Giving Compass' Take:

• Sea to Sky schools goes beyond traditional classroom experiences to provide outdoor education that teaches students about wilderness culture.

• What can students gain from outdoor education models of learning?  How are educators addressing issues of access to outdoor ed?

• Read about the importance of accessibility to environmental education.

Whether it's an hour-long nature walk, a two-day camping trip or a semester-long course, it's fair to say most students will have had some type of brush with outdoor education by the time they enter the real world.

Sea to Sky schools are pushing the boundaries of the traditional classroom to redefine outdoor education.

On its surface, the experiences students stand to gain from outdoor ed might seem limited to simple wilderness skills. Learning how to survive in nature is no doubt important, particularly in the rugged landscape of the Sea to Sky, but in reality, the list of benefits the great outdoors can offer students runs far deeper.

At Whistler Secondary School (WSS), longtime teacher and avid mountaineer Mitch Sulkers is responsible for creating the school's outdoor recreation leadership program. In the years since WSS first opened its doors, the three-credit program has grown so popular two different sessions are now offered over the course of the school year; one each semester.

Although B.C. students have long been able to earn a single physical education credit under provincial curriculum, many local schools, including WSS, have expanded that one class into all-encompassing, semester-long programs that completely immerse students in wilderness culture.

Read the full article about Sea to Sky schools by Megan Lalonde at Pique.