BC Extreme Kids - Our Story

Our Story

Jobs

Help Wanted BC Extreme is looking for bright, talented, highly energized people to launch new programs and develop their future with us.We need your contact information. Take a second to say hello! Recent employment history, and education is helpful, but not necessary. Don’t have a résumé? Want to Volunteer? Do you know someone that might be interested? What are YOUR skills? Not sure if you're qualified? - for crying out loud, what's stopping you from applying? Remember, learning is not a spectator sport - Contact Us Today!

Autonomy is something we all strive for. BC Extreme encourages people to be who they want to be. This is what makes us unique – our people. As Director, I offer you an opportunity, a chance of a lifetime: follow your dreams, help someone, and make a difference in this world of ours. Listen - opportunity could be knocking very softly. The time is now! This is BC Extreme… WELCOME!

About Our Team

For starters, take our team of guides. They are an essential - and exclusive - feature of your BC Extreme adventure. Coaches, wilderness experts, childcare specialists, marriage counselors, teachers, chefs... are all professionals in their fields. They're on hand to share every moment of your BC Extreme adventure. You'll see - after just a few days, you'll be calling them friends. Nobody knows BC Extreme better than they do. Highly qualified guidance counselors grow our adventurers into lifetime members. Success is earned and means teamwork. Remember to underpromise and overdeliver.

Think of "our" Canadians as motivators and experts in "de-stress."

Our Program Director, Mark McLennan, has a proven track record with kids. “Mr. Mark” has been organizing adventures for all ages for over ten years. The human resources department of the Vancouver School Board had the following to say:
"Mr. Mark is well known by the Vancouver School Board. He was a highly respected member of our Urgent Intervention Team”.
Mark is also a Principal with TLC Canada, an organization specializing in Employee Assistance Programs and Corporate Training Programs.

Mark McLennan, better known as “Mr. Mark” or "on your Mark" with BC Extreme, injects his genuine endorphin releasing formula into everything he does. Mark's background is diverse as it is exciting. He's traveled extensively through Asia, Africa and Europe working with various communities. Locally his career has allowed him to be involved with the arts, at-risk-youth and Outward Bound type programs. He was member of the Urgent Intervention Team with the Vancouver School Board, and has assisted in the development of employee assistance programs (EAP). More recently, Mark managed a human resources department for an international software company.

Born in Vancouver, Kinley has always been intrigued by the wonders of BC's Wild West Coast. From small beginnings as a child explorer of marine tide pools to her present day unquenchable thirst for adventure, 'out there, doing stuff' is what she lives for; may it be backcountry ski and snowboarding, whitewater rafting, rock climbing among other outdoor pursuits. Kinley is a welcome member of the BC Extreme Team.

Tara moved to British Columbia from Ontario after completing her Bachelors Degree in Sociology/Anthropology at Carleton University in Ottawa. She decided to join her family on the West Coast after hearing about how amazing it was. She maintains an active lifestyle while residing in the Lower Mainland, teaching skiing to people of all ages during the winter season and enjoying the outdoors during the summer months. She is currently in the process of pursuing a career with the RCMP and upgrading her educational background.

Ryan has been developing and delivering dynamic education experiences for over 5 years. He uses non-traditional educational models for maximum impact, because learning is not passive, first and foremost it is active. He has developed programs for the Vancouver Aquarium, The Vancouver Art Gallery and delivered workshops all over B.C. He is a Senior Staff Member with Rainbow Youth Excellence Society, program director for Vancouver Youth Theatre and was an Artist in Residence for Art Starts in Schools this past spring. Ryan currently attends SFU in their communications program and in the fall will be going on exchange to Amsterdam. An avid cyclist and improviser, learner and educator, and a martial arts enthusiast, Ryan is very excited to be part of the BC Extreme Team.

Angela has an amazing passion and awareness for exploring the environment. She shares her knowledge openly, which has led her on some magical journeys. She is up for anything - whether it is leading a dynamic yoga class, sharing her wisdom of the planet's fascinating pre-history, or inventing a new water sport! Treading lightly on the earth is a motto Angela embodies and sharing the message of compassion is what she loves to do. Angela is as rare as a warm midnight summer breeze. She is an incredible contributor and we throw our arms out in appreciation for everything that she brings to the BC Extreme Team.

