Making a CASE for Change
Oct 20 – 25th, 2024 on Cortes Island
This transformative gathering will employ a creative facilitation model that explores the interface of ecology, the arts, and experiential education. Join the Cortes Island Academy and several other innovative educational programs as we host a 5 day Youth Leadership Summit.
The Youth Leadership Summit is designed to provide youth with the socio-emotional skills to face today’s changing climate. The program will be lead by Khari Wendell McClelland and will include workshops by Dr. Suzanne Simard form the Mother Tree Network, Juno-nominated musician Ruby Singh, and a team of local facilitators and knowledge holders. Participants will be immersed in 5 days of citizen-based science, storytelling, community building, and creative expression.
Would you like to attend?
We have scholarships to help rural, remote and indigenous learners get here.
Please reach out!
Are you a teacher?
Ask us about how you can attend for free with or without your students
We want to hear from you!

Who is this for?
- Students in home learning, experiential education programs, and anyone interested in a different way of learning
- Cortes Island Academy students
- Experiential education teachers and knowledge holders looking to help create a community of like-minded change makers
The 5 Day Leadership Summit will give youth the opportunity to:
- Create a community container that fosters inclusivity, connection and creativity
- Braid science with tradition and indigenous knowledge
- Learn about nature-based science and hands-on practices that support climate resilience with Suzanne Simard of the Mother Tree Network
- Work with transformative practices of nature-based healing through art with local knowledge holders and artists
Curriculum Highlights
Climate & Social Arts
Build relationship to the natural world through connections to self, community and the natural world
Communication & Story Telling
Learn art, language, storytelling and song
Studio Arts
Create with traditional and non-traditional art forms that express relationship to the land
Forest Ecology
Learn the connections that weave through underground networks and how this relates to the language of the forest

2024 CASE week in review:
We had an incredible and transformative week at Hollyhock, on the territories of the toq qaymɩxʷ (Klahoose), ɬəʔamɛn qaymɩxʷ (Tla’amin), ʔop qaymɩxʷ (Homalco) Nations. CASE was a week about bringing youth together to build community, dive into deep conversations, decolonize our minds, and learn about the changing climate. Youth joined us for the week from the Sister Nations, Saturna Ecological Education Centre (SEEC) and our own students and alumni of Cortes Island Academy. Our heartfelt thanks to the Klahoose First Nation, Hollyhock and the Mother Tree Network for making this event possible.


Daily Flow
The morning sessions focused on community building, personal growth and ecological learning. Mother Tree Network facilitators lead incredible workshops & sessions throughout. Rex Wyler, Ruby Singh and Michael Datura led a discussion on activism, politics & art. In the afternoons, facilitators led workshops on art, movement, science, sound arts, bio sonification and MORE! On day 5 of the week, students stepped up to lead workshops and sessions on youth led day.

Check out Harvey’s video about the ʔayʔaǰuθəm language learning at CASE
Learning ʔayʔaǰuθəm
Each morning began with a language session in ʔayʔaǰuθəm (Ayajuthem) led by Klahoose Elder Jessie Louie. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn some of the language of this land. On our youth-led day, Homalco and Tla’amin youth took the lead, teaching their peers, making this experience even more meaningful. Learning the language of this land was a profoundly special experience and a highlight for everyone present. Thank you, Jessie, for sharing your deep knowledge and generosity with us.
Evening Sessions
Our evening sessions focused on a variety of topics throughout the week including improv, art, Klahoose culture night, Mother Tree field work and open mic night! Youth had the opportunity to learn and showcase their skills throughout the week. Culture night was a highlight for everyone, Klahoose members joined us to share songs, language and dances.
Our Partners and Facilitators

The Mother Tree Network
The Mother Tree Network’s purpose is to protect, restore, and transform the stewardship of forests in British Columbia. The network grew out of the ground-breaking research of founding director and renowned forest ecologist Dr. Suzanne Simard, and her Mother Tree Project at the University of British Columbia.
The Mother Tree Network is generously supporting the creation of this Intensive.
Suzanne Simard will be teaching how to work towards braiding scientific and indigenous knowledge in Forest Ecology.

Hollyhock Retreat Centre
Hollyhock Retreat Centre located in the traditional territories of the Klahoose, Tla’amin, and Homalco Nations on Cortes Island in British Columbia. At this spectacular ocean-side campus, Hollyhock runs programs that are committed to a rich, innovative, wellness centered philosophy and centres the human experience.
Hollyhock is partnering to provide all accomodations, meals, amenities and the retreat experience for students, teachers and facilitators.

Khari Wendell McClelland
Imaginative. Bold. Genuine. Hopeful.
Khari is an award-winning musician and creative facilitator who uses the arts and experiential activities for transformational learning.
Based in Vancouver, Canada, Khari has worked with communities across Africa, Australia, Europe, North America and the Caribbean. In a world with increasingly complex societal challenges, the need for values-based creative solutions is paramount.
Khari will be the lead facilitator for CASE Intensive.
www.kwmfacilitation.com

Ruby Singh
Ruby Singh is a consultant, facilitator, and professional artist with over 20 years of consultant and facilitation history, his work is at the intersection of social justice, the arts, capacity building, and systemic change. Singh’s expertise lies especially in leading participatory processes based in anti-oppression and liberation-based practices.
Ruby will share his creativity which crosses the boundaries of music, poetry, photography and film engaging with mythos, memory, justice and fantasy.
www.rubysingh.ca

Michael Datura
Facilitator, SD72 Lead Teacher, Cortes Island School Principal
Michael recently completed a PhD in Curriculum Theory and Implementation from Simon Fraser University (SFU) with a focus on place-based education and the First Peoples Principles of Learning. In addition to his formal education, Michael brings a broad range of experience in both conventional and alternative education programs, as well as several educational research positions which have allowed him opportunities to guide the principles and curriculum of several innovative educational projects in rural BC.
Michael is a strategic advisor for CASE Intensive.

Manda Aufochs Gillespie
Our Team

Sachia Kron
Sachia is a lead coordinator for CASE Intensive and will be supporting with the production and logistics of the workshop.

Kai Harvey
Kai is one of Cortes Island Academy’s lead facilitators and will be supporting the CASE Intensive for the duration of the 5 days.

Tosh Harvey
Tosh is one of Cortes Island Academy’s lead facilitators and will be supporting the CASE Intensive for the duration of the 5 days.
Would you like to attend?
We have scholarships to help rural , remote and indigenous learners get here.
Please reach out!
Are you a teacher?
Ask us about how you can attend for free with or without your students
We want to hear from you!