The Fieldschool Extension Project
Fri–Sun Pro-D Day camping trips, full-day adventures
Is your child searching for more adventure during the school year? Would they thrive from incorporating full-day & Pro-D Day friendly overnight trips while continuing their school studies (traditional or homeschooling)?
✔️ Monthly Fri–Sun overnight trips (Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov). Get the first trip FREE if you Sign up for all 4 by Aug 01. Yes, they sync up with all Pro-D days in Metro Vancouver
✔️ Full-day adventures every Friday: punch pass or full-semester
✔️ 1:6 learner-to-instructor ratio
✔️ Land-based learning, bushcraft & environmental stewardship and survival skills
✔️ Hands-on development of life, social and leadership skills
But wait, there’s more…
✔️ Add-on: earn the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (in parnership with Fireside Adventures)
✔️ Add-on: we offer tutoring with a certified teacher (B.Ed) that connects with outdoor learning
✔️ Add-on: for learners 14+, mentorship and training around transiting independently
✔️ Not ready yet? We offer 1:1 and small-group mentorship through Between the Trees
✔️ We welcome neurodiverse learners and perspectives, including ADHD and ASD/Autism. We qualify for online school (IEP & EA) funding as well as AFU funding.
⚠️ Fieldschool is not a school, nor a replacement for a school. We are adding something NEW.
We’re an out-of-school Service Provider focused on kids who simply need more fresh air, adventure, and attention from mentors who meet them where they’re at. OK…let’s keep it simple… do you want your kid to have an endless backyard? Dependable friends? More mentors who “get” your kid help them grow and become confident? This is the Fieldschool Project.
✅ Fall registration open
Register for a try-out day, Pro-D pass or regular enrolment.
Questions? Book a free Zoom consultation with the Program Director now.
...or submit an inquiry form.
AGES (co-ed): 9–12 & 13–16
Minimum of 6 campers required to run
WHEN
Full days every Friday, Fri–Sun camping trips once per month. Flexible enrolment options from drop-in to full-ride, friendly to both home learners and brick-and-mortar learners.
FEES, FUNDING & ENROLMENT
Click here to view fees & enrolment
- Full ride (all Fridays and overnights): $159/day + GST (12 Fridays and 4 overnights, 24 days total)
- Core 4x overnights: $1,999 + GST: cost of $225/day for Sep, Oct, Nov overnights, and you get the August overnight free.
- 1x overnight: $675 + GST/trip
WHERE
We meet at Waterfront Station and Bridgeport Station. Our adventures take place in North Van and the Sunshine Coast
Let’s start the conversation
You’re just 15 minutes away from the answer, whether you’re curious about the nitty gritty, what-if’s or funding, we’re here to help. Book a free Zoom chat with me now or submit an inquiry form.
Watch: What is Fieldschool?
Featuring Liam Barnes, Director of VOS
Our Fall Four Fri–Sun Overnight Adventure Series (Ages 9–12 & 13–16)
Designed for youth who thrive outside, this four-part adventure series builds confidence, resilience, and lifelong outdoor skills through four unique weekend expeditions across British Columbia. Each trip explores a different landscape and teaches a new set of skills, helping participants develop the independence, teamwork, and positive mindset that come from meaningful time in nature.
Even better, every trip has been intentionally designed to align with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, supporting Bronze and Silver Adventurous Journeys while also contributing to the Skills, Voluntary Service, and Physical Recreation sections of the Award.
Aug 28–30 | Fri–Sun | FREE if you sign up for all 4 trips by Aug 01
PLUMPER COVE + MOUNT ELPHINSTONE: The Oceans to Mountains Experience
The idea behind doing Keats and Mount Elphinstone on our first trip is to create a grand “welcome (back) to the Sunshine Coast” experience. We’ll be spending the semester here… why not get a lay of the land by seeing and experiencing from lowest to highest? Beginning with a canoe journey to beautiful Plumper Cove Marine Provincial Park, participants will paddle coastal waters sheltered by Keats Island before camping beneath towering cedar forests overlooking Gibsons & Howe Sound. The following day, we’ll trade paddles for hiking boots as we climb Mount Elphinstone, taking in panoramic views stretching from Vancouver Island to the Coast Mountains. Both experiences are beginner-friendly.
