How It Works.

Our program will be located at the only rock crag in Iqaluit which is situated within Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park. We will offer transportation to and from our basecamp for all participants. The first three days of our program will be dedicated to teaching the basic safety steps of rock climbing, such as simple knot tying and belaying lessons. We will also use these first few days to develop trust and connection as a group; there will be more games, embodiment practices, discussions, art-making, and instructional lessons within this time-frame than throughout the rest of the program. Once the participants can demonstrate safe belaying and knot-tying skills, they will have daily climbing sessions that will run for approximately four hours every day.

When participants arrive at the program, we will start off each morning with nature sit spots and journal time. We will encourage the campers to sit in silence at their individual spot for at least five to ten minutes every day, once they have had time to gain a sense of groundedness and observe nature, we will then encourage them to journal for the final five to ten minutes. After this quiet time, we will welcome participants into our basecamp tent and provide a nutritious breakfast, accompanied by herbal tea made from herbs that are native to Iqaluit. While eating, we will conduct a daily check-in by offering time for each student to be heard. After the check-in, we will practice a daily routine of asanas (yogic postures) and pranayamas (yogic breathing techniques). Our program will embolden participants to guide the daily asana and pranayama routine. Offering participants an opportunity to step into a teaching role may boost their confidence and support qualities of leadership. 

The breathing techniques will be simple practices that teach youth how to regulate their entire nervous system. These techniques will be applicable tools for regulating strong emotions that could arise while rock climbing or in stressful situations that may arise outside of our program. This routine will also act as a warm-up to ensure everyone has safely stretched before climbing.

Climbing sessions will be approximately four hours every day and will run through lunch; we will provide breakfast, snacks, and lunches for the campers every day. Providing nutritious food is a critical piece of our mission and of responsibly operating in Iqaluit as 62.2% of those under the age of 18 live in food-insecure households. 

Near the end of our day, after we have climbed and returned back to our base tent, we will have an open session for daily teachings, at this time we will welcome elders to come to share their knowledge with youth. At the end of the day, we will offer an anxiety-reducing herbal tea and have an end of the day check-in circle. Daily check-ins give each camper an opportunity to reflect on a highlight of their day and affirm that their presence is valued. An end of the day check-in also relays information back to the instructor team, as it informs us of the youth’s experiences. We will then have a quick team clean-up and drive the students back into town.

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