Ashley Muir, Native Language and Culture Teacher submitted an experiential learning project for St. Hilary Catholic School in Red Rock to purchase cross country skis, boots, bindings and poles to take one classroom outdoors for daily physical activity. The project goals were to explore community and physical education through learning a new skill in cross country skiing. The skis will be used for many years. In the future, the school will collaborate with the community to develop a course that many others could utilize for personal cross-country recreation.

The focus of the project was to promote students being physically active, and a strong emphasis on student well-being and mental health. Students will develop:

• the social-emotional learning skills needed to foster overall health and well-being, positive mental health, and the ability to learn, build resilience, and thrive;
• the skills and knowledge that will enable them to enjoy being active and healthy throughout their lives, through opportunities to participate regularly and safely in physical activity and to learn how to develop and improve their own personal fitness;
• the movement competence needed to participate in a range of physical activities, through opportunities to develop movement skills and to apply movement concepts and strategies in games, sports, dance, and various other physical activities;
• an understanding of the factors that contribute to healthy development, a sense of personal responsibility for lifelong health, and an understanding of how living healthy, active lives is connected with the world around them and the health of others.