Every year for the past 5 years Power To Be has worked collaboratively with the Ted Rogers Foundation to provide two $10,000 scholarships to youth who are part of the Power To Be community. This year the two recipients were David Phalen and Eva Yang. I had the chance to sit down with Eva and catch up on what she has been up to since graduating from Wilderness School in 2020.

Eva started the program as a grade 8 student at Lansdowne middle school. At the time, Eva applied to the program because she wanted to learn more about outdoor activities. I remember her interview well. We were at the old Power To Be office on Fort street. Eva was a bit nervous about the interview but was confident in her desire to take on the challenges of Wilderness School, specifically activities that she had never tried before. Fast forward nearly 4 years later and I find myself sitting on a park bench catching up with Eva.

Since graduating from Wilderness School Eva has participated in the TALE program. A partnership between greater Victoria school districts and the West Coast Adventure college. Through this program Eva gained experience and on the job training in outdoor education and tourism. She completed her work placement at one of Power To Be’s community partners WildPlay. At WildPlay, Eva reports she learned valuable skills and training in setting participants up for successful adventures on the course.

Most recently Eva became the recipient of one of two Ted Rogers Scholarships which will support her in her academic pursuit of obtaining a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Health Science Information at the University of Victoria. When asked why she was keen on health sciences, Eva explained it was for two reasons.

1. She appreciates stability, and from what she understands health care professionals will always be needed and

2. through her time at Wilderness School, Eva came to understand the positive impact that pursuing outdoor activities has on health and well-being. It is Eva’s desire to support others to make this connection through education and supporting change in the current medical approaches to health.

The team at wilderness school is so proud of Eva. We are so excited to see where the next leg of her academic journey will take her. We are confident that she has the grit and determination to be a change maker in the world. Congratulations Eva on receiving the Ted Rogers Scholarship!

This blog was written by Sylvia Storry, Power To Be’s Youth and Family Adventures Lead. Using nature as a co-facilitator, Sylvia strives to help youth to find strength in themselves and build up their capacity to find belonging within the people and spaces they connect with.