This spring, as wildlife remerged and flowers bloomed, we found new and collaborative ways to spread our mission and share our site with the larger community. As laughter echoed through the trees, we embraced the spirit of spring and dove into exploration and adventure at Power To Be. Check out our Q2 Impact Report to learn more about our programs, collaborations, upcoming events, and community impact!

Tēnā Koutou, Nau Mai Koutou, Kia Ora Tātou Katoa! (A warm and generous welcome, greeting and acknowledgement to all of you reading this post) Ko Tangata Māori ahau (I am a Māori Person ‘visiting’ here on these Indigenous lands and waters of Vancouver Island)

As I reflect on the milestones in my life, 2023 holds a special place. It marks Power To Be's 25th anniversary and also 20 years since a car crash that altered the course of my existence. Little did I know that these seemingly unrelated events would intertwine and lead me to discover resilience, hope, and a renewed zest for life.

For the past 15 years, the Family Roots program has been a core program offering here at Power To Be. Through partnership with Human Nature Counselling, the 5-month program supports solo-parent families living within Greater Victoria, B.C.

Ryan Peterson advocates for inclusion and leverages his creative thinking to drive change in the area of accessibility.  Ryan, a prominent name in the BC tech industry, and his wife Monica have a passion for inclusion and accessibility.  They established the Peterson Family Foundation to champion a world where barriers are removed, creating an environment that inspires creativity and possibility. 

In Fall 2022, Power To Be enjoyed lots of time learning and exploring in nature. Our programs were in full swing this fall with tons of adventures, collaborations, and behind-the-scenes action happening at Power To Be. The team is feeling settled in our new home, with staff, participants, and volunteers using the site as we discover the potential of our new buildings and its resources.

In Fall 2022, Power To Be enjoyed lots of time learning and exploring in nature. Our programs were in full swing this fall with tons of adventures, collaborations, and behind-the-scenes action happening at Power To Be. The team is feeling settled in our new home, with staff, participants, and volunteers using the site as we discover the potential of our new buildings and its resources.

This quarter, we’ve been embracing the warmth and fun activities of the summer! In addition to our daytime programs of paddling, hiking, and exploring, we’ve had overnight adventures in both Victoria and Vancouver to enjoy the beauty of nature at night.

This past quarter has been full of collaboration and connection for Power To Be. We have been bringing our community together to appreciate all that nature has to offer by pursuing new program structures that cater to learning, connection, and growth. We are excited to continue to bring people together through a shared passion for the outdoors.

The new year brought new opportunities to Power To Be! In addition to bringing our community together to enjoy all that nature has to offer, we’ve been working on expanding the accessibility of our programs and the reach of our resources with the support of our incredible partners. Be sure to check out all of the adventures, collaborations, and impact that happened in Q1 at Power To Be!

As we wrapped up 2021, we were thrilled to engage with our community in new ways and share rich stories of the impact of Power To Be. Check out the final quarterly impact report of 2021 as we reflect on the year, and share stories about our community, our initiatives, and our impact.

What a summer it was! At Power To Be, our team was incredibly excited to deliver an array of programming to our community and spend some time paddling, hiking, camping, and soaking up the sun. With volunteers jumping back in to support in person, exciting new partnerships taking place, and another amazing event, this summer was one to remember!

It was an action-packed spring at Power To Be, and we ramped up our programs and offered new opportunities to experience the magic of the outdoors. We are excited to continue offering adventures that bring our community together in the spirit of nature and inclusion. Check out all the excitement that happened during Q2, and learn more about our programs, our events, our supporters, and our impact!

As we embarked on a brand new year, already many memories, exploration, and milestones have taken place. This quarter we continued exploring nature with our community through virtual programs, family bubble programs, and one-on-one adventures. With progress in our new build at Prospect Lake, and with Power To Summit and a Spring store launch just around the corner, we can't wait for all of the incredible opportunities on the horizon. We invite you to keep reading and soak up all the inspiration, creativity, and energy that fills Power To Be.

At Power To Be, we understand the interconnectedness of our experiences in nature and its correlation to mental health and wellbeing. Programming focused around mental health and wellbeing has never been more important or requested than it is today. It is thanks to funders like Bell: Let’s Talk that make these types of programs possible for our community.

Power To Be is excited to present our final quarterly update of 2020. Find out how we ended the final months of the year as we continued to hold safe spaces for connection, hosted an exciting virtual concert, and found fun ways to support our community during the holiday season. See the impact of Power To Be, find out what's new with our organization, and explore what's coming up!

During the holiday season, the Power To Be team, with donations from local supports, had a lot of fun making some pretty neat holiday dreams come true! Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Holiday Hamper project a great success!

Power To Be works closely with the Parks Sector to collectively forward the notion of inclusion. One of the ways we do that is through our involvement with the BC Parks Accessibility Advisory Committee. We work alongside other regional non-profits working with people with diverse needs.

One of the most amazing things at Power To Be is the feedback we receive from our community members on how our programs and staff have been a positive influence in their lives. We received this lovely letter from the mother of a Wilderness School participant in which she expressed thanks for the learning, growth, and leadership her son attained while going through this 3-year program.

Kaelan is a practicum student with our Vancouver Program Team from the Outdoor Recreation Management Program at Capilano University. He is a passionate outdoor guide who believes that nature is a place for people to explore their full potential. Kaelan has a natural ability to connect with participants and always contributes great conversation and participant-centered support while out on program.