Message from a Belterra Bowen Island Family – Kat, Cam and Sam Hayduk

 
Bowen Island kids experience a level of freedom and exploration that’s missing from a lot of childhoods these days.

Our nine year old son has spent his life on Bowen. He’s fed deer apples from hand, he can identify every local edible berry, he’s spent countless hours gazing into tidal pools and building forts in the forest.

It’s a tight knit community with little crime. Bowen kids grow up together with everyone knowing each other and each other’s families. Parents really look out for eachother’s kids and the kids learn to look out for each other.

There is a beautiful day care facility (Bowen Island Children’s Centre) and multiple options for excellent schooling on Bowen.

Island Discovery Learning Community is availablefor people looking to home-school. There is a Montessori School, a traditional preschool, the Bowen Island Community School (part of the West Vancouver School district), and Island Pacific School (grades 6-9). There’s also a Youth Centre where older kids can hang out and participate in programs under adult supervision. All are walking distance from the Belterra site.

This link below provides some additional information about the Bowen Island Community School. http://cultureofyes.ca/2012/10/15/the-bowen-island-signature

When the kids hit High School, they go off island to the West Vancouver high schools. The commute, while challenging, really seems to help older kids mature.

The community recreation office offers a lot of programs: sports and art offerings for kids, gymnastics, and a great soccer club. There is also a great dance academy.

Bowen is also close enough to the city so your child doesn’t grow up without the cultural benefits of city life. It’s really the best of both worlds!

I can’t tell you how many times I have turned to my kid and said, “Do you have any idea how lucky you are to grow up here?” His response is always, “No. Because I don’t know anything different.”