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The Need
Research suggests that youth become depressed when they experience only destructive ways of interacting with the land, each other, and members of their larger community. Several days in a natural setting with inspirational mentors can change the direction of a young person's life. Most youth get to "go to camp" of some sort repeatedly throughout their adolescent years, where they "learn to take responsibility, work in teams, and accept the consequences of their own actions. This makes them more confident, capable, stable and self reliant than other young people who lack the same experience." (Mackay, G. J. S., & Neill, J. T. (2010).
Since 2000, over 5200 youth ages 4-18 have participated in our "From the Forest to the Sea Watershed Education Program" and over 23,000 benefited from our programs at the Nature House from 2002 until 2009. We have been searching for a place where we can run longer programs as they dramatically increase the positive impact for local and visiting youth alike.
Vision
Located on the southwest shore of Galiano, the site we propose for the Galiano Restorative Learning Centre has necessary amenities such as a working farm, a stream, a cove suitable for launching kayaks and it is within walking distance of our current ecological restoration education projects.
The Galiano Restorative Learning Centre will feature proven green technology and infrastructure, offering a model for community living within the natural environment. The Centre's operations will be financed through a social enterprise model, doubling as a Retreat Centre for adult groups and a facility for local community events. Fees charged to those who can afford it will fund opportunities for those who cannot.
Progress to Date
- 10 years of successful education programs reaching 28,200 individuals
- Strong team of gifted and committed staff, Board and volunteers
- 20 years proven property management & financial accountability
- National award winning large scale ecosystem restoration projects
- Land appraised and Options to Purchase secured
- 2.1 million in Matching funds approved; Capital Campaign underway
Needed: Donations of any size from all who support the project
The Right Time, The Right People, The Right Place
Your charitable donation will contribute to a legacy of hope for the future among thousands of young people from all walks of life. It will enable us to run multi-day programs with groups that do not have the capacity to organize their own logistics for overnight programs. The pilot groups we have worked with have shown us that participants gain the confidence, skills and optimism needed to learn how to live in harmony with each other and the natural world.
For more information
Thank you Supporters
A huge thank you to Semperviva Yoga Studios and Lifestyle Store! Semperviva collected donations at all of their studios during Earth Week in support of the Galiano Restorative Learning Centre and our efforts to enable underprivileged youth to connect with nature, themselves and each other. They were inspired to support us during their recent visit to Galiano as a part of their Yoga Teacher Training Program.
Another huge Thank You! to the many community members and supporters who have donated towards the $100,000 deposit needed to proceed with the acquisition of the lands for the Learning Centre. We have also received confirmation of over two-thirds of the $4.1 million required to complete the purchase.
In particular we wish to thank Oswaldo Perez Cabrera from CiTR and VanMusic.ca and the fantastic musicians who created such an enjoyable benefit show on Jan. 26th - if you missed it, find out where you can see them play next:
T. Nile
Adrian Glynn
Marley Daemon
Illiteratty
Nothofagus
We also wish to thank the following generous donors of raffle prizes, food, time, presentations, venues, boats and everything else needed to make our recent fundraisers a success:
Such a demonstration of local and regional support for the project by people
from all walks of life has helped to fuel our efforts for the capital campaign.
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