Dear PSYL Participant:
I’m pleased to welcome you as a participant to the Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership,
2017! Included in this package of materials you’ll find information needed to prepare for your
time at the Pearson College this summer.
In order to complete the registration process please ensure you do the following:
 Provide us with your Travel information (via online link provided at time your registration
is accepted).
 Provide us with your Medical and Dietary information (via online link provided at time
your registration is accepted).
 Read the information below including the packing list, and seminar expectations.
 Submit your final payment.
The Dates
Arrival: Sunday July 16th. You can make your travel arrangements to arrive in Victoria, BC
anytime on July 16th We will provide pick-up from the Victoria International Airport (YYJ) or at
Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal throughout the day (as long as you have submitted your travel
information to us). Orientation will occur throughout the day, and the first official welcome
session will begin after dinner.
Departure Date: Saturday, August 5th. You should make arrangements to depart Victoria by
mid-day on Saturday August 5th. We will provide drop-off to Victoria (YYJ) Airport or Swartz Bay
Ferry Terminal until 1pm.
Due to restrictions of space and availability of transportation we absolutely cannot make any
exceptions for arrivals before the morning of July 16th or beyond the afternoon of
August 5th.
The Program
The Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership allows young people to gain the skills and first-hand
experience they need to address urgent environmental, economic and social issues, and apply
their leadership skills to local and global concerns affecting their lives. PSYL provides an
education that produces involved, active, thoughtful citizens, whose attitudes of understanding
and service will be a force for social justice concerns in the new globalized world.
Given your interest in leadership, social action and community involvement, you’ll be joining an
exceptional group of young Canadians, and young people from around the world in exploring
how to translate ideas into hard skills, and help you make a significant impact on the issues
important to you!
The Cultures
What makes the program unique is that we believe effective leadership can only be used when
one has a holistic understanding of the global situation. PSYL brings together young
representatives from all across Canada and from many countries around the world. A past
participant of PSYL noted this cultural diversity by saying, "It's really easy to dismiss something
that is happening in a far away country when you don't identify with its people - and when you
meet someone, your whole outlook changes."
Participants work with 16 animators, some of them past participants and most of whom are
United World College students selected from over 100 countries around the world - and who are
familiar with the mandates of leadership, cross-cultural exploration and critical learning. The
discussions and activities will be led by professional popular educators and teachers.
The Skills
The program is designed to offer a skills-based learning model and exploration into key social
issues and themes facing youth.
It offers a framework that includes discussions, presentations, guest speakers, workshops and
an interactive approach to leadership. Students are encouraged to broaden their perspectives
on key world issues and are provided with the leadership skills they need to become community
and world leaders.
Most importantly, we want you to feel like they have the skills to act on the issues of concern to
you and your community. We have a dedicated team of certified teachers, speakers, and
professional presenters who deliver a curriculum that will expose you to numerous leadership
skills. Program themes include:
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personal reflection and self-awareness exploration
environmental education in a temperate rainforest setting
local and international social justice issues
Aboriginal ideas and traditions
community action and awareness raising techniques
interpersonal dynamics, group management, conflict transformation
cross-cultural, diversity, and anti-oppression training
gender issues
critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making
ethics-based action
The Seminar
The teaching style of the seminar is a variety of discussion groups, skill sessions, simulations,
outdoor activities, guest speakers, and workshops. We use innovative and creative methods of
presenting information, and then divide into discussion groups and interactive activities to
explore the issues that students feel are important. We are stressing the importance of critical
learning, and are bringing all themes back to the central notion of “leadership”. As the seminar
progresses we will explore how to take the concepts learned in the first two weeks and put
those into various types of action as you prepare for a return to your home communities.
In addition to workshop sessions, the program is also about building our own community, which
includes building our own entertainment. The program will include music making, learning
dances from around the world, opportunities for physical challenges such as canoeing and
kayaking, off-campus excursions, and film festivals.
