Wednesday, Aprit 14. 1999 — North Shore News - 13 iS d great classroom Youth W.E.S.T. a lesson in safety awareness Andrew McCredie Editor andrew@nsnews.com SINCE 1992 a unique outdoor education program offered by Cypress Bow! has taught hundreds of North Shore secondary school students valuable lessons about the great outdoors. Last Saturday, a fresh crop of eager recruits took to the West Vancouver ski hill to pactici- pate in an outdoor safety awareness event, which included such techniques as self-evacuation from a chair- lift and how to drive a snow- cat. In addition, the 15- to 18-year-old participants in the Youth W.E.S.T. (Work Experience and Skills Training) program learn how to observe weather and snow conditions and how to be prepared for the unex- pected. In light of the busy win- ter season the North Shore Search and Rescue Team has experienced in the back country, it is this last point — be prepared for the unex- lost hikers, skiers and snowboarders caught in uncontrolled areas, and people getting caught in rapidly changing weather, people must be prepared to take responsibility tor their own safety,” Kerr said. “This is the age group most likely to be heading outdoors into uncontrolled areas. “We can’t stop them from going into those areas or hiking in inclement weather, but we can give them the training to be pre- “We can’t stop them from going into those areas or hiking in inclement weather, but we can give them the training to be prepared for unexpected situations and emergencies.” pared for unexpected situations and emer- gencies.” According to Kerr, Cypress Bowl’s motives aren’t entire- ly altruistic — the mountain employs approximately 70 students every year from schools in North and West Vancouver, Coquitlam, Surrey and Vancouver. “The kids just love it,” Kerr adds. “And since it is also worth credit for them, they really get into it.” The program is set up so that it provides students with credits to put towards graduation — and, Kerr said, often full-time employ- ment. “We hire quite a few of them each year,” she said. “Probably every department up here has a few people pected — thar Youth W.E.S.T. director who came up through the program.” Crystal Kerr says is the real purpose of the For more information about the Youth . ; program. W.E.S.T. program contact Kerr at Cypress — ay - ing incidents invol : Pe = NEWS photo Paul ith the increasing incidents involving Bowl, 922-5612, local 25 CYPRESS Bowl assistant ski patro! director Ben Beens (left) demonsirates to high school student Daina Baldwin the proper technique in belaying a person from a chairlift during the day-long Youth W.E.S.T. session on Saturday. Gatehouse Mortessovi | Alumni | Gatehouse Montessori School is celebrating its 20th year on the North Shore. During the past two decades over 1500 children have spent their early developmental years with our educational professionals. Today about 75 children from preschool age through grade 3 experience tne hands-on feaching approach referred to as the traditional Moniessori method. Aithough Gatehouse is a weli-established name in our community, it has yet to acquire a permanent home. With the 20th Anniversary comes our second annuai fund-raiser to help create a construction fund for the school. Last year, the school raised $19,000 and with your help, we are hoping to do the same again this year. The Gafehouse Montessori Board and its volunteers are planning a wonderful fundraising evening for the 20th Anniversary celebraticn and if is our wish that all alumni will be interested in taking part. So join us...won't you! This year VISIONWORKS is celebrating 10 years of quality and value. Save Op %*t ALL FRAMES * (*when purchasing frame & lenses) F“TRUST in the comfort of | Better Vision. As you near 40,it becomes harder for I your ayes to focus on things close up, but 1 with the Varilux® Instant Focus System, you can see near, far & everywhere in i “=, | between. . I ? I Guaranteed highest quality by (eaRC