More nights under the stars, more stories around the campfire, more friendships to last a lifetime—to make this future a reality, Columbia Outdoor School/Blue Lake Camp is launching its brand-new legacy fund.

“Columbia Outdoor School is so pleased to be working with the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies on our new legacy fund. Our goal is to ensure that youth in the Columbia Basin have the opportunity, now and forever, to connect with the outdoors, learn more about our natural world, and discover new things about themselves,” said Todd Hebert, Columbia Outdoor School/Blue Lake Camp Executive Director.

The Columbia Outdoor School/Blue Lake Camp Legacy Fund will provide an annual grant, in perpetuity, to support the operations and/or programming of the Columbia Outdoor School/Blue Lake Camp.

The public is invited to join the official launch at Columbia Outdoor School’s Annual General Meeting, Friday, October 18, 6 p.m., at the Ground Floor Coworking Space (100-131 7^th Ave. S., Cranbrook, BC). RSVP to [email protected] or phone 250-426-3676.

Columbia Outdoor School/Blue Lake Camp has kick-started their legacy fund with an initial contribution of $5,000.

Columbia Outdoor School/Blue Lake Camp is now inviting alumni campers and staff, families, community members, service clubs, and local businesses to make a tax-receiptable donation to this fund, to raise an additional $5,000. Online donations can be made at this link.

Donations can also be make via cheque (made out to ‘CFKR’, memo “Columbia Outdoor School”), e-transfer (to [email protected]), or cash (at 100-131 7^th Ave. S., Cranbrook).

When the fund reaches $10,000, it will be permanently invested and begin earning interest. The interest will then provide a grant, every year, forever, to Columbia Outdoor School/Blue Lake Camp.

Columbia Outdoor School is a non-profit registered charity that owns and operates the Blue Lake Camp, an outdoor education centre located in the Columbia Basin of British Columbia.

Columbia Outdoor School provides educational programming on recreation outdoor skill development, sustainability, environment, and leadership. Blue Lake Camp provides overnight camping experiences and experiential programming to youth. Youth attending the camp gain confidence, independence, critical thinking skills and opportunities to explore the natural environment. Blue Lake Camp also provides rental opportunities to families, small and large groups, and organizations.

Blue Lake has been an operation since 1977 and has a long history of developing quality environmental education programs for youth. As the largest and most organized youth focused outdoor education organization in the Columbia Basin, Blue Lake is well equipped to develop and run place-based and outdoor experiential programs.

Established in 2003 as a federally incorporated not-for-profit and a CRA-registered charity, the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR) is governed by a 13-member, volunteer Board of Directors and employs one staff person. CFKR holds a total of approximately $2.5 million in 37 permanently invested funds, which provide grants to local non-profits, every year, forever. Since its first community grants in 2004, the Community Foundation has shared almost $500,000 with local projects and programs in our communities.

To join the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies in building this permanent “community nest egg”, please visit www.CFKRockies.ca, like/follow/share their Facebook page and contact Lynnette Wray, Executive Director, by phone (250-426-1119) or email ([email protected]).

Above photos are from this summer’s backcountry out-trips for teens. Photos submitted

Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies

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