There is something extraordinary about sharing the wild beauty of Algonquin Park with young people who have travelled all the way from Korea. We have had the privilege of welcoming Branksome Hall Asia students to ALIVE since the school’s inception, and every year, there is something special about watching a group of young people discover what is possible when they step outside the familiar.
For many, this week began with learning to paddle a canoe for the very first time. Just a few lessons later, they were paddling out into the Park for a day on the water, cooking burgers over a fire, and taking in the last of the fall colours.
But the week was about so much more than learning new skills. It was about discovering strengths, stretching beyond comfort zones, building bridges (in more ways than one), carving cedar spoons, challenging themselves on the high ropes, hiking to Hidden and Lost Lake, learning to build fires, and exploring the difference between good and bad stress. There were running games of Pictionary, campfire s’mores, journals filled with reflections, and kindness cards written for themselves — small reminders to carry home long after the week was over.
These are the experiences that stay with us. The moments when confidence grows quietly, friendships deepen, and young people discover something new about themselves and one another.
One student described the week as “magical.” Looking through these photos, it is easy to understand why. What a gift it is to share this place, these experiences, and this time together.