SKILLS BOOST
Follow the question. Explore the idea. See where it leads.
Skills Boost is a free after-school program where children build literacy skills through inquiry, exploration and hands-on projects.
Instead of simply being told what to learn, children are encouraged to ask questions, investigate ideas, solve problems, create and share what they discover.
What is inquiry-based learning?
Inquiry starts with curiosity.
A child might ask a question, notice something interesting or come up with an idea. From there, they explore, research, experiment, create and reflect. The learning doesn't always follow a straight line. That's part of the fun.
1. Wonder
Ask a question or notice something
2. Explore
Research, experiment and investigate
3. Create
Build, write, design and share
4. Reflect
Think about what was learned
LITERACY HAPPENS EVERYWHERE
Learning that feels meaningful
Skills Boost helps children develop literacy while they're doing things that feel meaningful to them. Children might:
Research a question
Read and discuss information
Write stories or scripts
Design and build
Work as a team
Present their ideas
Create art or media
Solve problems
Reflect on what they've learned
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Bring Skills Boost to Your Organization!
We love working with community organizations to bring Skills Boost to more children across the North Okanagan! We've partnered with SD22, BGCO, Rise Gymnastics and Blue Door After School Care to offer engaging, hands-on learning experiences that encourage creativity, curiosity and confidence.
Have a group of children who could benefit from Skills Boost? We'd love to explore how we can work together! Get in touch to discuss partnership opportunities.
WHEN CHILDREN CATCH THE SPARK
One of our Skills Boost groups wanted to make a movie.
What started as an idea grew into a full creative project. The children developed characters, wrote and edited a script, practiced their lines, worked together and filmed their own movie.
Along the way, they were reading, writing, communicating, problem-solving, collaborating and building confidence.
That’s inquiry in action.
Our impact
2025-26
6
Skills Boost groups
75
students
10
facilitators & volunteers
174
program sessions
2,191
learner hours
Children leave Skills Boost with more than a completed project. They leave with opportunities to use their voice, follow their curiosity and discover what they can do.
