| Previous Adventures |
From Mount Everest to Rainforests in Costa Rica, Algonquin College continues to provide a unique learning experience. In 2004 and 2005, the college was part of the two Mount Everest climbs. Followers could track the team’s progress on the college’s website and they facilitated Ottawa teachers in creating a curriculum that tied to this expedition. In 2005, Algonquin College along with some Ontario school boards, sent teachers to Costa Rica’s rain forests to learn about ecology, biodiversity and sustainable agricultural practices. The college trained these teachers developed interactive learning activities. Since 2005, the college has been leading the Sombra Café Coffee Project - brand of coffee derived through the sustainable agriculture practice of cultivating shade grown coffee beneath the natural forest canopy. All these positive learning experiences continue to enrich the lives of many students. At Algonquin College, there are no boundaries to learning! |
In 2004, Canadian Ben Webster's team of internationally recognized mountaineers summited Mount Everest. The story of their climb was captured in an 8 hour Discovery Channel documentary that aired that Fall called "Everest: Ultimate Survival". Algonquin College's "Everest: A Higher Learning Experience" web site enabled followers of the expedition to track the team's progress on a daily basis through journal entries and pictures. 
The goal was for Shaunna to accomplish what she was prevented from doing in 2004 - reach the top of Everest. While her team mates had successfully summited in 2004, Shaunna had encountered extreme weather conditions that forced her to abandon her summit push. Amidst tragedy and major set backs, Shaunna reached the top of Everest in 2005 through a tremendous effort -- actually leading the pack of summiters that day. People around the world, including students from Ottawa area schools, followed the 2005 expedition with great interest. Ottawa teachers had developed curriculum for a variety of subject areas that tied in directly with the Everest expedition. The NewRO (now the A-Channel) provided audio feeds from Everest. Ben and 
Shaunna also teleconferenced with students at various points as part of Everest-related curriculum activities. Upon Shaunna's return that spring, she wowed hundreds of Ottawa students at their schools with an inspirational presentation her Everest story. 
In 2005, Algonquin College, in partnership with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, the Ottawa Carleton Catholic District Board, Elmwood Academy, EARTH University and Rios Tropicales, offered teachers an opportunity to visit Costa Rica and experience its rain forests. By visiting EARTH University, which is situated deep within the rain forest, teachers learned about ecology, biodiversity and sustainable agricultural practices in the tropics first hand. Upon their return, Algonquin College trained these teachers to develop interactive elearning activities, using the pictures and information that were gathered on their trip, for use in their schools. 
Sombra Cafe is a student marketing project at Algonquin College that became operational in 2005. The college is proud to distribute Sombra Cafe: a brand of coffee derived through the sustainable agriculture practice of cultivating shade grown coffee beneath the natural forest canopy. This method, while more expensive than traditional farming practices, allows the rich biodiversity of the rain forest areas to co-exist with agricultural development. This type of direct trade partnership ensures the farmers of Santa Maria de Dota are fairly compensated for their product and will help to promote continued development of sustainable agriculture in Costa Rica.