Maaqtusiis Elementary’s First Field Trip Powered by Recycling

Megan Hopgood – Marketing and Communications Coordinator • October 1, 2025

For the Grade 5 class of twelve students at Maaqtusiis Elementary in Ahousaht, many had never left their island community until fundraising through the Return-It program made it possible to take their very first school field trip off-island.

The students had a goal to go skiing at Mount Washington —but getting there came with significant challenges. Without ferry access, every trip to Vancouver Island requires water taxis, with a single round trip for a class costing around $1,000. To make their adventure possible, the students and their teacher launched a bottle drive.

The task required creative solutions. With all recyclables in Ahousaht needing to be transported by barge or water taxi, the class worked tirelessly to collect and prepare containers for transport to the Return-It Express & Go location in Tofino. Students rebagged donations, set up collection points at the medical building and staff room, and even picked up discarded cans around the community. Over six months, they collected 12,161 containers, raising $1,208 toward their goal.

The funds covered ski rentals, lift passes, and lessons for every student. Though most stayed on the bunny hill, they returned home proud of their progress and already planning their next project to raise money for a flower patch. Other classes were also inspired to follow in their footsteps and implement their own recycling program.

"This program will help expand recycling further in our school and community and support us with having more field trip opportunities. We already have plans to use these funds to start composting and collecting more types of recyclable materials." - Oliver Conn, Grade 5 Teacher

Read about our other story contest winners at return-it.ca/blog/school-contest-2025/