By combining both canoeing and hiking into a single expedition, participants gain a far broader outdoor skillset than a traditional paddle trip alone. They’ll learn canoe strokes, navigation, campsite management, hiking techniques, outdoor cooking, and Leave No Trace practices while experiencing two completely different ecosystems in one adventure.
By combining both canoeing and hiking into a single expedition, participants gain a far broader outdoor skillset than a traditional paddle trip alone. They’ll learn canoe strokes, navigation, campsite management, hiking techniques, outdoor cooking, and Leave No Trace practices while experiencing two completely different ecosystems in one adventure.
Sep 25–27 | Fri–Sun | Pro-D day for Coquitlam, Richmond & New West
BIKING, COOKING, FORAGING & PARKOUR TOUR: The Best of the Sunshine Coast Experience
We’re known for our paddling and hiking trips… but biking is such a great way to experience a landscape and community, so we thought we’d add some variety to our classic mix of programming and bring back the ol’ 2-wheel express. This unique adventure connects Gibsons, Roberts Creek, and the surrounding coastline using safe bike-friendly routes. It’s not about getting there fast; it’s about stopping to experience.
-
Stop through Gibsons Landing… take in the coastal mountain views, eat some gelato, and if it’s rainy… why not stop by the little local Aquarium and market.
-
Thread together a safe & scenic network of quiet roads and explore hidden forest trails (Cliff Gilker Park) and local beaches like Georgia Beach and Chaster Beach… scan for sea lions out near the White Islets.
-
Set up base camp at Roberts Creek Provincial Park, a quiet spot with fire rings… or push all the way to Porpoise Bay in Sechelt. It’s choose-your-own-adventure based on the group’s level of strength and interest.
-
Take our camp cooking experience to the next level… learn to identify edible coastal plants, try simple foraging techniques, stop at roadside produce stands and check out the Roberts Creek Market to add ingredients for the most delicious meals.
-
Parkour? Why not! Let’s bust a move on some low-key local spots with cool parkour features and nice grassy landings.
Travelling by bike encourages teamwork, independence, and environmental stewardship while allowing us to experience wildlife, forests, and communities at a slower, more connected pace than travelling by vehicle. It is an exciting introduction to sustainable adventure travel.
Oct 23–25 | Fri–Sun | Provincial pro-D day
THE GLORY OF THE SECHELT INLET: The Paddle Warrior Experience
The calm waters of Porpoise Bay and the spectacular Sechelt Inlet have become one of Fireside Adventures’ signature expedition locations, serving as the training ground for many of our Explorer and World Bound canoe journeys. Sheltered, scenic, and rich in natural beauty, it is one of British Columbia’s finest places for developing paddling skills.
This weekend continues the Youth Paddle Certification pathway introduced during our Plumper Cove expedition while remaining completely welcoming to participants joining for the first time. Whether you’re building on previous experience or picking up a paddle for the very first time, instructors will help every participant progress toward Level 1 Canoeing Certification through engaging instruction, practical skill development, and plenty of time on the water.
Beyond paddling, participants will learn expedition planning, navigation, teamwork, leadership, campcraft, and outdoor decision-making while exploring one of the most beautiful inlets on the West Coast. By the end of the weekend, they’ll leave not only with stronger paddling skills, but with the confidence to take on even bigger canoe expeditions in the future.
Nov 27–29 | Fri–Sun | pro-d day for Victoria, Sunshine Coast, Richmond
TETRAHEDRON HIKE: The Big Sky Experience
Our Weekly Friday Full-day Adventures
Every Friday, we offer full-day adventures in Vancouver and North Vancouver. Our goal is to provide a consistent cohort of learners striving toward goals based on outdoor skills, life & social skills, and leadership skills.
