The Learning Shop
Our Mission is to build the skills, knowledge and attitudes of learners for personal growth, community engagement and success in the Upper Skeena.
Our Purpose:
The Learning Shop fosters an active citizenship by engaging community members in Literacy, Essential Skills and Lifelong Learning.
Literacy:
Beyond reading, writing and numeracy, today’s world demands a set of complex literacy skills. In our region this includes (but is not limited to) digital literacy; media literacy; cultural literacy; and traditional sustenance literacy.
Essential Skills:
Living in northern remote-rural and Indigenous communities requires a set of essential skills different than that of our urban and southern neighbours. We provide localized training to increase competencies for managing households; engaging in cultural practices; and building skills to step in to a chosen job or career.
Lifelong Learning:
As we experience life our educational needs change. Lifelong learning meets the learner where they are. By tapping into community needs we can offer relevant and meaningful learning events for all ages of our community.
Past Programs
Youth Works
Youth Works is a social enterprise. Youth are paid to work in a food production (gardening and wild harvesting), catering, and wreath making business. Youth are supported by a learning mentor (informal educator), who uses conversation to support youth to realize goals. Goals of the Youth Works program are: 1) To increase social capital among youth; 2) To build skills in goal setting; 3) To build work skills in youth; 4) To build local food skills in youth; and 5) To increase a youth’s civic engagement.
CICK Radio Station Hazelton
The Learning Shop is partnering with CICK Radio in Smithers to host a community radio station. Check in with Learning Shop staff to learn about making your own podcast!
Backyard Gardeners
Builds the skills, knowledge and confidence around local backyard food production and wild food harvesting. Often a self-organizing group, Storytellers’ coordinates this group of seasoned gardeners, new growers, and wild food harvesters to share sustenance skills with each other. Get in touch with Anissa to learn about garden volunteer opportunities this summer!
Beading Circle
Have you always wanted to learn to bead? Do you already bead and want to spend time with others working on your projects and expanding your skills? Throughout the spring Silver will be hosting beading circles in different communities, starting with Anspayaxw in February. Participants will learn and practice various beading techniques. Materials are provided and a lunch will be served beforehand. Get in touch with Silver today to register: silver@upperskeena.ca 250 842-6500.
Community Food Security
Throughout 2020 and 2021 we have been fortunate to work with local communities and amazing volunteers to support food growing and sharing in the Gitanmaax Community Garden, Sik-e-Dakh Community Garden and Farm School, partnering with W’ilp Luus in Anspayaxw on their Smokehouse Project and through project support to W'ilp Gamlakyeltxw in Gitanyow for their W'ilp Enyuust (Cache Pit) project.
Community Kitchen
Community Kitchen engages learners in planning and preparing a meal; cooking; eating and a hands-on learning activity that relates to the real life circumstances of learners. It takes place in our commercial kitchen and Learning Shop. It is delivered weekly and is a busy, interactive hub of activity with young and old eating and learning together. The community kitchen is 3 hours long, once a week, and provides an opportunity for participants to feel more connected to a shared community. Note: Community Kitchen is on hold as we modify programming to fit within COVID safety guidelines.
Kids Eco Camp
A weekly after-school, spring break, or summer day camp program for kids aged 8-12. The program teaches children sustenance skills, nutrition, and other food related skills. Children plan, prepare and eat meals made from local food and make cookbooks containing recipes they have made. They also spend time in the backyard garden and outdoors in the community - identifying and/or learning about: soils, compost, insects, and edible foods. Note: Program currently on hold due to COVID
Fostering Literacy
Fostering Literacy connects elementary school aged children with high school trained tutors to support and build confidence in reading, oral literacy, and creative expression. The program offers experiential activities to students referred by their teachers or caregivers, while training high school students in transferable work experience and mentorship skills. Note: Program currently on hold due to COVID.
Getting it Together
An informal literacy program in which people can drop by for coffee or tea, have an informal conversation about what’s going on in their lives and/or get support to complete goal setting templates that focus on building their personal and work portfolio. The drop-in creates a safe, informal space for people to check out learning opportunities for themselves and others.
Outdoor Community Weaving Drop-in
Throughout the summer of 2021 we hosted an Outdoor Community Weaving Project with support from Northern Health’s Community Resilience Grant. Over six weeks we created three beautiful compostable tapestries and participants also created their own small tapestries to take home. It
Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program
The Learning Shop will be distributing coupons at the Farmers' Market again this year. The coupon program is for low income families, elders, and pre-natal parents. Each week $21 of coupons is available for the purchase of locally grown fruit, vegetables, meats/proteins, and dairy at the farmers market. We will be starting our program in June. If you are interested in getting on the list please call Anissa at 250-842-6500 or anissa@upperskeena.ca We do not ask for financial information.