Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP)

The Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP) is a program that entices youth in grades 9 and 10 to discover Glacier National Park by providing them the opportunity to hike, camp, learn about the environment and gain valuable backcountry skills that they may not be able to access on their own. In return, participants commit to stewardship activities in their community.

During the weekend trip, participants hike as a group to the Asulkan Hut and learn about safe backcountry travel, Leave No Trace principles, team building, communication, leadership, photography, and much more.

GASP students also demonstrate leadership by giving back to their community through 15 hours of stewardship activities. Stewardship activities vary from year to year, but may include invasive species weed pulls, flora and fauna restoration, trail maintenance, or helping at cultural or environmental festivals in and around the community.

Skilled professionals, some of whom volunteer their time, provide mentoring and workshops in a variety of areas such as photography, yoga, glaciology, Indigenous knowledge, and backcountry skill development.

Most years, local photographers volunteer to mentor the students in photography. Photos taken by the GASP participants are shown at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre and at the Modern Bakeshop and Café, as well as special exhibits regionally.

GASP is a collaboration between the North Columbia Environmental Society, Parks Canada, and the Revelstoke Visual Arts Society.

GASP also receives support from:

• Canadian Pacific
• The City of Revelstoke
• Alpine Club of Canada
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• NorthFace
• Columbia Basin Trust
• Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre
• and volunteers!