Greetings from Quest!

We hope you have had a great start to 2009!

Time is flying here at Quest - none of us can believe it's nearly March! The Quest students are finishing up with their Block this week, and are especially anxious for the upcoming block break, as this is also their week-long March break. Who knows what types of fun adventures are brewing! A group of Questers hiked the Juan de Fuca trail on Vancouver Island last year, and had a fantastic time. You can read more about last year's trip through Caroline's blog.

Students have been keeping busy with their studies, but have also kept their hands full with so many other extra-curricular activities and events taking place on and around campus:

  • A number of students took part in a recent digital storytelling workshop. Check out Shandel's video, 'A Sense of Place' and Kaltrina's video, 'Becoming Me'.
  • The Quest interpretive dance club put on a creative performance in the library atrium last week which included flips, twists, and even a trombone!
  • Students have done recent trips to Whistler to attend the free concert-series, and have also visited Vancouver to check out the International Documentary Film Festival, and the Winterruption Festival on Granville Island.
  • Over the March break there is a trip to see Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speak in Whistler on environmental sustainability and policy.
  • Two Quest Faculty members have recently published books:
    Brian Burge-Hendrix's book, Epistemic Uncertainty and Legal Theory
    Glen Van Brummelen's book, The Mathematics of the Heavens and the Earth
  • Students have completed producing the 'Quest Music CD' with original music performed by Quest students. They are planning a CD release party for next month!
  • Some students are putting on the 'Vagina Monologues' to raise awareness on women's issues and violence against women, with all funds raised going to the Howe Sound Women's Centre.
  • The Quest Rock Climbing Club has been climbing at the Howe Sound School indoor climbing wall every Friday evening, and even outdoors this past month!
  • The Adventure Club headed to Tofino in January for some cold-water surfing! Read more about the trip 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 in the Quest Elite Athlete Program, placed 4th in the recent X Games Ski Superpipe, and 2nd at the Dew Tour Final Superpipe! Read more about Roz's recent achievements at http://www.roz-g.com.
  • 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!

Quest and the Olympics

With the 2010 Winter Olympics exactly one year away, Vancouver and Whistler are getting geared up for the Games. Through an agreement that Quest holds with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympics, it has been decided that the Quest facilities will be used for the Olympics for the months of January and February 2010. Quest will therefore not be offering courses on-campus during this time, but students do have a number of different and exciting options. For example, off-campus blocks will be available for all students, locally and overseas! The course descriptions for these blocks are just now being finalized, but to give you a bit of a teaser, some of the courses we're looking at offering include:

  • Spanish in Argentina
  • Mandarin in Hong Kong
  • International Development in Romania
  • French Political Texts in Paris
  • Yasodhara Ashram in Nelson, BC
  • Arcosanti experimental city in Arizona
  • Rainforest rehabilitation in Borneo or Chimpanzees in Zambia
  • Winter Hazards at Rogers Pass, BC

Tuition costs will be pro-rated based on how many blocks you decide to carry out during these months. With you not having to pay for room & board at Quest, the money you are saving can go towards flights, and living expenses if you decide to carry out an off-campus block.

Other options for January and February 2010 include staying home after the Christmas holidays to work and make some money, or you could also look into possible work and volunteer opportunities with the Winter Olympics in which housing may be offered. You are also welcome to take your experiential blocks during this time. Alternatively, you could complete your language study at an immersion destination.

A full term will be offered at Quest from March - June, and blocks will also be offered in July and August. The block plan offers so much flexibility, that you don't have to worry about falling behind or missing any blocks. Please don't hesitate to contact the Admissions office should you have any further questions regarding Quest and the Olympics.


Quest Admissions & Priority Scholarship Deadline

For those of you who have not yet applied to Quest, we are pleased to let you know that it's not too late! We even have a free online application form. Once you complete our online application form, we just require an essay, original piece of work, high school transcript and interview to complete your application. Read more about our Admissions requirements.

Our Priority Scholarship Deadline is fast-approaching on March 15, 2009. If you are interested in applying for our Strangway Award for Excellence (our full-tuition scholarship), or some of our other top scholarships, please take the time to complete our Scholarship and Financial Aid Application form. Contact details for two references are required for the Scholarship application along with a short resume listing your skills, accomplishments and life experiences.


Visiting Quest

If you haven't visited our spectacular campus yet, we hope you will take the time to do so! Our next Preview Days are scheduled for Saturday March 28 and Saturday April 18, but we are also happy to schedule individual visits whenever works for you. Travel grants are available and range anywhere from $250-1000 depending on where you are traveling from, and will be applied to your first term's tuition at Quest. If you are interested in visiting, please register by clicking here.

Also, be sure to check out our online visit calendar to find out when a Quest representative is in your area. We look forward to meeting you and answering your questions!


Quest Summer Scholars Program

We are excited to let you know about our Summer Scholars Program taking place from July 26 - August 31. This program is geared towards students of ages 16-20 who have completed at least up to Grade 10. This course will be co-taught by Dr David Helfand and Toran Savjord, and we promise this to be an exceptional course! You can read the course description here. Spread the word to your younger brothers, sisters, cousins and friends!

WOW, it sure has been a busy 2009 so far! Thanks for taking the time to read our Quest newsletter, and we look forward to having you be a part of our Quest events and activities next year!


Wishing you all the best,
From the Quest Admissions Team