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cortesislandacademy

- Immersive & Experiential High School program- Cortes Island, BC - Klahoose, Tla’amin & Homalco Territories
Did you know you can earn up to 24 high school cre Did you know you can earn up to 24 high school credits in just one semester? At Cortes Island Academy, students dive into Life Sciences, English, Politics, Media, Outdoor Education, and Leadership—earning credits while gaining real-world skills that go far beyond the classroom. Whether you’re here for a semester or a full journey, CIA blends place-based learning with rigorous, thought-provoking courses that prioritize critical thinking over test-taking. Learn more — link in bio. #CortesIslandAcademy #ExperientialLearning #PlaceBasedEducation #OutdoorEducation #alternativeeducation
This year in the Cortes Island Academy’s Philosoph This year in the Cortes Island Academy’s Philosophy 12 course, students engaged deeply with questions of ethics, personhood, and more-than-human relationships through the central text Robert Macfarlane’s Is a River Alive?. Building on the previous year’s focus on imagination and future-building, the course shifted toward examining the ontological and ethical foundations of those imagined futures. Students explored ideas from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s work on kinship and participated in contemporary dialogues around more-than-human communication, including attending a New York University MOTH lecture on translating whale cultures through machine learning. Throughout the semester, students considered rivers, forests, and animals as potential “persons,” grappling with what kinds of legal and moral responsibilities might emerge from such a perspective. This inquiry culminated in a community showcase titled Message in a Bottle, where the local hall was transformed into an immersive “river of learning” featuring student poetry, visual art, ecological reflections, and sound installations. The course ultimately invited students to move beyond human-centered thinking and toward a more relational understanding of the world, emphasizing imagination, responsibility, and the possibility of living differently within a more-than-human community. PS. We have no photos of Philosophy 12 activities because Kai wasn’t there. Enjoy these photos from CASE 24’ and orientation day! Comment the most interesting thing you learned in philosophy this year ✍️
Listen to Dylan’s full podcast exploring fungi & p Listen to Dylan’s full podcast exploring fungi & parasitism - link in bio! Through podcasting, students explore the world around them—and their place within it. Listening deeply, asking questions, and sharing what matters. #cortesislandacademy #cortesislandbc #placebasededucation #outoftheboxeducation #podcasts
Cortes Island Academy offers experiential, place-b Cortes Island Academy offers experiential, place-based learning in the Discovery Islands — where podcasts, films, art, and writing grow from your passions. An earth-based education rooted in place. Learn more - link in bio!
Here’s a snippet of Will’s podcast exploring the c Here’s a snippet of Will’s podcast exploring the concept of time. This semester, students dove into podcasting—exploring stories, ideas, and questions that matter to them. From local ecology to personal reflections, each episode is a window into their curiosity, creativity, and courage to be heard. Listen to the full podcasts! Link in bio. #cortesislandacademy #cortesislandbc #placebasededucation #outoftheboxeducation
Curious about a different kind of high school? Jo Curious about a different kind of high school? Join us for a Cortes Island Academy Info Session and learn about our immersive, place-based program for students in Grades 10–12. At CIA, the island becomes the classroom—students earn high school credits while exploring science, art, outdoor education, leadership, and storytelling through hands-on, real-world projects. 📅 Upcoming Info Sessions (Zoom): • March 11 | 8–9 AM (PST) • March 12 | 7–8 PM (PST) Come meet the team, learn about the upcoming semester, and ask questions about the application process. Whether you're a student, parent, or educator, this is a great chance to see if CIA might be the right fit. ✨ Applications are open now. Learn more and register for the info session: https://cortesislandacademy.ca/info/ #CortesIslandAcademy #ExperientialEducation #PlaceBasedLearning #AlternativeEducation #DiscoveryIslands
Step beyond the classroom walls with Cortes Island Step beyond the classroom walls with Cortes Island Academy’s experiential, place-based learning. Kayak and hike through the Discovery Islands. Create podcasts, films, art, and writing that explore what matters most to you. An earth-based curriculum grounded in curiosity, community, and connection. Apply now on our website! Link in bio.🌞 #cortesislandacademy #PlaceBasedLearning #ecosystemmapping #cortesislandbc #klahooseterritory #salishsea #cortesisland #morethanhuman #quadraisland #quadraislandlife #placebasededucation #OutoftheBoxEducation
We’re excited to announce that the CASE Youth Lead We’re excited to announce that the CASE Youth Leadership Summit will be hosted at the Hollyhock Leadership Learning Centre on Cortes Island, from May 3rd to 8th, 2026. CASE uses a relational model of education to encourage mentorship and partnership between youth and mentors. This helps to build the socio-emotional and relational resilience of the next generation of leaders and creates a network of rural/remote/indigenous youth and the mentors invested in their futures. More details & registration to come! @hollyhocklife
In November, we spent a week on Read Island 🌲🌊 Th In November, we spent a week on Read Island 🌲🌊 The Surge Narrows community welcomed us so generously while we explored bogs, hiked to lakes, learned about off-grid energy systems, practiced fire-building, cooked over open flames, learned orienteering, and facilitated activities for the elementary students of Read Island. So many moments of growth, connection, challenge, and laughter. A big thanks to Renate, Scott, Sheila, Suzanne and everyone else who made it possible! ✨ Comment your favourite memory from our week at Surge!
