Kluane Lake School, Destruction Bay, YT
Grant term 2024-2025
At Kluane Lake School in Destruction Bay, YT, we have 13 students ranging from grades K4 to grade 10. We are a First Nation School Board school, and many of our students are members of the Kluane First Nation. We are nestled on the shores of Kluane Lake and among the St. Elias and Ruby Mountain ranges, approximately three hours from Whitehorse, YT. Our climate is continental, with cool summers and very cold winters.
Receiving the grant has allowed us to make full use of the pre-existing six raised garden beds on our property. We have been able to fill them all with soil appropriate to the area and have built strong community connections. Experienced community members have guided us on the plants that grow best in this area, the plants that are valuable (i.e.- more food produced for less effort), and how to best care for them once planted. We have had community members contribute to soil delivery and dumping with the use of their specialized equipment, and have built invaluable relationships. Many in the community seem very excited that this project is coming to fruition.
The grant has allowed our intermediate teacher, Alissa Burton, to shine. She has taken on an integral role in helping the students start seeds in her classroom, teaching them how to keep them alive, and helping tend to the garden on evenings and weekends. This has allowed her to share her knowledge with the students and has allowed the students to learn in a hands-on way. While all of our staff members have contributed to the planning and execution of our gardens, Alissa has taken a keen interest and continues to support the students with various gardening efforts and experiences.
Our students have taken charge of their learning, from placing votes on the types of plants and specific seeds that they wanted to see grown, to clearing out the garden beds and preparing them for the soil, to the physical planting with our community members. They tend to the gardens and to the seedlings that are in the classroom, watering them frequently and problem-solving with Alissa when a plant looks like it is not thriving. They keep a watchful eye for the growth of new berries, beans, and to see how the root vegetables are growing. The garden completion has been a goal of mine, the Principal, since I arrived at the school in August 2024. Being new to the school, community, and territory has brought its challenges, but this grant has given me the opportunity to connect with neighbours and community members, collaborate deeply with staff, and find creative sources for things like soil, funds, support, etc. I am so happy to be able to say that we finally filled all of the garden beds, and get to watch as the fruits of our labour grow day by day!
