In Pictures: Adventurous students reach new heights through GASP 2013

Glacier National Park – This past long weekend, 11 RSS students participated in the Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP) in Glacier National Park.  2013 marks the third year for GASP, a program that provides opportunities for local youth to connect with their natural and cultural heritage.

The Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP) provides local youth the opportunity to build teamwork and leadership skills through photography, music, backcountry and hiking experiences in Glacier National Park.

The program also facilitates volunteer stewardship opportunities for youth to demonstrate leadership by giving back to their community. Stewardship activities vary from year to year but may include invasive species weed pulls, flora and fauna restoration or helping at cultural or environmental festivals in and around the community.

Skilled professionals, some volunteers, provide mentoring in a variety of areas such as photography, music and backcountry skill development. Photographers Natalie Harris and Kip Wiley of Revelstoke BC volunteered to mentor the students in photography this year. Photos taken by the students will be on display at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre November 8- December 6 in Gallery 2, and at the Modern for the month of December.

GASP is a partner program led by Parks Canada (Alice Weber) with the North Columbia Environmental Society (Matt Keeler), Revelstoke Community Connections (Laura Kanik) and Revelstoke Secondary School. GASP also receives support from Canadian Pacific, the City of Revelstoke (Megan Shandro), Alpine Club of Canada, Mountain Equipment Co-op, NorthFace, Columbia Basin Trust, Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre and volunteers.

GASP invites volunteers and local grade 9/10 students to participate in next year’s adventure weekend, September 12-14, 2014. In addition, the program welcomes recommendations for volunteer stewardship activities for GASP students over the next year. Please contact Parks Canada at 250-837-7500 or Laura Kanik at Community Connections at 250-837-2920 for more information.

Here’s a selection of 17 photos taken by Alice Weber and Natalie Harris:

It’s August 30 and Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP) students arrive at the ACC Wheeler Hut in Glacier National Park for a weekend of learning and fun. (L to R) Maxine Opatril, Emma Knight Flood, Gordon Mason, Marie Busch, Alexis Allain, River Kelly, Wyatt Callaghan, Sara Howatt, Mackenzie Mallet, Charlie Sykes and Anne-Marie Duchesne. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
It’s August 30 and Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP) students arrive at the ACC Wheeler Hut in Glacier National Park for a weekend of learning and fun. (L to R) Maxine Opatril, Emma Knight Flood, Gordon Mason, Marie Busch, Alexis Allain, River Kelly, Wyatt Callaghan, Sara Howatt, Mackenzie Mallet, Charlie Sykes and Anne-Marie Duchesne. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Students discover the importance of working as a team through a “Helium Pole” team challenge. (L to R) Marie Busch, Gordon Mason, Anne-Marie Duchesne, Wyatt Callaghan, Sara Howatt, Mackenzie Mallett, River Kelly, Emma Knight Flood, Maxine Opatril and Alexis Allain. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Students discover the importance of working as a team through a “Helium Pole” team challenge. (L to R) Marie Busch, Gordon Mason, Anne-Marie Duchesne, Wyatt Callaghan, Sara Howatt, Mackenzie Mallett, River Kelly, Emma Knight Flood, Maxine Opatril and Alexis Allain. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Sara Howatt, Anne-Marie Duchesne and Emma Knight Flood explore how to use a GPS. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Sara Howatt, Anne-Marie Duchesne and Emma Knight Flood explore how to use a GPS. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Mackenzie Mallett compares the photo to the real thing during a tree identification geocaching exercise.Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Mackenzie Mallett compares the photo to the real thing during a tree identification geocaching exercise.Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Maxine Opatril and Emma Knight Flood work together to make dinner outside. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Maxine Opatril and Emma Knight Flood work together to make dinner outside. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Learning how to light a fire and boil water is an important wilderness skill. Winners of the GASP Flint and Steel/Fire-Building/Water Boiling Race: River Kelly, Anne-Marie Duschene, Sara Howatt, (missing from photo: Wyatt Callaghan). Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Learning how to light a fire and boil water is an important wilderness skill. Winners of the GASP Flint and Steel/Fire-Building/Water Boiling Race: River Kelly, Anne-Marie Duschene, Sara Howatt, (missing from photo: Wyatt Callaghan). Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
It was a beautiful Saturday for Laura Kanik of Community Connections to lead the students up the Abbot Ridge Trail. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada

