With the help of generous donations and grants a program called The Ways of Knowing has been developed which blends Indigenous teachings, experiential outdoor learning with BC science curriculum objectives.

2026 – Students and teachers experienced Box Lake

2025 – Bonanza Creek Old Growth Forest

Students and teachers from grades 5, 6, and 7 at Lucerne Elementary were guided by Elder Michael Garvey into an old growth forest near Bonanza creek. They experienced activities and discussions about the interconnected natural world, indigenous ways of knowledge, and personal reflection and connections. SLSS appreciates Niki Blackshaw skills for organizing this event.

The Experience

The morning began with a land acknowledgment and tobacco offering, inviting students to slow down, listen deeply, and enter the forest with respect and good intentions. What followed was a rich tapestry of learning experiences:

Indigenous Measurement Methods – The group compared indigenous approaches to measuring a fallen tree with conventional measurements approaches.

Web of Life – Through an interactive demonstration using string, helped students explore firsthand complex interconnections.

Listening to the Trees – In quiet individual reflection, students connected with a chosen tree, observing textures and patterns while journaling their thoughts and feelings.

Kokanee Viewing – The group witnessed kokanee spawning in Bonanza Creek.