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By Caden Fanshaw

ICE FISHING

SD57 students embracing new land-based learning programs

Mar 17, 2021 | 9:13 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Over the last month, students have been learning in places far from the nearest classroom.

Kids from Elementary Schools, and High Schools, across the district have been learning ice fishing, but it’s about much more than just that.

It’s all part of a new push for School District 57 to incorporate more land-based learning programs for students, away from the traditional reading, writing, and arithmetic.

“It’s all about having fun, and putting some rods in holes,” says Reid Roberts, a land-based teacher who has been part of the team coming up with ideas to connect better with students.

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A number of classes have come out to Shane Lake and other local lakes to learn the skills of ice fishing, while creating a connection with their friends and their teachers.

Roberts says the idea was born when students were having challenges academically, and struggled learning from a textbook, but flourished outdoors.

Students who once dreaded coming to school, now found their way of learning, and looked forward to days learning hands-on skills outdoors and Indigenous culture along the way.

Many in the school district think of Roberts as ‘that outdoor guy’ or the ‘trapline guy’, but for the part time land-based teacher, it’s been a reminder of why he became a teacher in the first place.

“It’s incredible, seeing how much students love being out here,” says Roberts. “It’s all about finding new ways to connect with students.”

The Indigenous Education department of SD 57 loved the idea so much, they bought 40 ice fishing rods so whole classes can come out and enjoy mother nature.

The land-based programming Roberts has been offering to students in the district has big plans for the future.

The momentum will only ramp up once the ice comes off of local lakes.

The way the programs are currently structured sees students get credit for skills they demonstrate in the great outdoors like cooking, building a fire, and other survival skills.

Roberts started doing this program off the corner of his desk at D.P. Todd Secondary, but has since taken on a part-time role as a land-based teacher with the Indigenous Education department.