The Foothills School Division has a new summer school program, called Go Wild, that will take students out into the woods.

Vice-Principal at Highwood High School, Mike Horembala says it's a very unique summer school where the students definitely won't be stuck in a classroom for the two weeks.

"It's six-credit course, high school credits, it's over a two week period and blended with a little bit of adventure and field work," he says. "We're going to be spending a couple of days doing a day hike, we're going to spend some time on the Sheep River doing some aquatic and invertebrate monitoring and then finish off with a three day backpacking trip out in Kananaskis."

He says it's open to any Grade 9 through 11 students and even some Grade 12's who might want to get a few more credits.

Horembala says the course covers everything from food theory, to dehydrating and the applied part of the learning while they're out in the woods, cooking the "one pot wonders" and the students can even get certified as a Lead, No Trace Trainer, so they can train people how to take care of the outdoors.

The program is being taught out of Okotoks Junior High School. The first couple of days will be spent there doing some classroom work and some outdoor activities at the school
and then they'll spend a day on the Sheep river and finish up the week with a day hike at Sandy McNabb west of Black Diamond. The second week starts with two days in the classroom packing up and dehydrating food for the trip and then they head out to Kananaskis on Wednesday and return Friday afternoon.

"A lot of our kids, there's a term they're using now called Nature Deficit Disorder, it's not an official term yet but it's moving in that direction, and just getting kids out there and  experiencing all we have to offer out west, like kids, their creativity grows, their marks go up, there's just so many positive things about kids having positive interaction with the outdoors," Horembala says.

There are two sessions, from July 4 to 15 and then from July 18 to the 29.

For more information or to register click here.

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