6/30/10: The Winter Wonderland trip has been canceled due to low enrollment. Sorry!
Trip Details
How Long: 8 days
When: Dec 10-17, 2010.
Where: Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Kelowna is located in central BC, near Seattle and Spokane, WA. (Google Map)
Arrival/Departure Location: Kelowna International Airport
Who: 6-8 teen homeschoolers & unschoolers (ages: 13-16 flexible) plus trip leaders Blake and Vince. A minimum of six participants is required for this trip to run.
How Much: $1,350 includes room, meals, and 5-day lift ticket. Equipment rental and lessons optional. Roundtrip airfare to Kelowna, BC must be purchased separately (use your air miles!). If this trip fills (10+ enrolled), we will most likely offer a tuition reduction! (Also please note that pricing is based on Big White's 2009/2010 rates. Until the resort releases winter rates for 2010/2011, due in late May, our pricing is an estimate.)
Application Status: Open! Apply now.
Priority Application Deadline: June 30, 2010. We will start offering enrollment on this date. Applying before June 30 is your best chance for enrolling, but enrollment will remain open until the trip fills. Check this page and the Facebook fan page for enrollment updates.
Trip Purpose
Every Unschool Adventure trip is created with a specific purpose in mind. Here's what we'll set out to accomplish:
1. Epic Skiing and Snowboarding
Okay, this is obvious. Big White, located in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, is a worldwide skiing and snowboarding destination and home to 24.5 annual feet of "champagne powder". We specifically chose this resort for its reliable early season snow. (Please note that we cannot control the weather, and while excellent snowfall is expected, it is not guaranteed.) For a whole week, our group of teen unschoolers will explore and enjoy the mountain in small groups.
If you're an experienced skier or snowboarder, you'll find tons of terrain to challenge you at Big White. If you're a novice, there are plenty of bunny slopes. Highlights of Big White include 16 lifts, 118 trails, a longest run of 4.5 miles, vertical drop of 2,550', and full ski-in/ski-out access (see their fast facts and trail map). This is truly a winter wonderland.
This week-long trip includes five full-day lift tickets (with a break day in the middle). Lessons are optional. Our epic accommodation is a 4BR ski-in, ski-out condominium at The Chateau on the Ridge, will full kitchen--and six shared hot tubs! In order to maximize cost savings, you may be asked to share a double or queen bed (same-sex only). We'll be cooking our own meals, so be ready to help with food preparation and dish duty!
2. Learning to Teach
We'll dedicate one day to a fun experiment that addresses the question: What does it take to become a ski or snowboard instructor? We'll answer this by putting ourselves in both the role of teacher and learner.
In our experiment, each participant will be asked to swap his or her equipment for the opposite type: skiers will put on a snowboard, and snowboarders will put on skis. (One-day rental fees covered by UA.) First the skiers will teach the snowboarders how to ski, and then the snowboarders will teach the skiers how to snowboard! Are you following? :)
The point of this experiment is to gain a few powerful teaching and learning tools through hands-on practice. And don't worry, we won't just throw you in the deep end; Blake and Vince will lead two introductory "learning to teach" workshops in the evening, modified from the Homeschool Leadership Retreats workshop series. These workshops are fun, fast-paced, and highly hands-on. Everyone will walk away from this experiment with a new understanding of teaching and learning, and, perhaps, a newfound empathy for those of the opposite sport.
Blake has previously worked as a snowboard instructor at Heavenly Ski Resort. Vince and Blake are long-time skiers and snowboarders, and both have taught high-level outdoors sports through Deer Crossing Summer Camp. (Above: Vince shows off his skiing skills)
3. Optional Marketing Research Experiment
During the middle-of-the-week rest day, trip participants may optionally join another experiment: interviewing and polling strangers in the Big White village. The purpose of this experiment is to design a marketing research survey for Big White, do the research ourselves, and then present it to the resort, free of charge. We'll come up with the whole survey ourselves. And who knows, maybe they'll love it so much that we'll get a free dinner! Or a free heli-skiing day trip! Probably not, but we can dream.
The inspiration for the marketing research experiment comes from Blake's experience as a full-time marketing research surveyor working for Vail Resorts (at Heavenly Ski Resort). Through a season's work, Blake realized that there are tons of interesting people on a ski mountain who are more than happy to answer your questions about all sorts of random topics. This activity is also derived from the Homeschool Leadership Retreats program, which emphasizes the interviewing of all sorts of potentially interesting adults.
