The unique environment at the Ranch ensures that not only students and interns benefit from the self development opportunities, but the guest benefit from the same experiences, regardless of their length of stay. Kevan Bracewell has developed this philosophy over the 30 years Chilcotin Holidays has operated, with the help of committed interns and community members who can provide fresh ideas and inspiration.
Every guest starts their journey with the Wilderness Readiness Survey, helping them assess if they are ready for a wilderness experience that will be both challenging and highly rewarding. The more they invest in themselves, the more challenging and rewarding it will be.
While at Chilcotin Holidays, every guest gets to experience the Three Pillar philosophy of Nature Connection, Personal Development and Nature Conservation. Below are just some examples of how guests experience each Pillar while at Chilcotin Holidays:
Nature Connection – tasting wild edibles. Learning about different plant and animal species, such as identification, if the species is invasive or native and its habitat. Sleeping under the stars. Drinking fresh mountain water straight from the creek. Paying attention to their horses’ interaction with the natural environment. Identifying animal tracks and scat.
Personal Development – learning how to saddle and care for their horse. Learning about what they are capable of and their potential while riding in the mountains. Learning to split wood or make a fire. Reflecting on their experiences in our Wilderness Journal. Facing and overcoming a challenge.
Nature Conservation – filling in Chilcotin Holidays’ Wildlife Sightings Forms to collect an accurate measure of population numbers. Participating in a Conservation and Tracking pack trip. Participating in invasive species removal.
No matter the guest’s experience, Chilcotin Holidays can provide a transformational experience for every person who journeys with them.
Chilcotin Holidays offers horse based trips, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, wildlife tracking and conservation, photography tours, ranch stays and many more. The vacation packages allow guests to choose from a variety of new experiences and develop all kinds of new skills, such as learning how to fly-fish or how to ride a horse.
Learn more about Kevan Bracewell’s work:
Chilcotin Holidays, Wilderness Stewardship Foundation, Stewardship Foundation, Trails to Empowerment, Chilcotin Ark Institute, Wilderness Training Academy, Community Mill