Educator Retreat FAQs

The Summer Learning Institute Educator Retreat will take place from Monday, August 14 until Wednesday, August 16, 2023

The Summer Learning Istitute Educator Retreat will take place at Cheakamus Centre 1600 Paradise Valley Road Brackendale, BC V0N 1H0

Driving directions

The Summer Learning Institute August 2023 Educator Retreat is a specially designed overnight workshop for a wide range of groups; including K-12 teachers and administrators, outdoor centre program leaders, post-secondary program groups, and other adult educators interested in broadening their understanding of indigenous cultural and environmental learning.

This retreat is specialized for those who are looking to expand their toolbox of teaching strategies and approaches within the field of outdoor environmental and Indigenous cultural education.

Early Bird: $575 (first come-first served until July 1st, 2022 or until limit is reached)*

Standard: $655 (starting after July 1, 2022)

*Prices do not include applicable fees and tax.

On Eventbrite!

The planning schedule will be available and sent to all attendees approximately four weeks prior to arrival, along with other important information. Below is a sample schedule for review which will provide an overview of the three-day August 2023 Summer Learning Institute Educator Retreat at Cheakamus Centre.

We do not provide transport, and this is the responsibility of individuals. There are several shuttle buses offering services from the Vancouver area to Squamish, where a taxi can bring you the rest of the way. Contact us if you have any specific questions about transportation.

We understand that plans change. You may request a full refund of registration fees up to 48 hours after ticket purchase. Should you wish to cancel your registration after the 48-hour grace period, please submit a written cancellation request to programs@cheakamuscentre.ca. Your registration fee will be refunded, less a $75 administrative fee. Regretfully, no refunds will be provided after June 30, 2022.

Cheakamus Centre reserves the right to cancel an event due to low enrollment, inclement weather or other circumstances which would make the event non-viable. If Cheakamus Centre cancels an event, registrants will be offered a full refund of registration. Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of an event, registrants will have the option to either receive a full refund or transfer registration to the same event at the new, future date.

Established in 1969, Cheakamus Centre, formerly the North Vancouver Outdoor School, is an overnight field school and environmental studies facility located on 165 ha of ecological reserve in Paradise Valley. This Centre is owned by the North Vancouver School District (NVSD) and offers a wide variety of experiential environmental programs to children and adults from the Sea to Sky corridor, lower mainland, and beyond. Our renowned overnight field school and cultural programs include nature-based and outdoor activities tied to the new BC curriculum. Program offerings also include youth leadership, recreation, and other hands-on experiences intended to instill in young learners a sense of respect and appreciation for the natural world.

Cheakamus Centre also hosts visitors from around the globe for special events, retreats, camps, conferences, seminars, and workshops. In July 2012, the LEED® Platinum BlueShore Environmental Learning Centre (ELC) opened its doors in the heart of Cheakamus Centre's campus, allowing for exciting new educational programs and environmental initiatives, and expanded conference and event space. At the same time, NVSD entered into a facilities management services agreement with Listel Hospitality Group to advance the broader vision for Cheakamus Centre as a centre of excellence in environmental education and sustainable hospitality.

Click here for directions from Vancouver International Airport to Cheakamus Centre.

Get back to nature in Cheakamus Centre's comfortable year-round lodging. Our log style cabins are tucked away in the forest, which make for peaceful surroundings reflecting life of simpler, less hurried times. Surrounded by nature trails, towering cedars and grassy outdoor spaces, Cheakamus Centre lets you experience nature in its truest form. Guests are to provide their own pillow, sleeping bag or bedding for twin sized bunk beds, towels, personal toiletries and flashlight. Linen rental service is also available (please indicate at time of registration).

Learn more

At Cheakamus Centre, we believe in good food that promotes social and environmental responsibility. We care about the entire food cycle from soil to table to soil. Locally sourced and thoughtfully prepared meals provide opportunities to come together and share conversation in a community setting. We are committed to delivering the best food we can to ensure that our students and guests are healthy, happy and energized! Much of the nutrition found in food is lost through excessive processing.

When we purchase ingredients for Cheakamus Centre we will, whenever possible, source whole ingredients and make food from scratch, using our own garden herbs and vegetables. In this way we can have homemade meals with more nutrition, better flavor and true seasonality. We routinely make our own baked goods, salad dressings, sauces, and much more! This way we accommodate a wide range of special dietary needs, food intolerances and allergies without having to radically alter the menu, minimizing "special" servings. Sugar reduced diets, vegetarians, vegan meals, gluten free, and other food allergies are all far easier to accommodate when you use whole ingredients and are certain of their source.

Sample menus

Complimentary parking is available at Cheakamus Centre, at the Enviornmental Learning Centre (ELC) parking lot.

By participating in the August 2023 Summer Learning Institute Educator Retreat, you are granting Cheakamus Centre permission to photograph and film you and to share photos and video of you on our website, social media channels, print collateral and for future conference promotions. Contact programs@cheakamuscentre.ca with questions.

A representative from Cheakamus Centre will contact all registered attendees 4 weeks prior to the arrival date with additional information regarding the August 2023 Summer Learning Institute Educator Retreat.

We will be sharing select retreat highlights on Cheakamus Centre's (@cheakamuscentre) social media channels using the hashtag #CheakamusSummerInstitute. If you are a social media user, we encourage you to use the hashtag when posting or sharing from the conference. We are also interested in blog posts from retreat participants willing to share their retreat experiences and/or post retreat takeaways and follow up actions.

In Squamish, the month of August is characterized by gradually rising daily temperatures, with highs from 27°C over the course of the month, and rarely exceeding 33°C or dropping below 12°C.Read more about the local weather in Squamish here.

Unfortunately, this retreat is intended for adult participants only.

There is a question regarding accessibility on the registration order form. Please indicate if there are any information that we should know regarding any accessibility limitations. A representative from Cheakamus Centre will contact you with any questions and you may contact programs@cheakamuscentre.ca if you any questions on onsite accommodation.

Absolutely. If you have material from similar work, please bring a few copies that to share with the group.

Shoot us an e-mail at programs@cheakamuscentre.ca