Indiana Carlyle-Byford almost missed her chance to join Cochrane High School’s Rivers Oceans and Mountains School (ROAMS) in 2024. But with a persuasive last-minute appeal, she earned her spot in what would become the defining experience of her high school years.
Born in New Zealand, Carlyle-Byford’s love for the outdoors comes, well. . . naturally.
“I was about three when I moved to Toronto and then seven when I moved to Alberta,” she said. “We actually moved to Alberta because of the mountains.”
Now fully settled in Cochrane, she enjoys everything from hiking and camping in the Rockies to skiing in the winter and swimming provincial lakes in the summer.
“If anyone wants a good day trip, I totally say go to Ghost Lake,” she added. “Just hang around and enjoy the water.”
With that deep-rooted connection to nature, Carlyle-Byford was the ideal candidate for ROAMS, a semester-long Grade 10 program that trades desks for dirt trails and textbooks for real-world adventure. Students learn core subjects like English and social studies while snowshoeing, camping, canoeing, and hiking across Alberta’s scenic wilderness.
“I heard about it because my friends were doing it,” she said. “They told me I should try to get in because it would be so much fun.”
But getting into ROAMS is no easy feat. The program accepts only 24 students per semester and is limited to Grade 10s. Last-minute entries are rare-- and highly competitive.
“That’s one of the hardest things,” said ROAMS founder and lead teacher Jander Talen. “I have to send emails to students who didn’t get in because there’s just not enough space.”
Still, Carlyle-Byford wasn’t ready to give up. She wrote a compelling essay to the school’s principal, outlining her academic record and her passion for the outdoors.
“I told them I could do really well in the program if they allowed me to,” she recalled.
The strategy worked. She got in, and never looked back.
“My first impression of ROAMS was that it was so cool,” she said. “I thought it was an amazing idea to give people the opportunity to learn in an unconventional way.”
Throughout the semester, Carlyle-Byford and her classmates embarked on a series of unforgettable outdoor excursions:
- Snowshoeing at Chester Lake
- Downhill skiing at Nakiska
- Hiking Prairie Mountain
- A 3-day canoe trip down the Red Deer River
- A 4-day backpacking trip in Little Elbow Provincial Recreation Area
“I think it was one of the best decisions of my life,” she said. “I came out with more appreciation not just for nature, but for the people around me.”
Even after the semester ended, Carlyle-Byford remained deeply connected to the ROAMS community. At ROAMS Fest 2025, she presented a video project titled ‘Life After ROAMS,’ highlighting how the program continues to shape her life.
“My leadership skills have really improved-- not just for school, but in life,” she said. “Being outdoors is just better for you as a human. I still hike, camp, and spend time outside with my friends and family. Some of my favourite people are from ROAMS, (and) we’re still making memories together.”
That lasting impact, according to Talen, is what ROAMS is all about.
“The end of the semester is not, ‘Let me get to the finish line and say good riddance,’” he said. “It’s the opposite. I’m sad to see them go because we’ve built strong relationships that last. Every year, students like Indy and her friends keep coming back to visit and reconnect.”
As ROAMS grows in popularity, so do its challenges-- including accessibility. With a $1,200 registration fee, the program can be financially out of reach for some families.
Talen has worked hard to secure grants to offset costs for students, but his long-term goal is to eliminate the fee altogether.
“I’m constantly looking for ways to fund this,” he said. “No student should miss out on this kind of experience because of finances.”
Carlyle-Byford agrees.
“I think all schools should have a program like ROAMS,” she said. “Schools should give students this chance to showcase what they think they can do for the world.”