Jessica has just completed her MSc at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) in Environmental Sustainability which is basically the study of the economic, social and environmental issues of sustainable development. She also did a BSc at Simon Fraser University in Environmental Biology.

Jessica worked for about 6 years teaching snowboarding and did a volunteer internship with Conservation Mexico in Monterrey, Mexico. She has an absolute passion for the outdoors, nature and loves to ski, snowboard, hike and paddle. Jessica says she loves to travel and has gone on trips to Mexico, Peru, China, Italy, and now Scotland. In Jessica's own words: "If I could spend my life working to improve the environment and seeing the most of the world that I can I'll be a happy little camper. Feel free to say anything about me you want, I trust your opinion."

and so we did:
The BC Extreme Team sure loves our Jessica.
She's a one of a kind!
She's a trooper
and one tough lady to find!
WE MISS YOU!

Andrew is an experienced outdoor enthusiast from North Vancouver, BC. He has been hiking, backpacking, and orienteering for over ten years, and has climbed throughout the Coast Mountains, the Rockies, and the North Cascades. He has done several long adventure/endurance races, and is highly experienced at technical mountain biking, sea kayaking, and canoeing. Andrew has Advanced Wilderness First Aid and is trained in Avalanche Safety and Rescue. Whether on a steep alpine climb, a cool glacier, or in a quiet forest Andrew enjoys to just “get out there”, and loves to share his passion with others. We are pleased to welcome Andrew as one of the youngest members of the BC Extreme Team.

This is Rob

Sarah is a native West Coaster who is passionate about working with people in the wilderness. She is an experienced outdoor educator, guide and facilitator and has a degree in Outdoor and Experiential Education from Queen’s University. Sarah has spent many years guiding wilderness trips and working with diverse populations specializing in adventure-based learning and therapy. Sarah is currently teaching special education and doing her Masters in Counseling Psychology at UBC.

With her perpetual zest for adventure, the spunky Jan can often be found whittling away her free time by challenging herself on the rock-climbing crags of Squamish during those long hazy days of summer or aiming toward her next snow-capped peak in the winter backcountry, letting nothing get in her way. Not only an avid rock climber and mountaineer, she is also a kayaker, a telemark skier, and, well, anything as long as it means being outdoors and active. Jan also sports a strong biological background, with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Cardiovascular Diving Physiology (her study animal being Stellar sea lions). Jan treasures every opportunity to share her experiences of the inner strength, confidence, and boundless freedom that the wilderness has given her with anyone who is willing to accept that anyone can achieve these entities.

Janine has her Bachelor Degree in Education (University of Alberta) and Physical Education (University of Toronto). For 10 years she was a nationally ranked athlete, competing internationally in Modern Pentathalon (equestrian jumping, shooting, swimming, fencing and running). For the last five years she has worked around the world as an international teacher, teaching Phys. Ed. and Japanese and coaching swimming, soccer and volleyball. While on this journey, the world was Janine’s playground… she took on Mount Fuji, ran a marathon in New Zealand and obtained her Rescue Diver status in the Philippines. After recently returning to Canada from Australia and Africa, Janine has made the North Shore her new playground and enjoys running, snowboarding, playing ultimate and doing the occasional Grouse Grind. Janine’s infectious enthusiasm for life is an inspiration to anyone who meets her. She gets a kick out of motivating others and is passionate about helping them reach their goals. Janine’s motto is…Live the life you love!

Move your mouse over a name to see their info.

Our Villages and Private Island

Our mountain and coastal villages are rustic and charming. Perhaps our destination is thirty minutes from Vancouver by car, or found only by flying into the most remote and pristine locations. What about staying on our private island?? The Island is 39 acres of ancient rain forest on the rocky Howe Sound coast, with some sandy beaches and two unique houses. The stone house was built in the 1930's and the log house in the late 1920's. Our 75-foot Sailboat-Marine-Laboratory is unforgettable. Jump in our kayaks or voyager canoes and partake in our many educational experiences: touring historic native villages, climbing glaciers, rock faces, caving, who says the sky's the limit?

Links - People that we know and trust!
pathways@bowronlakes.com