As the youth created art from carefully dyed felted wool, the sheep it was taken from wandered outside of the window. That’s the magic of Providence Farm, where people come together to learn about and from the land.  

Power To Be Adventure Therapy’s Director of Programs Jason Cole has been honoured alongside the top business leaders on Vancouver Island. Cole’s commitment to community and mentoring young professionals earned him a Top 20 Under 40 Award, presented Saturday, March 14 in Courtenay, B.C.

For Summit Leadership Program participants Sadie and Shaheen, it’s all about learning how to give back. Teamed up with four of their peers, the pair helped navigate a young man in a trail rider to China Beach.

With the sun shinning and the worms wriggling, Power To Be Adaptive Recreation
participants dug into the gardens at Coast Collective Art Centre for a day of connecting to the land and sharing a meal together.

With the help of the experienced cave guides at Horne Lake Caves & Outdoor Centre, our Wilderness School group learned about the karst landscapes and environmental factors that shape these caves. Find out more.

I became involved with Power To Be in Vancouver in 2004, when I was nine years old. There are three very specific memories that I can recall quite clearly that stick out as almost surreal among all the great memories I have with Power To Be's Adaptive Recreation program. 

It can be as simple as watching a blade of grass or as powerful as kayaking through the salty sea. In those moments, a connection grows between nature, self and others. It’s moments like that keep drawing Gaby Emmett back to Power To Be.

A new year brings new beginnings for Power To Be. This January Wilderness School is kicking off the Summit Leadership Program* – an eight-week experience designed to reengage Wilderness School graduates with curriculum aimed at increasing their outdoor knowledge and leadership skills.

What a wonderful year 2014 has been for Power To Be. With cherished program memories, new opportunities in nature, and record-breaking fundraising successes, the year is definitely one worth celebrating. 

Mark Miller knows the power of perception. It’s the fluid line between what you think you can and cannot do. A life-long adventure seeker, Mark joined Power To Be at WildPlay Element Park to challenge the perception of what was possible – for him and potentially others.

It was the perfect campsite. Roasting marshmallows by the fire, a cozy tent and nature all around. You might have looked twice though when you realized the whole scene was rolling away.

The culture of philanthropy created by our supporters is worthy of celebration. As a nod to the contributions of many, Power To Be is honoured to share the accomplishments and contributions of one of our cornerstone supporters, Rogers Communications, and its founder Ted Rogers. 

Out on the water, it didn’t matter what was left back on the beach. “You couldn’t see the wheelchair,” says Lucie Petrová. “There was just talking and laughing and you couldn’t see the barriers. It was amazing.”

Surfing is the perfect instance of creating a partnership with nature. Your body, your board, and the water must seamlessly align. When you succeed, you achieve something extraordinary. That’s what this Tofino trip was about for Power To Be’s Adaptive Recreation and Wilderness School youth – coming together to break through personal barriers and literally walk on water. 

For Leesa Watson, being in the middle of nowhere brought her even closer to home. Together with her daughter Brittni, Leesa joined Power To Be for its annual family trip to Nimmo Bay Resort. The four-day retreat is focused on strengthening family bonds and the remote location within the Great Bear Rainforest provides the perfect backdrop.

Throughout my practicum I have had many opportunities to learn about gathering strength and empowerment from a nature-based activity. These activities give people the opportunity to grow and develop beyond the limits placed on them by society, social systems and negative self-concept. I have observed many interactions that highlight human compassion and understanding while pushing for individual change and growth.

Settling into a new culture brings a myriad of challenges no matter what age you are; from learning a new language, new customs and cultural norms, culture shock, integration and everything else that comes along with leaving everything you know behind and starting fresh. And then you add the natural challenges of just being a teenager. This is the reality for so many youth that have moved across the world to begin a new life in Canada. 

This past summer, Power To Be Vancouver’s staff superstar Alanna Ray let me know about a new idea Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) had initiated, MEC Outdoor Nation. Outdoor Nation is a movement aimed to get youth and young adults off the couch and out and immersed in nature’s natural beauty. Alanna had soon convinced me to register as a Power To Be delegate.

As we started driving back down the Island I realized that my cheeks were sore from having had a smile on my face all weekend. I had just spent three laughter-filled days with three amazing families in the crashing waves and salty waters of Tofino for a family surf trip with Power To Be. It was amazing to see everyone push their limits and challenge each other together on this trip. It was truly inspiring to get to see the fathers and their daughters get to share such a powerful experience. 

The day before program was a rainy one, which meant moist air and beautiful calm waters when we hit the water. There's something special about the air that follows a good Victoria down pour. Given the hot summer, rain also meant a program day with Thetis Lake all to ourselves, launching our stand up paddle boards from a nearly empty main beach.