About Us
WILDways School 2024!
The Wells Destination School Society is excited to announce the opening of the WILDways high school program starting this September!
WILDways is best described as a place-based, blended learning program that encourages personalized learning, student empowerment, and strong community involvement. Students will experience the provincial curriculum through thoughtful interactions with community and environment, extending learning experiences far beyond the walls of the classroom.
This year the money that we raise will go towards operational costs for our first year running the school program.
The Philosophy
The instructional philosophy for the WILDways school will integrate place-based and environmental education to engage students with their environment.
Place-based education is simply “the process of using the local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts” (Sobel, 7).
Environmental education focuses on reconnecting natural and human ecosystems so that human beings appreciate nature and understand ecosystems in order to live sustainably (Place-based Imaginative Ecological Schooling Proposal, 2010).
Both systems incorporate inquiry and project based learning where students explore real-world challenges, and are actively engaged and inspired to obtain deeper knowledge. Knowledge and awareness about different environments and the natural world develops the attitudes, skills and expertise for critical thinking, informed decision making, problem solving, and responsible action (Place-based Imaginative Ecological Schooling Proposal, 2010).
The People
Throughout the Fall and Winter of 2022/2023, members of the community of Wells came together to address an ongoing gap in our collective lives: the lack of education opportunities in Wells for young people from grades 8 - 12.
Through guiding exercises by Christena McHarg (MEd, UNBC), a working committee of former, current and future educators, administrators, artists, librarians and more was formed to address this gap in our community. This committee is now the Wells Destination School Society (WDSS) which has been granted charitable status. After two years of dedication and hard work WDSS is excited to offer students the opportunity to attend WILDways starting September 2024.
Interested in what WDSS is up to or looking to support beyond the fundraiser?
Email us at: wellsdestinationschool@gmail.com
The Location
The town of Wells is nestled in the foothills of the Cariboo mountains on the shared, unceded, traditional territories of the Southern Dakelh, Secwepemc, and Tsilhqot’in peoples. Known for its vibrant arts scene, rich history and beautiful mountain setting, Wells draws people from all over to come experience its charm.
Sitting at 1,200 metres and surrounded by forest, wetland, and river, Wells is rich in biodiversity and opportunities for connection to nature. At WILDways we firmly believe that the natural world is a central part of our community as a whole and offers immense learning opportunities for us all.
Our adventures and explorations begin in Wells but also extend beyond to include the Bowron Lakes Provincial Park, Barkerville Historic Park, Troll Ski Resort and all the beautiful places in between.
Read more here: https://www.wells.ca/about/wells