Christine Hollmann & Hugh Prichard, Owners/Operators
| Terracentric Coastal Adventures was officially born in June of 2001, but the seed had been planted many years earlier through the collective experiences and vision of its owners Christine Hollmann and Hugh Prichard.
For Hugh, the adventure began early in life. Growing up in Ontario, he worked at a summer residential camp program for inner-city children and youth as a counsellor and whitewater paddling guide on extended out trips. This work continued as he designed and facilitated adventure learning programs in a variety of settings from the jungles of Guyana to the frozen barren lands of the Canadian Arctic. The majority of Christine’s exposure to an experiential model of learning came as she travelled with the international youth organization Up With People. For a year she lived and learned with other young people from 25 countries, while participating in an experiential curriculum of marketing, stage, light and sound craft, community service, and cross cultural education. She travelled with them a second year—this time in a leadership role—as a staff member gaining valuable facilitation, workshop presentation, counselling and group management skills. Christine also returned to the organization’s headquarters in Colorado to assist in the training of new staff. |
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In 1996, Hollmann and Prichard met and it soon became apparent that there was a commonality of vision. Powell River provided the perfect physical environment for the development of adventure-based learning programs providing active, positive learning opportunities for youth, educational, therapeutic and organizational groups. In the ensuing years, both Christine and Hugh worked in ecotourism, project management and outdoor education in Powell River and on Cortes Island.
Making the move from working for others required a source of income while the business grew in its first year. Community Futures provided that source as the Terracentric business plan was accepted by the SEA program. With ongoing consultative support and informative workshops (especially accounting!), the services provided by the CF office have been much appreciated. In the past year, the company has delivered its services to Coast Garibaldi Health, JP Dallos School, Westview Learning Centre, Powell River Sea Kayak, Hollyhock retreat centre on Cortes Island, and Leisure Services, to name a few.
Today, Terracentric is a limited company and has a storefront location in the Lund Hotel, offering coastal kayaking, rainforest hikes, youth day camps and customized adventure learning programs. Using group challenges and problem solving initiatives, a local Ropes Course (at Herondell Bed and Breakfast) and wilderness travel experiences (kayaking, hiking, canoeing), adventure learning programs foster improved productivity, morale, problem solving, communication and cooperation skills.
It’s all about empowering people through impactful hands-on experiences and, of course, having fun!