It was more than a cross-country ski trip.
It was a quest to learn about teamwork, supporting your peers and learning about Mother Earth.
Thirteen students from Oilfields High School’s award-winning Quest program cross-country skied the Lake O’Hara trail in scenic Yoho National Park last week. “It was one of my favourites trips I have ever been on,” said Grade 11 student Monica Zacaruk. “Quest has pushed me out of my comfort zone and I have done things I would never have done in a regular classroom.”
The program, which combines the outdoors with the high school curriculum, is holding its biggest fundraiser of this year at the Quest annual dinner and auction March 12 at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick.
The program had some students back-tracking at Lake O’Hara – in order to check out other tracks.
The students had a session with Parks Canada’s Simon Ham, concerning animal tracks.
“We identified a martin, a snowshoe hare and after the session we actually saw some wolverine tracks,” said Quest teacher Adam Argento.
The students cross-country skied 13 kilometres with a 400m elevation to Lake O’Hara with 40-pound packs. It’s a heavy load, but a lot easier with some Oilfields Driller pride and teamwork.
“The value added piece is the students were spending four days up there together — it’s a self-propelled trip and we rely on one another,” Argento said. “You have 40-pounds on your back and once you’re 8K in, you can’t turn back. You find yourself relying on your own strength and the strength of the group to get there.”
It was of course, safety first. The students received back-country instruction before breaking trail.
Zacaruk said she has grown in her second year with Quest.
“Last year, I got the feel of Quest and how it runs,” she said. “This year, I have been able to help the other groups and the students.”
Cross-country and snowshoeing takes up much of the winter activities for Quest students. In the spring, the students will put on there hiking boots.
The Quest experience has not only helped with the outdoors, but also in the classroom.
Zacaruk, an honour student, said the work ethic and time management skills she has developed helps her in the classroom.
Porter Geurts, a Grade 10 student is enjoying his first-year with Quest.
“Quest is a community thing — it really helps me work with others who I haven’t work with before,” Geurts said. “It is going to help me in the future because when I have a job, I will have to work with others.”
He’ll be learning all about gliding through the snow in the majestic mountains in the future.
Geurts is part of a second group, which will head off to Lake O’Hara later this winter.
Quest began in September of 2010. It received the prestigious Canadian Education Association’s Ken Spencer Award in its first year.
The annual Quest fundraiser will feature a meal and the music of Tin and the Toad, a band with Foothills area roots as many grew up in the Vulcan area.
Their music has a country-rock edge to it.
They list their musical influences as Waylon Jennings, Neil Young, Ian Tyson and others.
For more information about the Quest dinner go to http://oilfields.fsd38.ab.ca