As a PSYL participant put it, the Seminar will leave you "...better armed with information to
evaluate issues in the future and with personal skills to influence change”. You will find that this
Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
650 Pearson College Drive, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9C 4H7
e: [email protected]
three-week experience will stretch your imagination and your commitment to being a leader in
your own community!
Please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions or
concerns. We are here to smooth over any rough edges and to answer your questions, but
please remember that this is YOUR seminar. We would also like to receive suggestions about
leadership issues that you may be interested in including in the program.
We look forward to welcoming you and the other future community, national and international
leaders to look at how young people can provide the leadership to create sustained, positive
and exciting change in our world!
See you soon.
The Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership team!
Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
650 Pearson College Drive, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9C 4H7
e: [email protected]
PEARSON SEMINAR ON YOUTH LEADERSHIP
SEMINAR EXPECTATIONS
The Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership is an exciting program that offers many challenges
and ways to learn about oneself and the world. Because of the unique opportunity PSYL
presents it is expected that participants will commit themselves fully to all aspects of the
Seminar - conferences, workshops, outdoor activities and social interaction. A sense of
personal responsibility to self and community, enthusiasm, and effort are fundamental criteria
for making PSYL a success and those attending must expect many challenges and
opportunities to participate in activities that they may never have experienced before. Other
than for health reasons, students will not be given the choice to forgo participation – part
of what makes PSYL work is the large group involvement in activities. We think each student
has a critical perspective to share, and we want to ensure everyone is involved!
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND FACILITIES
The site of "The Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership" will be the Lester B. Pearson College
of the Pacific. The College is located on Pedder Bay, 30 km west of the city of Victoria,
British Columbia. It is a settlement of simple buildings constructed from the native woods of
Canada's Pacific Coast. The campus, set amongst tall fir trees, is designed to produce the
friendly feeling of a small community and to reflect the purpose, aims and philosophy of the
institution. There is a centrally located academic building with seminar rooms and a small
lecture theatre. The Max Bell Hall contains a 300 seat theatre which is used for lectures,
forums, debates, movies, concerts and dramatic performances. Other facilities include a large
dining hall, an infirmary, a swimming pool and an administration building.
The Norman McKee Lang Library houses a collection of books and periodicals from around the
world. Computers are available for access to e-mail and the Internet. Participants are expected
to work within the site-specific guidelines that place importance on safety (concern for fire
hazard), and “good neighbour” policies.
We are quite far away from conveniences like shops and restaurants. It is important to
realize that you cannot go into town, and Participants should prepare themselves to be
on campus for the duration of the program.
RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION
An important aspect of education during this Seminar will be the constant intellectual and social
interaction between participants of different cultural backgrounds. The student residences and
other facilities are designed to create a comfortable environment where participants can share
their varied international experiences. In each residence there will be approximately 40
students. There will be four or five students in each sleeping room. Each residence has a
common room which may be used by all participants that reside in that dorm. Each residence is
also equipped with its own laundry room with an automatic washing machine and clothes dryer.
Participants are asked to look after their own laundry and to bring their own towels, face cloth
and laundry bag. The PSYL provides sheets, blankets, pillows and laundry detergent. Finally,
there is also a centrally-located Student Common Room which provides a meeting place for
students.
We are an open campus and choose to view our group of participants as a small community. In
this spirit, doors are not equipped with locks. While students will be able to leave valuables in a
Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
650 Pearson College Drive, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9C 4H7
e: [email protected]
safe place, which can be accessed as needed, all other belongings will be left in student rooms.
Please don’t bring personal items that are valuable (financially, or sentimentally).
COLLEGE TRANSPORTATION
Buses and passenger vans will be used for transporting participants to off-campus activities.
Students may not bring their own cars or motorcycles to the Seminar.
