I’m on a boat and,
it’s going fast and
I got a nautical-themed Pashmina Afghan;
I’m the king of the world
on a boat like Leo,
If you’re on the shore,
then you’re sure not me-oh
In 2009, The Lonely Island extolled the virtues of seafaring with their popular song “I’m on a Boat.”
Lyrics for a similarly themed song to suit the new Urban Explorers program at West Vancouver Community Centre might go a little something like this:
I’m on a bus and,
it’s going the speed limit and
I got a nifty Compass Card in my hand and,
I’m heading out to West Van for a swim-o,
If you’re on your couch then you’re sure not me-oh
Not too many songs are written about being on a bus, but while Ashlee Davidson, who designed the Urban Explorers program, doesn’t expect kids to sing about it, she does hope to inspire them to consider checking out what their community has to offer by taking transit.
Davidson, West Vancouver Community Centre’s children and family program co-ordinator, got the idea for Urban Explorers during a middle years planning session last year.
The workshop, which took place with members of North Vancouver recreation and others from the community who work with kids in the “middle years” (ages nine to 12, before high school), focused on brainstorming ideas about programming for kids, including what they want and need, and what some of the challenges are in providing programs for them.
One of the challenges identified was transportation. Davidson, who also runs an after-school program at Chartwell elementary, was well aware of how location can play a role in kids accessing community centres, libraries, and other areas of interest in their neighbourhoods.
Situated north of the highway in the British Properties, Chartwell is a school found a tad off the beaten path. Although it is located in a residential area, Davidson says she has heard from some students that there is a sense of isolation when it comes to getting around since many rely on parents to drive them.
“We found that kids aren’t able to get to programs for a number of reasons and one of the big ones is not having transportation,” she notes.
Parents can’t always drive kids to activities because of work, caring for younger kids at home, or because the parents don’t know how to drive. There is also some stigma around using transit, and some parents are simply afraid to let their kids travel by themselves. The Urban Explorers program aims to help participants learn to get from point A to point B safely mainly using buses, SeaBus, and SkyTrain, but also walking.
“This will give them the knowledge and a foundation to know what to do,” says Davidson.
Information discussed during the day-long sessions will include how to read a map, what apps to use, how to dress for the weather and for visibility, and how to use a buddy system. Davidson admits it can be intimidating for some kids to get on public transit for the first time, so a guided introduction is a great way to get started.
The first session of the program takes place on Jan. 20, and will begin with an hour of instruction and planning, followed by a scavenger hunt that will take the kids from West Vancouver Community Centre to Ambleside Youth Centre, Park Royal, the library, and Capilano Mall, among other stops.
The group of 16 participants will be divided into two groups of eight, each accompanied by an adult leader. Along the way, participants will have to record their journey through photos and complete a few scavenger-hunt tasks, such as asking a retail worker at Park Royal for an item price check and finding a particular book with a hidden message at the library. The day will end with a trip up to Grouse Mountain for some hot chocolate and ice skating.
“It’s kind of a nice way to end,” says Davidson. “They’ll find it a fun day, and now when these kids go out to actually use the bus they’re going to feel like they’ve done it. They’re going to feel more confident.”
Successive sessions will explore different routes, including heading over to Vancouver, and will feature a variety of final destinations. The cost for each day-long program is $90, which includes all tickets. Check westvancouverrec.ca for session dates and descriptions.
And while travelling by bus may seem alien to some, it is standard fare for many but does take some practice and a little help from those in the know.
Flashback to a fine spring day in 1982 and a very young future North Shore News reporter sitting at the front of the bus by herself counting her paper money for all to see felt a hand fall gently on her arm.
She looked up and into the stern face of the elderly woman sitting next to her, who whispered in a firm tone: “Put your money away, dear. If they know how much you have, they know how much to take.”
Lesson learned and remembered to this day.
