Need help with yard work, dog walking, or babysitting? A group of Squamish students is taking on odd jobs around town to raise $2,000 for a June surf and camping trip to Tofino.
Students from the Sea to Sky Alternative School, a detachment of Howe Sound Secondary, started their fundraiser last week. The program serves about 20 students, mostly in Grades 10 to 12, who benefit from smaller class sizes and additional socio-emotional and behavioural support.
Unlike a traditional high school schedule, Sea to Sky Alternative emphasizes flexible learning, student-led projects and real-world life skills. That teaching approach extends beyond the classroom and onto mountains, visiting waterfalls and this year, Vancouver Island.
“We live in this incredible place where so many of our affluent community gets to have access to the mountain and climbing and all of these incredible sports that are specific to Squamish,” said Lexi Merner, one of two instructors at the school. “We’re able to then provide our kids, who might not otherwise have that opportunity at home, to do those kinds of things.”
Students are currently learning to snowboard through the Chill program, which takes the students to Whistler once a week. It was the students love of snowboarding that helped prompt Merner to plan the year-end trip to Tofino students wanted to try their hand at another boardsport: surfing.
“I don’t travel,” said Scarlett Lewis, 15. “So it’s very much a new experience and it sounds very exciting.”
Lewis said she’s looking forward to trying surfing and spending time outdoors with her classmates.
But this trip is about more than catching waves.
This year, Merner has been focusing on physical geography in social studies, teaching erosion, the water cycle and local ecosystems. In Tofino, students will explore Vancouver Island’s unique coastal ecology while camping and learning about leave no trace principles.
The program also emphasizes executive functioning, the practical skills needed to navigate everyday life. On the trip, students will plan and prepare their meals, go grocery shopping, and make their own campsites.
To help offset costs, students are offering services such as landscaping, yard work, painting, dog walking and babysitting in exchange for donations. The idea grew from smaller, internal fundraisers in previous years and was expanded to involve the broader Squamish community. Merner said students were excited to offer their help to the community.
One student said she is particularly excited about offering dog walking and babysitting, but would also be happy to help with gardening, house painting or cleaning.
“A few of the girls actually really wanted to volunteer with animals, offering dog walking… one student made the poster… and one of our kids is really keen to paint, ” said Merner. “They all got together and were pitching these different ideas.”
The goal is to raise $2,000, which would allow students to attend at no cost. While the school receives some funding for educational trips and is applying for grants, some expenses can’t be covered without raising additional funds.
So far, the fundraiser hasn’t had any official odd jobs requests, but Merner hopes the jobs will pick up as spring approaches.
Community members interested in hiring students for odd jobs can email Lmerner@sd48.bc.ca or call 519-955-7112.
