Ward’s Story

I often talk about the first overnight trip I went on once I’d joined Take a Hike. We visited Strathcona Park and it poured with rain the entire time, but I remember having fun on the hike as there were so many cool plants I hadn’t seen before. When we got to the campsite, it turned out it was full! We had to hike all the way back and ended up setting up camp in the car park in the hope of trying again the next day.

It was still raining, so everyone was pretty cold and tired, and spirits were kind of low throughout the group. It was early on in the school year, so none of us really knew each other, but a bunch of us ended up heading into a tent to shelter from the rain together and have something to eat. The mood of the group started to lift, and we were all so happy to be getting warmer. We didn’t really know each other then, but we all invited each other in, huddled in our sleeping bags, and laughed about how hard the day had been. It was the first time I felt really connected to the group, and the sense of connection only grew as the year continued.

We ended up having to evacuate at midnight because there was a bear in the parking lot! So there we were, in the middle of the night, waiting for our driver to come and collect us. He had to drive quite a way up the Island to get to us, but despite this, he showed up with pizzas for everyone! There’s something about being evacuated at midnight by a bear and eating pizza together that really brings people together. It ended up being such a memorable bonding moment. Honestly, looking back, it was awesome.

Beyond the outdoor trips, when I think back to the program there was another highlight for me that is maybe a bit more personal; the first time I cried in front of someone else was in Take a Hike. The counseling I received from my mental health clinician was pivotal in helping me understand how important it is to be ok with sharing your emotions with someone else. It happened after I’d been seeing the clinician for a little while. We had built a connection, and it felt like a safe space. I remember sharing that I wanted to cry, and they said that I could. I know that you don’t need permission as such, but in that moment, it really helped. The experience taught me how to ask for help, which was not something I was comfortable doing before Take a Hike.

Throughout my time in the program, I built meaningful relationships with peers and staff, through going on trips and doing hard things together. It was a stark contrast to homeschooling. Even though I didn’t get close with everyone, it felt like a little community, which was my favourite thing about the program. I often bump into people from the program on the street even now, and we check in with each other and talk about everything we experienced together. One of my friends moved across the country for university, but they came back the other day for a visit, and I even see our old bus driver in town sometimes. These interactions make me so happy. We all have so many shared memories.

Right now, I’m volunteering at a local art gallery. All the staff at Take a Hike encouraged me to pursue art. At the time, they were the only people in my life to do so. I ended up applying to a prestigious art school on a whim and got in totally unexpectedly. Looking back at my transcript, I had barely passing grades in Grade 10 before joining the program and, not to brag, but I got pretty good grades in Take a Hike! What stood out to me throughout, both in the classroom and outdoors, was the emotional support I received from the Take a Hike staff – they really championed me.