Outdoor Education students in Grades 8–11 at Fernie Secondary School recently participated in an Avalanche Awareness day at Fernie Alpine Resort. Many students have built their understanding over several years through Avalanche Canada support, including classroom theory, videos, and introductory hands-on practice at school.

On the mountain, students used the transceiver training station to practice companion rescue with beacons, probes, and shovels, studied snowpack layers in snow pits, and worked with ski patrol. They learned how avalanches occur, how ski patrol uses control work including explosives and projectiles to keep terrain safe, and met an avalanche rescue dog. The experience emphasized teamwork, decision-making, and developing the knowledge and awareness needed to safely recreate in our local mountain environment.