We meet and dismiss at the same location each week (Waterfront Station, Bridgeport Station), but during the day, we go somewhere fun, new and different each time. Our activities include:
- Hiking
- Camping, cooking & bushcraft skills workshops
- Maps, navigation & orienteering
- Parkour and Filmmaking
- Snowshoeing and skiing
- Indoor Rock Climbing
- Museums, art galleries and cultural visits
Your instructors
Katie Wallace, B.Ed. (Environmental Education Specialization)
My passion for outdoor education began at summer camp; I fell in love with the chaos of canoe trips, the ridiculous inside jokes, and weirdly deep conversations with people I just met. As someone who grew up neurodiverse, these moments were more than just memories- they taught me confidence, resilience, and connection in a way I had never felt in the classroom. These days, I tend to live just outside of my comfort zone, whether that’s dipping in frozen lakes, singing for crowds, or flipping upside-down to top out my latest climbing project.
Through my undergraduate studies in Psychology, along with my experience supporting youth in both clinical and educational settings, I’ve learned that meaningful growth happens when we challenge ourselves to engage with new environments and perspectives. In turn, I am committed to creating spaces where people feel safe not only to embrace who they are, but to explore who they can become.
Certifications: Advanced Wilderness First Aid (40h), CPR Level C, CPI Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training, B.A. (Psychology Major, English Literature and Creative Writing Minor), B.Ed. (Environmental Education Specialization)
Liam “Barnsy” Barnes, Director of VOS
Lead Fieldschool Instructor and Director of Fieldschool
I started at Fireside as a junior instructor. Since then, I’ve led many epic adventures spanning BC, Yukon and Ecuador. As Director, I helped build Fireside’s World Bound and Vancouver Outdoor School’s Fieldschool from the ground up including Fieldschool Extension. I also created our Parkour & Filmmaking curriculum, which we’ve shared with hundreds of kids in order to help them develop physical literacy and risk management skills.
My mission is to co-create the punk rock or electric guitar of education - we need something fast, furious, out-of-the-box and real to help us stand against modern challenges.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: why should I care?
What it is and why it rocks
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the world’s largest youth achievement award. It’s the #1 best way to boost a resume or university application for learners aged 13–16 (looks better than your babysitting gig for sure).
Here’s the big opportunity
The Award usually requires a large amount of time and effort outside of school to complete. I say usually because… if you’re enrolled in the Fieldschool Extension, you actually earn it automatically. This is a unique and no-brainer opportunity to give your kid a head start.
“I’m already doing the Award”
Great! You can use our Fieldschool Extension camping trips as your Adventurous Journey(s) and top up your Skills, Voluntary Service and/or Physical Activity hours.
Our story
20 years of putting kids first with wonder-driven, out-of-the-box outdoor experiential education
Where it all began…
It all started during the pandemic. Many families from our sister company, Fireside Adventures, called us to ask “please take my kid outside, exploring, learning and socializing… they are driving me nuts!!”. So we said, “why not? We’d been creating dynamic outdoor experiences for 20 years… why not do some field trips! And so Fieldschool was born. Good times… awesome stories and lots of laughs (and some tears)… but we really didn’t think Fieldschool would last more than four months. Pandemic over, back to regular life, right?
Since then… Fieldschool has seen a lot of upgrades including:
- Consistent pickup and drop-off locations in Surrey, Delta, Richmond, Vancouver, North Vancouver and Burnaby but still exploring a new place each day via foot, bike, bus, Skytrain, van, even scooter!
- Community partnerships to add consistency and increase our range of expert programming options (we visit these places during Fieldschool). Including Intuitive Art Beat (visual arts), Flight Club (parkour), Moving Forward Wellness Centre and Cherry Lane Farm
- Accelerated 1:1 supported integration into Fieldschool via Between the Trees Mentorship
- Support and connection for older learners through our Vancouver Youth Leadership Centre
Our Expanded Universe of Services
Programs for every step of the way to a thriving young adulthood
As your child progresses through their childhood, they need the right program for each step of the way and a team of consistent adult mentors along for the whole journey.
Between the Trees Mentorship: 1:1 mentorship for Neurodiverse learners focused on building life and social skills and integrating into Fieldschool and/or spring/summer camp.
Fireside Adventures: Spring and summer camps, & leadership courses.. from kids day camps to 21-day expeditions, from our BC backyard to Fiji, Italy, and the Yukon. We cater to all ages and experience levels.
Fieldschool (current page): Groups of 10 learners who explore Metro Vancouver on weekdays.