This semester in Studio Arts! 🎭🎨🖌️ Tianna support This semester in Studio Arts! 🎭🎨🖌️ Tianna supported students as they deepened their exploration of local wild clay, wrapping up with another successful pit firing. Alongside ceramics, they experimented with watercolour, sketching, collage, sculpture, and more—finishing the year with an introduction to social practice, or “socially engaged art.” Through thoughtful slide lectures and dialogue, Tosh and Tianna guided students through contemporary artworks rooted in socio-political themes. The class also joined visual artist Kathy Smail for a paper pulp sculpture workshop and spent ample time on field trips, grounding their creative work in relationship with the land. For the final showcase, visual art flowed throughout the evening, ending with a moving social practice piece that invited the audience into the lived experiences and stories of youth. Thank you to Tianna and Tosh for their incredible facilitation of the art class this year!
Applications for the fall semester September 2026- Applications for the fall semester September 2026- January 2027 are now open! This fall, our thematic focus is Earth. CIA’s experiential, place-based, project focused curriculum explores the systems—ecological, cultural, political, and creative—that operate beneath the surface. Students investigate soil, fungi, land, power, hidden histories, and alternative forms of communication, asking how information moves, how narratives are shaped, and what remains unseen. Students are able to earn up to 24 credits in Life Sciences, English, Politics, Media, Outdoor Education, and Leadership. The application process is free. Early deadline applications are due by March 31st, 2026. Link in bio!
Tune in to CKTZ on January 30, 2026, for this week Tune in to CKTZ on January 30, 2026, for this week’s episode of Desolation Sounds, where student journalists of the Cortes Island Academy tackle some big topics: where is the line on climate change? What’s the deal with UAPs? Is Queerness inherently a radical act? Journey with Dean, Dylan, Devin, and Lin as they interview experts on these topics, and report on their findings.
So much to be grateful for as we close out another So much to be grateful for as we close out another year at CIA 💫 To the incredible students who showed up with curiosity, courage, and care—this year was what it was because of you. To our returning students who’ve spent three years growing, questioning, adventuring, and are now stepping into their adult lives: we are so proud of you. To the teachers and facilitators who generously shared their passion, knowledge, and hearts—thank you for shaping this learning community. And to the land—Klahoose, Homalco, and Tla’amin territory—for holding us in all that we do. From adventures and team challenges to weekly radio shows, podcasts, essays, and everything in between—what a year 🌿✨
Podcasts are finished. Essays are handed in. The e Podcasts are finished. Essays are handed in. The end of the year is near. It’s the last week of school, and students are working hard to culminate their learning and prepare to present it at Thursday’s showcase. Come witness the incredible work of the CIA students at our annual SHOWCASE, Thursday (6:45-9pm) January 22nd at Mansons Hall. Nathaniel approves this message. ✔️
This week, students of the Cortes Island Academy l This week, students of the Cortes Island Academy launched back into podcasting. This is the third and final podcasting deep dive of the 2025/26 semester, and culminates with each student producing a complete, feature-length journalistic podcast — interviewed, researched, and edited from start to finish — and then airing it for the world to hear, on Cortes Community Radio, 89.5FM, and worldwide online www.cktz.ca Stay posted for an opportunity to come listen to a selection of these podcasts LIVE at Cortes Island Academy HQ next Friday!
It’s a surprise! Join Cortes Island Academy’s 2026 It’s a surprise! Join Cortes Island Academy’s 2026/27 year.
Throwback to December’s bread making workshop. Tha Throwback to December’s bread making workshop. Thank you Kris and @hollyhocklife for hosting the CIA students in the kitchen to learn the art of bread making.
An excerpt from Jasmine’s message in a bottle podc An excerpt from Jasmine’s message in a bottle podcast. Listen to the full podcast, link in bio! Stay tuned for more student work!
Words from our student’s message in a bottle podca Words from our student’s message in a bottle podcasts— listen to the full podcasts, link in bio!
Whose voices shape environmental decisions? Throug Whose voices shape environmental decisions? Through a stakeholder conference, students stepped into decision-making roles to understand power, compromise, and collaboration in resource management.
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