Operating on 420 acres of ecological reserve space in Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish, BC) territory, Cheakamus Centre is an environmental education facility that provides experiential outdoor and land-based education programs to Grades 3-12 students from across the Sea-to-Sky, Metro Vancouver and Southern British Columbia regions. Established in 1969, originally as the North Vancouver Outdoor School, the Centre is owned by the North Vancouver School District, and as such, ties programming to the BC curriculum. Cheakamus Centre offers a variety of Indigenous Cultural Programs that are designed to “share the beauty, depth and vibrancy of Skwxwú7mesh First Nation culture in fun, interactive and engaging ways.” Programs include both one day, and overnight programming. Most notably, the Centre’s ‘Skw’une-was’ program is a provincially recognized 2 day program for Grade 3 students which immerses learners in traditional Skwxwú7mesh culture and provides cultural teaching experiences in connection with natural spaces. All programs are designed and delivered in conjunction with themes of ‘Seasonality,’ ‘Respect,’ and ‘Sharing’ in mind, as well as the First People’s Principles of Learning.