It was a beautiful Saturday for Laura Kanik of Community Connections to lead the students up the Abbot Ridge Trail. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Not a bad classroom. Parks Canada Wildlife Conflict Specialist, Kelsey Furk stops by on her rounds to give a bear management talk to the students. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Not a bad classroom. Parks Canada Wildlife Conflict Specialist, Kelsey Furk stops by on her rounds to give a bear management talk to the students. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Mackenzie Mallett watches on as Wyatt Callaghan and Charlie Sykes filter water from a meadow pond along the Abbott Ridge trail. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Mackenzie Mallett watches on as Wyatt Callaghan and Charlie Sykes filter water from a meadow pond along the Abbott Ridge trail. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Sara Howatt, Anne-Marie Duschene, Mackenzie Mallet and Emma Knight Flood (back) practice lighting their camp stove and making a hot lunch safely in the alpine. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Sara Howatt, Anne-Marie Duschene, Mackenzie Mallet and Emma Knight Flood (back) practice lighting their camp stove and making a hot lunch safely in the alpine. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Volunteer Natalie Harris provides some instruction in orientation. Natalie Harris has volunteered with GASP for the past two years, spending three days with participants in Glacier National Park and teaching them photography and outdoor skills. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Volunteer Natalie Harris provides some instruction in orientation. Natalie Harris has volunteered with GASP for the past two years, spending three days with participants in Glacier National Park and teaching them photography and outdoor skills. Alice Weber photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Natalie Harris captures this amazing photo of a winged GASP participant in the sub-alpine. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Natalie Harris captures this amazing photo of a winged GASP participant in the sub-alpine. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Alice Weber (in front) points out the way to the ridge while Natalie Harris captures the group’s reflection in the pond. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Alice Weber (in front) points out the way to the ridge while Natalie Harris captures the group’s reflection in the pond. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
What happens if lightning strikes? Alice Weber and Matt Keeler watch on as students practice valuable lessons in how to avoid lightning in the alpine. Crouch down by a large rock, cover your head, heels together and stay low. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
What happens if lightning strikes? Alice Weber and Matt Keeler watch on as students practice valuable lessons in how to avoid lightning in the alpine. Crouch down by a large rock, cover your head, heels together and stay low. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Photographer Natalie Harris takes a group photo of GASP students and leaders wearing their Stoked Youth Network glasses at the top of Abbot Ridge. (Back L to R) Matt Keeler, Megan Shandro, Emma Knight Flood, Marie Busch, Alice Weber, Gordon Mason, Laura Kanik. (Front L to R) Wyatt Callaghan, River Kelly, Charlie Sykes, Mackenzie Mallet, Sara Howatt, Anne-Marie Duchesne, Maxine Opatril and Alexis Allain. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Photographer Natalie Harris takes a group photo of GASP students and leaders wearing their Stoked Youth Network glasses at the top of Abbot Ridge. (Back L to R) Matt Keeler, Megan Shandro, Emma Knight Flood, Marie Busch, Alice Weber, Gordon Mason, Laura Kanik. (Front L to R) Wyatt Callaghan, River Kelly, Charlie Sykes, Mackenzie Mallet, Sara Howatt, Anne-Marie Duchesne, Maxine Opatril and Alexis Allain. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Learning photography from professionals is a program highlight. Photographer, Kip Wiley, helps students explore the park through the camera lens. Volunteers like Kip Wiley (and Natalie Harris) are part of what make GASP such a successful program. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Learning photography from professionals is a program highlight. Photographer, Kip Wiley, helps students explore the park through the camera lens. Volunteers like Kip Wiley (and Natalie Harris) are part of what make GASP such a successful program. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Each night ended with music around the campfire. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Each night ended with music around the campfire. Natalie Harris photo courtesy of Parks Canada

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