Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
While not in the same league as Hollywood’s Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, an Oliver student will experience an adventure in tourism as part of a Rotary Club sponsored program.
One pupil will be chosen to take part in a five-day Adventures in Tourism Business initiative that will enhance their understanding of this growing industry. This student will join 14 others from across Canada and other countries to learn everything about tourism in the Okanagan Valley. The program, overseen by the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo, has been running for more than 11 years.
Cindy Anderson, chair of the Adventure in Tourism Committee, said they have students participating from as far away as Australia. She noted that each student is chosen by their sponsoring Rotary Club. Looking after the selection process in Oliver is Rotary youth chair Jennifer Roussel.
“This is not the only program we send the kids to each year; there are others such as Adventures in Citizenship, Adventures in Forestry, etc.”
Roussel said their Club sent a student virtually to Adventures in Citizenship during the pandemic last year. “These programs are really starting again as the rules have relaxed.”
Anderson said they noticed the effects of COVID as many venues were affected negatively during the last two years. But she pointed out that some businesses are busy now with increased people using their facilities. “This is especially true in the golf courses that we have been talking to.”
However, there are still some staff shortages, Anderson stated. “Businesses are happy to be back after COVID restrictions. Customers seem to be increasing, but food and transportation costs are up.”
Anderson said the students in this year’s program will be responsible for learning and writing about each tourism business that they tour in the Okanagan. At the end of the day they will give a presentation on what they learned.
The program ends with a final banquet, with the students presenting a new business idea for the Okanagan, one that they did not see during the program.
“My hope is that the students will have a broader understanding of the scope of tourism in the Okanagan,” Anderson said, adding she envisions these youth increasing their public speaking and critical writing skills.