TRAVEL PLANNING
Pearson College is located 30km outside the city of Victoria, situated on Vancouver Island,
British Columbia. (Note: not the city of Vancouver) Our closest airport is the Victoria
International Airport (YYJ), about 1 hour drive from our campus. For the many international
flights that arrive at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) you have 2 options (as we cannot
pick you up there):
1) Book an additional flight that takes you from Vancouver to Victoria (25 min
flight). Cost starts around $120 after taxes, and flights run every hour or so. We can pick
students up at the Victoria International Airport (YYJ). Two airlines with frequent service are
Pacific Coastal: www.pacific-coastal.com and Air Canada: www.aircanada.com
2) Take the Pacific Coach Lines (PCL) bus from the Vancouver airport to the Tsawwassen Ferry
Terminal. The PCL kiosk is located on the bottom floor of arrivals- both domestic and
international Terminals. The 1 hr bus ride takes you to the Ferry Terminal and it will take you
onto the ferry going to Swartz Bay (1hr 35 min). Ferries run every 2 hours. We can pick you up
at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, a 1 hr drive from our campus.
How to use the bus/ferry: http://www.vancouver-travel-tips.com/vancouver-airport-to-theferry.html
BC Ferry: http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/tssw-current.html
If you are making your own arrangements to get to Pearson College please see:
http://pearsoncollege.ca/p/?pgn=Us&subpgn=Location&pn=Location for written directions and
maps.
PERSONAL EFFECTS
The South coast of British Columbia has a wet but generally temperate marine climate. During
summer months average temperatures rise slightly and rainfall diminishes but Pedder Bay's
particular geophysical situation still warrants wearing warm clothes, as cool mornings and
evenings are frequent. All your personal belongings should be marked with your full name.
Please leave expensive jewellery, clothes, audio equipment and large sums of money at home
as there are no locks on drawers where personal effects are stored. Personal expenses will be
limited to snacks in the student store. Participants will be able to store travel documents and
money in the safe.
Please see the detailed Packing List attached.
SPORTS AND RECREATION
Facilities for sports activities at the College reflect the Seminar's concern for developing the
whole person, while taking advantage of the unique northern marine and forest environment.
The College docks and waterfront facilities offer unique opportunities for water oriented outdoor
Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
650 Pearson College Drive, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9C 4H7
e: [email protected]
recreation. The College has kayaks and canoes in which supervised access will be available to
participants. The covered, heated Molson Swimming pool will also be open to all participants
during select supervised times. The pool building contains weight training machines and a ping
pong table. Although the College has no gymnasium it has a unique playing field, and outdoor
tennis and volleyball courts. Safety rules will be presented with regard to the use of the
swimming pool and the seafront. Together with the Fire Regulations, these must be observed.
HEALTH
The dining hall provides healthy and balanced meals. All medical problems are handled
promptly and discreetly at a highly personal level by appropriate medical services which are on
call at all times.
We will attempt to accommodate religious or medical dietary concerns but will require parents to
contact us directly to make arrangements ahead of time. We do accommodate ovo-lacto
vegetarians and vegans. While we respect the rights of students to chose other dietary
restrictions (raw, organic), we cannot accommodate a balanced meal for those students in our
cafeteria. We will work with students where possible, but we cannot offer a dietician approved
vegan option at this time.
DRUGS
The possession, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs (e.g. marijuana, hashish, cocaine, etc) is a
criminal offence in Canada, and any participant found involved with these illegal drugs in any
way will be immediately dismissed from the Seminar. It is critical that all participants understand
this regulation before coming to the College.
ALCOHOL
The Law in the Province of British Columbia does not permit the consumption of alcoholic
beverages in public places by anyone under the age of 19 years. Thus it is the policy of
PSYL that no participant or animators possess or consume alcohol during the course of
the Seminar. Those who possess or consume alcohol during the program will be
dismissed from the program.
