Augustine (front) and other Redfish students hiking along the coast. PHOTO: Nadine Raynolds, director, Redfish School of ChangeBy Anne MacLaurin
Creating change in their community is what attracted Skye Augustine and Clare Peacock to the Redfish School of Change program. Augustine is a UVic honours geography and environmental studies student and Peacock is in her final year of a geography major and environmental studies minor. They found the six-week field school provided a perfect opportunity to learn outside the classroom.
The Redfish School of Change is a non-profit program designed for people who want to lead the way in creating ecological sustainability and social equity in their communities. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive three 300-level University of Victoria course credits as well as six months of post-program support on their environmental and social justice initiatives.
UVic instructors Brenda Beckwith, James Rowe and Eric Higgs (environmental studies) are directly involved with the Redfish School of Change program as well as teaching courses in the School of Environmental Studies.
"I loved how thoroughly you get to learn through talking to people and applying your learning to real life scenarios," says Augustine. "I became invested in what I was studying."
Peacock says the Redfish program was exactly what she needed as she neared the end of her degree. "I feel so lucky; the program was amazing," she says. "I found my passion and a focus for what I want to do in life."
For six weeks, Augustine and Peacock lived and learned with 14 other participants as they traveled from the mountains of the Slocan Valley to the marine coast of Vancouver Island. Beginning their adventure at Little Slocan Lodge, they participated in workshops and other activities before moving on to an organic farm in the southern Okanagan.
From there the students took a canoe trip down the Fraser River from Harrison to Vancouver as they explored strategies for creating ecological sustainability and social equity. Their program ended in Victoria with more field trips and workshops while based at Pearson College and UVic.
Both students found the experience of working with a small group the most rewarding and inspiring. Living and learning with other participants taught them to develop the capacity and confidence to lead their community on the issues that matter most to them.
"We also met some of the most inspiring change-makers," says Peacock. "Everyone from film-makers to radio hosts to business owners to fundraisers. Each person had an incredible story and was very willing to sit and listen to our ideas—eager to give advice and encourage you to help create environmental and social change."
Upon their return, Redfish students are required to develop a community action project that focuses on helping at the local level.
Augustine will launch a project in Victoria interviewing grandparents, collecting stories and asking what it means to have a sense of place. Peacock is excited to start her first documentary film exploring food security issues on Vancouver Island.
More info on the partnership between Redfish School of Change and UVic: www.schoolofchange.ca
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