by Greg Klimes, Teaching Faculty, RMOT, Faculty of Science and Technology, Vancouver Island University

VIU’s “Enjoy the Journey” motto takes on a whole new meaning when I head out on a field trip with my students. Most times it’s just a long day, but twice each year it is an overnight adventure.

Prior to each outing, the usual pep-talk covers what we will be doing, when and where to meet and what the agenda will be.

In this discussion I always cover the types of appropriate clothes to wear, depending on the activity, location and weather.  Sunshine is always ideal and preferred, but that’s seldom seen. With our inclement marine weather, the smart clothing choice always comes down to the basics; layers of fleece, wool and Gore-Tex.

Some of my students love to point out that where they come from, our balmy 2 degrees is nothing compared to their minus 42 and that’s without the wind-chill. I counter with; “Yeah but….it’s not so much the temperature, but the dampness that’ll kill ya”. I sure look forward to seeing what they decide to wear.

For those sunny and warm occasions, anything and everything is fine and on display. But on my favourite, true west coast, wet days, the real entertainment begins. Most students look great; toasty warm and dry, but a few just did not listen.

This is when I see anything from shorts (no kidding), to jeans, to sneakers and sometimes no raingear on display. With a chilly south-east wind blowing 35 and rain falling at the same angle, I know their true comfort time will rapidly disappear.

Silently I calculate the time it’ll take for mild hypothermia to appear.  Don’t get me wrong, I really do like all my students, it’s just one of those precious life’s lessons one must experience first-hand to truly appreciate, or just get it.

Like how many times does it take to touch a hot stove and besides, no one has died yet on one of my trips.

So for my next field trip, an overnight campout, slated for February 21st, I can’t wait to see what this year’s students will be sporting and how much I too, will “Enjoy the Journey”.