SMOKING
The laws of British Columbia do not allow smoking to take place on the grounds of an
educational institute and also prohibit the purchase of tobacco by anyone under the age of 19
years. The college values the health of our students and abides by the law, and smoking is not
permitted at any place on campus. Participants selected must understand and accept this
policy before coming and we expect the full cooperation of everyone. A second serious concern
is the fire hazard caused through smoking, and because all our buildings are constructed of
wood, we have to be extremely careful to eliminate any possible sources of fire.
OFF-CAMPUS
Any participant who wishes to go off-campus privately is required to discuss this with the PSYL
Director or a PSYL Program Coordinator beforehand.
Participants are accorded considerable responsibility. We expect them to behave at all times in
a way which is considerate of others and of the facilities, to be present and fully attentive in all
aspects of the Seminar.
Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
650 Pearson College Drive, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9C 4H7
e: [email protected]
Packing List
Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership
Here is a more detailed list of what to bring to Pearson College this summer. A few
general thoughts:
1. You have to carry your luggage! This key point is often overlooked at the
packing stage, and can result in injury (or just plain frustration) when it comes to
the lifting stage. This list should help you pare down a bit, and remember: there
are laundry machines in each dorm so you don’t need to bring different clothes
for each day! You don’t need to pay for laundry soap or the machines. Please
pack lightly so we can fit everyone in the vans when we pick you up at the
airport!
2. Borrow what you can! Although it may be tempting, try to avoid going out and
buying a whole bunch of new things. If there’s something that you’re missing –
maybe a friend, cousin or second-hand store has it.
3. There won’t be time for supply runs once you get here – and remember, we
are far away from the city. Bring everything you will need for the 3 week duration.
There are no stores near campus.
ABSOULTELY ESSENTIAL
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Small day bag (fits lunch, water, notebook and extra layers)
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Raincoat and rainpants (waterproof- we spend lots of time in the great
outdoors…YES, even when it is raining we will stay outside!)
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Long Underwear
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Warm hat or toque (YES, it really, really does get that cold here some nightswe are in a rainforest!)
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Fleece Jacket or wool Sweater (cotton hoodies don’t count)
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A pair of non-cotton pants (i.e. wind pants, tear-aways, or rain pants)
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A Sunhat
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Sunscreen
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Towel
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Medical Insurance Information (photocopy of provincial or private medical
insurance card)
IMPORTANT
 Water bottle
 1 pair of outdoor shoes (running shoes/light hikers)
 1 pair of sandals (the kind you can walk in the woods or play in- not the strappy
kind with 3 inch heels!)
Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
650 Pearson College Drive, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9C 4H7
e: [email protected]
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Clothes including, but not limited to: shirts (warm and cool), pants, shorts,
sweatshirt, swimsuit, socks (add 2 wool pair), underwear, hats, skirts (don’t be
shy, fellas), other footwear, sleepwear
Personal toiletries
Any prescription medications (please bring a second emergency set)
A 3-ring binder or notebook and writing implement
OTHER USEFUL ITEMS
 Flashlight
 Alarm Clock
 Some dress (up) clothes (1/4 formal, costumes, plus goofy shirts/outfits, secondhand store finds, etc…)
 Coloured pencils/pens
 A book or a journal
 Sports gear
 Musical Instrument
YOU DON’T NEED TO BRING
 Pillows/ sheets/ blankets
 Anything Valuable
PLEASE NOTE: Recent studies have indicated a direct co-relation between the
likelihood of retrieving a lost item, and the presence of the owner’s name on said item.
OK, OK, would your initials be asking too much? (“Sharpie” markers work well and are
laundry-proof)
PLEASE DO NOT BRING:
 cigarettes, alcohol, or narcotic drugs (see policy outlined in Seminar Expectations)
 anything valuable
 Nuts ** Please note that because we are a nut safe facility, IT IS IMPERATIVE
THAT STUDENTS DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD OR SNACKS THAT CONTAIN
NUTS OR TRACES OF NUTS.
Any really key questions? Contact us!
Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
650 Pearson College Drive, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9C 4H7
e: [email protected]