4. Planned & Unplanned FUN
Our trip is only a week, but we'll pack in as much fun as possible. One evening will be an informal talent show / open mic. During another evening, we'll go out and attempt to build our own mini-jump in a snowbank and show off our freestyle skills. Sledding of the non-deadly variety is possible too. And let's not forget about snowmen, snowwomen, and snow angels. On the last night we'll have a big dinner out.
When we don't have a planned activity, you'll of course be surrounded by a group of awesome teen unschoolers ready to create their own fun! Can you think of a better winter adventure??
Trip Itinerary
Dec 10: Everyone flies and meets at Kelowna International Airport, British Columbia. A private group shuttle will pick us up, swing by the grocery store, and then drive 1 hour to Big White Ski Resort. Move in.
Dec 11: Skiing & snowboarding! Evening: Games & icebreakers.
Dec 12: Skiing & snowboarding! Evening: Mini-jump construction.
Dec 13: Skiing & snowboarding! Evening: Teaching/learning workshop, part 1. Also: Sledding?
Dec 14: Rest day. Optional marketing research experiment. (If you really want to ski/snowboard today, you may purchase a ticket and go for it.) Evening: Teaching/learning workshop, part 2.
Dec 15: Skiing & snowboarding! Learning to teach day. Evening: Talent show / open mic night.
Dec 16: Skiing & snowboarding! Evening: Big dinner out.
Dec 17: Check out, shuttle to Kelowna International Airport, and fly home. Shed icey tears. Say "thank you" to your family for the early Christmas present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who's leading this adventure?
Blake Boles and Vince Harrington are your experienced trip leaders. Blake has led three Unschool Adventure trips in addition to extensive personal travel in South America, New Zealand, Europe, and North America. He is a long-time snowboarder, former CASI-certified snowboard instructor, and currently certified Wilderness First Responder.
Vince is a long-time skier (he was on an alpine race team) and, recently, a self-taught snowboarder. Vince has led camels across Mongolia's Gobi desert, traveled widely, and taught high-level outdoor sports as a Wilderness First Aid and Lifeguard-trained instructor.
Can my child fly alone to Canada?
Yes. According to the US Embassy in Canada, "Any person under the age of 18 and traveling alone should carry a letter from his/her parent or guardian authorizing the trip." You'll also need a passport, which you should apply for as soon as possible.
Will we be able to keep in touch?
Students will have access to e-mail and cell phone service during the entire trip.
What if I need lessons?
You may choose to enroll yourself in any number of lessons (at student's expense). Staff will help to arrange lesson bookings at the most discounted price available.
What's the best way to bring my own equipment?
Your options include taking your gear on the plane (potentially a hassle and expensive) or shipping it directly to our resort property (pricing TBA). Renting is by far the easier solution (at student's expense). That being said, Blake and Vince are going to bring their own gear.
What's your plan for health safety?
Medical facilities are readily available in nearby Kelowna. (Check with your insurance provider to check coverage in Canada, or consider optional traveler's insurance.) For everyday health safety, Blake and Vince will always be available to deal with illness and injury. Blake is a Wilderness First Responder, and has previously worked as the primary medic for outdoor education programs. We will have strict rules against out-of-bounds skiing or use of a terrain park without helmet.
As a general health safety advisory, we recommend that all students avoid eating the yellow snow.
What is your policy on drugs, alcohol, and smoking?
We have a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs (including non-prescribed medications), alcohol abuse, and tobacco products. Violating this policy is grounds for immediate dismissal.
My student has special dietary restrictions.
We will be purchasing food and cooking meals for ourselves during the trip, and as such, we will be available to accommodate a wide variety of dietary requirements (including vegan and gluten-free). Our dinners will typically be diverse, nutritious vegetarian meals with the occaisional meat option.
What special clothing does my student need to bring?
Big White will be COLD. Bring plenty of warm clothing and waterproof boots, in addition to skiing-appropriate outerwear and underwear (layered, synthetic, no cotton). Don't forget your swimsuit for the hot tub! And a HELMET is highly recommended (or required, if you want to use a terrain park.) We will provide a full packing list.
How do I reserve a spot?
Apply by filling out our online application. We'll then get in touch and do a phone interview. Enrollment will be offered beginning on the date of the Priority Application Deadline (see above). After being offered enrollment, a $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot.
Ready to Enroll?
Please visit our Enrollment page to learn more about joining our adventure!
Have More Questions?
Contact us via e-mail or phone and we'll be happy to answer your questions.