multi-day trips I took part in. Every multi-day trip had its difficult moments alongside the highlights, but that mirrors real life. I often think about our SALTS Sailing Trip as it was so out there. It was run by a youth sailing organization in Victoria, and we took part in a 4-day sailing trip around the Gulf Islands. I remember thinking, “this is a pain in the ass”, several times – it was so long and physically challenging – but I also remember seeing sealions and catching prawns, which was so much fun.
My first multi-day trip saw us hike a chunk of the Juan de Fuca trail, from Bear Beach to Mystic Beach, in early November when the weather was beautiful but pretty cold. Honestly, there were moments where I thought, “as if we’re being made to do this!”. At the same time, I don’t regret it and I’m so glad I got to experience it. We were all massively taken out of our comfort zones, but we all grew together and, looking back, it was our first big bonding moment. Setting up our tents at the end of a big hike and all chilling in them together still sticks in my mind. I firmly believe that the Land-based Learning component of the program is healing. Attaching lessons to experiences, giving youth new experiences that build memories, and getting a phone-addicted generation out onto the land is so powerful.
I made lifelong connections in the program, both in terms of friends, as well as my relationships with Amber (MHC) and Tristan (TAH’s Program Manager for Vancouver Island, formerly the MHC). The program staff made such an impression on me, impacting the qualities and values I’m going to take into my career as I head into a similar field. My dream is to ultimately work for Take a Hike! I really believe in the type of support system that the program offers, with its focus on community-based care, connection, and growth. Embedded, full-time counselling is so much better than just getting access to mental health support once a week. It’s one of the best mental health systems that can be built. I appreciate it’s hard to run but I find it so inspiring.
