We are truly fortunate to have such a broad selection of spectacular hiking areas so close at hand. But the beauty of living in Canada is that regardless of where you may reside, there is more than likely a beautiful spot of nature for you to explore right in your own backyard.

Our program team has always played with the idea of starting a “Nature Photography” program, but most of our staff don’t know their way around a camera. Enter Glenn: a long-time Power To Be volunteer, bird expert, professional photographer, and generally awesome human. Glenn agreed to help facilitate a Nature Photography program, and that’s when the magic really started to happen.

Ingredients assembled and spatula in hand, I put my culinary skills to the test! What resulted was a semi-messy, but yummy treat – think oatmeal cookie meets puff wheat square. My favourite part about these cookies is the fact that they are no-bake. They take five minutes to make, and they’re a great grab-and-go snack to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Be sure to check out Power To Be's Quarter 3 update for 2020. Find out what happened this summer as we began offering some new avenues for programs, hosted a new event, and launched our very own store. See the impact of Power To Be, learn more about how we're continuing to support our community, find out what's new with our organization, and explore what’s coming up.

This month, Power To Be wanted to say “thank you” to the frontline workers in our community for their dedication and hard work over these unprecedented months. Through the support of the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, we provided opportunities for families to explore together and spend quality time immersed in nature.

May I introduce to you an extraordinary person: Amber Rainshadow. Approximately 12 years ago Amber was looking for an organization that supported adaptive recreation and discovered Power To Be. Once Amber’s intake process into our programming was complete, she has not looked back.

Liam Zahara and Mateo Everitt have committed to an incredible journey in support of Power To Be. Starting next week, they will be cycling and camping 1400 kilometres through parts of Alberta and across British Columbia. Friends since kindergarten, Liam and Mateo both grew up on Bowen Island and have always been avid outdoor enthusiasts. With both Liam and Mateo having been involved with Power To Be in the past, they are excited to start their adventure as they push their bodies to new limits to support our programs and allow others to access nature.

With fall quickly approaching, I have found new motivation to explore new recipes in the kitchen. Specifically healthy cooking, and cooking meals that won’t take a whole lot of time. Luckily, my slow cooker has been my saving grace! This recipe, in particular, is one of my go-to’s, as it’s easy to prep, easier to cook, and delicious. It’s also made from all fresh ingredients, and it’s vegetarian. The best part is, this recipe yields a large serving size and doesn’t lose its quality when reheated, so it’s great for leftovers the next day!

For the success of creating long-lasting connections and change, it is vital that we align and work closely with organizations doing amazing environmental stewardship work. Two partners Power To Be has worked with in our programs to move this notion of stewardship and education forward is The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society in Vancouver and Habitat Acquisition Trust in Victoria.

Want to represent Power To Be while supporting our programs? We are so excited to announce that we have launched our very first online store! You can now purchase our newly designed, branded apparel. All of our products are ethically sourced, and all of the proceeds go back into supporting and innovating Power To Be programs.

Wear-er of many hats and an immense knowledge holder, Danica is a top-notch organizer at Power To Be. As Power To Be’s Systems & Projects Lead she has the incredible ability to keep our organization on track and moving forward while genuinely looking out for everyone at both an organizational and individual level.

This past March we lost an exceptional member of the Power To Be community. A long time supporter of Power To Be, Pat Elemans joined the Board in 2014 and during her tenure as Director and Chair of the Nomination Committee imparted a high level of passion, knowledge, and skill to everyone at the table, furthering our organization’s networking reach, community relationships and fundraising efforts.

Power To Be’s strength is due in large part to our strategic partnerships with funders. “Our relationship with CIBC is one of those holistic partnerships that directly improves the participant experience by supporting us in many ways, and we are very proud and grateful to call CIBC and CIBC Children’s Foundation our partner,” says Tim Cormode, CEO of Power To Be.

Liam Zahara is an avid outdoor enthusiast, with a strong connection to Power To Be. Using his adventures to support a good cause, last year Liam teamed up with Power To Be to run and complete the Sinister 7 100 mile Ultra Marathon and in doing so, raised over $6,500 for our programs! This year, with almost all endurance races canceled due to COVID-19, Liam is trying something a little different that hits close to home.

Covid-19 has impacted so many aspects of life here in B.C. This is no different when it comes to programs at Power To Be.  The Wilderness School specifically has been at the frontlines of this transition due to the unique, ongoing relationship we have with the teens in our program. This relationship has enabled the Wilderness School to be the first to pilot multiple program models to remain flexible to the changing needs and regulations.

With summer now in full swing, I’ve been experimenting with making one of my favourite drinks to enjoy on the backyard patio—kombucha. Not only is kombucha relatively easy to make, there are also several reported health benefits including improved digestion and immune system support.

Power To Be has always valued working closely with our community. It has been a tremendous way to learn about emerging ideas and explore new ways to share resources, collaborate on standards, and identify positive opportunities for sectors to cross over. Power To Be has had the pleasure of being apart of the Victoria-based collaborative OneAbility, the Greater Victoria Collaborative for Adapted Sport and Physical Activity.

In 2017, Nicola joined the Power To Be community, jumping into programming with enthusiasm, a dependable and sociable presence, and a readiness to support individuals of all abilities. She became involved as a volunteer as she wanted to bridge two of her passions together; exploring the outdoors, and inclusivity and accessibility.

One of my favourite places to go since coming to Victoria way back in 2002 is Cormorant Point located in Balmacarra Park, Gordon Head, East Saanich.  The access point to this park is where Balmacarra Road and Leyns Road intersect.

Power To Be is pleased to present the Quarter 2 update for 2020. Find out what’s been happening over the past 3 months as we've adapted to new and challenging circumstances, and what’s new with our organization. See the impact of Power To Be, read about our virtual programs, learn more about how we're continuing to support our community, and explore what’s coming up. Click the button below to check it out!