April 2009 Newsletter

Spring has sprung here at Quest, just in time for the last block of the term! While keeping busy with their latest 3.5-week course, our students have also been busy making summer plans - some to go home and work for the summer, some to travel or enjoy some well earned relaxation, some to volunteer, some to take Quest summer courses, and some are still planning!

And speaking of planning... students have kept themselves busy planning all sorts of exciting events and activities this past term. Read more about what our students have been up to these past few months:


Student Highlights

  • Several of our students recently got together to record and produce a CD of original music by Quest students, and held a release party at the Brackendale Art Gallery.
  • A number of students took part in a recent Digital Storytelling Workshop held in January. Check out the following inspiring videos that were produced:
    A Journey to the Unknown
    A Sense of Place
    Becoming Me
    Letting Go
  • The Quest interpretive dance club put on a creative performance in the library atrium in March which included flips, twists, and even a trombone!
  • Students have been attending some exciting events in Vancouver including the International Documentary Film Festival, and the Winterruption Festival on Granville Island.
  • Over the March break a number of students went to see Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speak in Whistler on environmental sustainability and policy.
  • Our 2nd year students are now starting to plan for their experiential learning blocks by taking on internships, work experiences, and international student exchanges. Read more about some of our exchange opportunities for Quest students.
  • Some students put on a production of the 'Vagina Monologues' in March to raise awareness on women's issues and violence against women. The two sold-out shows were a huge success and the students raised over $1000 for the Howe Sound Women's Centre.
  • The students are busy planning for the 'Dancing Bear Festival' - a music festival taking place here at Quest on Sunday, April 26th to celebrate the end of the term. This will be an all-day affair, open to the public, with bands from different genres of music including the Paperboys!
  • The Quest Rock Climbing Club has been climbing at the Howe Sound School indoor climbing wall every Friday evening, and even outdoors these gorgeous sunny days.
  • The Adventure Club has visited Tofino numerous times for some cold-water surfing! Read more about some of their trips via Adrienne's blog.
  • A group of over 20 students participated in an avalanche course that took place at Garibaldi Provincial Park up the road from Quest in January.
  • Roz Groenewoud, one of our current students, placed 4th in the recent X Games Ski Superpipe, 2nd at the Dew Tour Final Superpipe, and 3rd at the World Cup Finals! Check out Roz's website to learn more about her recent achievements.
  • Two other current students, Sven Winter and Sam Edney, are also part of our Quest Elite Athlete Program and strive to make the Canadian Olympic Team. Check out Sven's website to read more about his ski training and competitions this past winter, and read Sam's profile to hear more about Quest from a luger's point of view!

More Quest News

If you are interested in seeing more of what has been happening on and around campus, you can check out the following links:


Quest Admissions & Scholarships

Spots are filling up quickly, but we still have space available for our Fall 2009 class. If you have any students you think might be interested in applying to Quest, please let them know that we are still accepting applications and direct them to our free online application form and Admissions requirements.

Although our Priority Scholarship Deadline has passed, we still have a number of Scholarships and Financial Aid packages available for Fall 2009. Students interested in learning more about these opportunities can read more here.

Here are some other important dates you will need to keep in mind for the coming year:

  • Early Action Program deadline is December 1st (Admissions will continue on a rolling basis)
  • Full tuition Scholarship Application deadline is March 15th, 2010

Visiting Quest

Our next Preview Day is scheduled for Saturday April 18th. We also have a Student Showcase being held on the evening of Friday April 17th in conjunction with our Preview event. Visiting students are welcome to attend and see our current students present some of their work from this term's courses and co-curricular activities. This will be followed by a reception with live music (featuring the original music from the new CD!) by students, and refreshments.

Individual visits can also be scheduled whenever most convenient for students and their families. Travel grants are available for Grade 12 students and range anywhere from $250-1000 depending on where the student is traveling from. Travel grants are available into the summer and will apply to the student's first term's tuition at Quest.

Our Preview Day information and online visit registration form can be found on our plan a visit page.


Quest Summer Scholars Program

We are excited to let you know about our Summer Scholars Program being offered from July 26-31 for students of ages 16-20. This course is titled 'The Great Invasions: From Glaciers to First Nations.' Morning seminars, led by Prof. David J. Helfand, Chair of the Department of Astronomy at Columbia University in New York and Acting President of Quest, will cover topics in astronomy, geology, radioactive dating, and genomics in order to explore the forces that shaped the people of North America. Afternoons will be led by Toran Savjord, Quest's Director of Recreation and Athletics. Outdoor adventures will include geological field trips, water navigation, a glacier trek, natural history interpretive hikes, and night time astronomical observing.

Enrollment is limited to 20 students, and the cost is $750 CAD, including room and board. You can read more by clicking here.


2009/2010 Quest Academic Calendar

Our 2009/2010 Quest Academic Calendar is now available. You can download our calendar via our Academics page. Please let us know if you would like us to mail you a hard copy of our calendar, and we are happy to do so. Just email with your calendar request along with your mailing address.


Fall 2009 Planning

The Quest Admissions Team will be again heading out across the globe this Fall, seeking impassioned, motivated, free-thinking students who are interested in joining our intimate, integrated, and international community of learners. As we begin to plan for the Fall 2009 recruiting season ahead, we would greatly appreciate it if you could let us know of any school fairs, special events, or visit dates we should be aware of. You can also visit our online visit calendar to find out when a Quest representative will be in your area.


Quest Class Experience

We strongly believe in the importance of students and educators having the opportunity to learn more about the unique liberal arts and sciences program we are offering here at Quest. To facilitate this, we have developed the 'Quest Class Experience.' Please note that based on your geographic location, we may not be able to fulfill all requests; however, we will do our best to do so. This program offers three options:

  1. Take a break: Have a member of our experienced faculty come teach a class. Our faculty are prepared to come speak with your students about concepts that are relevant to a current class they are enrolled in. We offer seminars in Philosophy, Religious Studies, Mathematics, Ecology, Geology, Biology, Social Sciences and more.
  2. Plan a field trip! Have your students come learn with us at our breathtaking campus nestled in the Garibaldi Highlands. Students will experience a seminar-style class in a discipline that you feel is relevant to their high school curriculum, and will enjoy our dining facilities with lunch on us. We offer complimentary bus service to and from Quest for schools in the Lower Mainland.
  3. The Executive Visit: Our president, Dr. David Helfand, and our Chief Academic Officer, James Cohn, bring with them many years of educational experience. Invite them to speak at your school and learn about the value of a Liberal Arts and Sciences education.

Please share these opportunities with your fellow teachers and colleagues. To request additional information, please email .

WOW, the 2009 Spring Term has certainly been an eventful one here at Quest! Thank you for taking the time to read our Quest newsletter, and we look forward to meeting with you and your students this Fall.

Wishing you a great start to the spring, and a wonderful and restful summer ahead!

From the Quest Admissions Team