Truth #2: I have met very few teachers that disagree – the classroom is only one of the ways children can learn and develop. As long as a child isn’t struggling through the day to day lessons taught within the confines of traditional school, missing out on a few days in a classroom can be more beneficial than harmful. “Experience, travel – these are as education in themselves” – Euripides quotes (Greek playwright, c. 480-406 BC)
Truth #2: I have met very few teachers that disagree – the classroom is only one of the ways children can learn and develop. As long as a child isn’t struggling through the day to day lessons taught within the confines of traditional school, missing out on a few days in a classroom can be more beneficial than harmful. “Experience, travel – these are as education in themselves” – Euripides quotes (Greek playwright, c. 480-406 BC)
Physical Education. Nothing like running laps around a track to make you want to skip gym class. Yet, gym class hasn’t changed much since my parents went to school. Musty gymnasiums, muddy fields, and stinky changerooms are all still the same. But exercise doesn’t have to be so boring. On our first full day on Pelee Island, we biked 10km, hiked at least 5km and, if temperatures would have allowed it, would have swam until the sun went down. Tell kids in a gym class they were going to run a mini triathlon, you can guarantee a room full of groans. Incorporate these same activities into a day outside, riding along dirt roads passing vineyards and through forests, hiking on trails that lead to the beach, full of springtime flowers and wildlife such as birds and (unfortunately) snakes, and you’ve got yourself an amazing day.
Art. Besides the art of making wine, Pelee Island is also known as an artistic haven. Gift shops are scatters across the island, displaying the locally made art, including knitting, weaving, painting and works of art made with beach stones. The beauty of the island is inspiration enough to want to pick up a paint brush and attempt to capture views that are breathtaking. My favourite art inspired highlight of Pelee Island was the StoneMan.
Agriculture. Pelee Island Winery is the definitely the focus of most tourists visiting the island. Considering there were once 8 wineries that flourished on Pelee, only one remains today and it has grown into one of the largest businesses in the Essex County. When the fields aren’t filled with grapes, the land is still farmed with soybeans and alfalfa in order to keep the fields full of the rich nutrients they need for furture grape growing seasons. During our Winery tour, our guide pointed out the rosebushes that are planted at the beginning of each row of vines. These are the “canary’s” for the farmers, and provide warnings of any diseases that might harm the crops, as the rose bushes are much more sensitive to harmful plagues that could destroy the vines surrounding them.
Pelee Island is also home to nearly one-sixth of Ontario’s plant species. Plants such as the Prickly Pear Cactus and the Appendaged Waterleaf grow abundantly here and are well protected in the Fish Point Nature Reserve.
Geography. It’s easy to take for granted how lucky most Southern Ontario residence’s are, being so close to the Great Lakes – the largest collection of fresh water lakes on earth. With much of the world struggling to find clean fresh water, we have an abundance allowing easy access for drinking and for our crops. Pelee Island is situated in the west end of Lake Erie, the second largest of the Great Lakes. Lake Erie is also the shallowest Great Lake, a hazard for many large ships that have tried to navigate these waters. The lighthouse that once guided many ships through these shallow waters, is located on the North Shore of Pelee Island and was recently restored in 2000.
Pelee Island is also the southernmost populated point in all of Canada. The furthest south you can get on the island is the sandbar located off the beach at Fish Point Nature Reserve. A 1.6km trek through the reserve on the hiking trail, and another 1km or so of walk on the beach will get you there – worth the trip to say you’ve been as far south as you can get and still be in Canada. Pelee is on the same latitude as Northern California, just north of the Napa Valley region.
BONUS: Life Lessons. #1. Get out of your comfort zone. “It’s too expensive!” “We don’t have the time!” All weak excuses not to travel. Exploring new places, with the family or on your own, will only enhance your understanding of the world we live in. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, it doesn’t need to be far away. Day trips and weekend trips can be just as valuable and fun filled as a week or a month overseas. It can be intimidating to break routine, but once you hit the road, the thrill of a new adventure will outweigh any nervousness you may have at trying something different.
#2. The best way to learn about a new place is to talk to the people that live there. Want to know the best place to go for breakfast? Want to know the best beach to visit? Ask the staff at your motel, or the waitress when you are out for lunch. The best places to visit aren’t usually in the tourbooks – ask a local where they would take their family if they were visiting Pelee Island for the first time. Not only do locals know where it’s at, they can also help you find a unique experience that tourbooks have overlooked or have yet to discover. Kids can find it scary to talk with new people, but it’s so valuable to encourage conversation. Confidence is difficult to teach at any age, but getting out there and taking the first step will help with public speaking, job interviews, and any social situation where you don’t get to hide behind a computer screen and socialize online.
#3. Take the road less travelled, and choose a beach less crowded, especially when you forgot your bathingsuit.
#4. Take ALL opportunities you have to use the washroom. Nothing makes a roadtrip feel like an eternity when you are on a bumpy road and you have to pee.