Winter Programs at The YES

Chelsea Lake
Oct 15
2 min read

The YES Leadership Academy and The YES Camps have winter programs that are fun, educational and transformational.

Media Club: Developing Super Powers!

One of our central beliefs at The YES is that there are many superpowers that can be learnt. One of the most foundational superpowers is the ability to shift perspectives, look at things from different angles, and put ourselves in other people’s shoes. This helps us develop empathy, shift from a fixed mindset into a growth mindset, and think critically about our own experiences, ideas and contexts. Media Club is an excellent opportunity to develop and practice this super power with a fun, dynamic and caring group of peers and mentors.

With different program themes, Media Club typically invites a small group of youth (12-20 participants) to join us for a 12-16 week program of self exploration, connection and education. You can listen to our past participant experiences on our Podcast, and view examples of final projects here!

Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award - Canada provides young people aged 14-24 with a globally recognized framework for personal growth. Through hands-on learning in community service, physical activity, skill development, and adventurous journeys, youth gain confidence, resilience, and essential life skills. The YES is a Registered Activity Provider (RAP) in British Columbia offering the Award virtually with in-person Adventurous Journey activities on beautiful Vancouver Island and the Interior of BC.

The Award is your passport to epic adventures and awesome achievements! Think of it as your ultimate quest, divided into three legendary levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level is like unlocking a new level in a video game, with four exciting challenges waiting to be conquered.

Reconnecting with Summer Friends!

Every November The YES runs our Reunion Camp. This weekend retreat invites any youth from the previous summer to come together to experience camp magic, see their friends, make new friends, and get cozy at the Loon Lake Lodge and Education Centre in Maple Ridge.

School Workshops

The YES has a number of different offerings for your school. We run engaging classroom workshops based around central themes like self-awareness, communication, team building, social justice and leadership. We run workshops as short as 1 hour, and as long as 2 days.

Our favourite thing to do is custom design a workshop for a specific group of youth. Whether it’s a student council, youth group, explore class, or PEP 9, we love to find out more about the students involved and find out what would be most relevant to your needs.

The YES also does professional development. We love sharing our tools and philosophy with teachers and educators working to build stronger cultures, connections and community in their classrooms. We’re currently working on a resource kit for educators, but we are happy to facilitate in person or virtual sessions for your school, district or group.

Visit our Educational Programs menu tab to learn more about each opportunity!

About the Author:

Chelsea Lake (she/her) is the Executive Director of The Youth Excellence Society and holds a Masters of Education in Leadership Studies from the University of Victoria.