Encounter is a self-discovery trip that began at Collingwood 20 years ago. The program, started by Dr. Bob Corbett, former Deputy Head/Dean of Academics at the School, and current Head of School, Ms. Lisa Evans, was inspired by a similar retreat held at a Catholic school in which he had taught. Dr. Corbett was so passionate about programs like Encounter that he did his master’s thesis on how these retreats can build community. The duo designed Encounter to provide students with a unique opportunity for self-reflection while building leadership skills, empathy and gratitude towards others.

Since 2004, there have been more than 50 Encounter retreats helping hundreds of Grade 11 and 12 students explore who they are in relation to their family, friends, and the world around them. We can’t share exactly what happens on Encounter; every candidate takes an oath - “swear not to share” - to preserve the authentic and open conversations that happen while away.

Samson, a 2023 Collingwood graduate, told us about his love for Encounter: .

“I’ve been on it three times, and it’s like magic every time: students’ walls come down and everyone just connects at a different level,” Samson says. “It’s so valuable for high school students to practice being vulnerable like that.”

After the retreat, Samson had a shift in perspective.

“Encounter helped tremendously with grieving the loss of my mom. I knew I wanted to stay really close with this community and do anything and everything I could at Collingwood.”

Some students consider it to be a Collingwood right of passage and some even attend it multiple times. For a student’s first Encounter trip, they’re called a ‘candidate’, and if they choose to stay involved, they can come back again as a ‘leader’ to help organize the trip. Students who are particularly passionate can return as a ‘rector’ to oversee all the ‘leaders’.

While Ms. Evans and Dr. Corbett had a huge part in getting Encounter off the ground, this is truly a student-led program, giving young adults the chance to be leaders in personal ways and to take an impactful project from start to finish.

Next weekend, students will set off to the Cheakamus Outdoor School for Encounter 53 and we look forward to seeing the transformations that will no doubt occur.