North Vancouver is full of places to go, and what better way to spend your last week of summer than visiting local places? Here’s a list of a few places near the campus to see before summer is over!

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Capilano Suspension Bridge is a popular place to visit and for good reason, it has some of the best sights in the Vancouver area. When you visit there are bridges connecting between trees and across canyons. The walk takes you through trees and across the largest bridge there which is above Capilano River. There is a large amount of history in that forest where you get a glimpse into the wildlife and scope of the forest.

Photo by Jacalyn Beales on Unsplash

Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain, where you can see anything from two guys racing up a 50 foot pole, or grizzly bears in their natural habitat. There are great food options and the Beaver-Tails are a must have (they are not real beavers’ tails)they are made of dough and whatever ingredients you want on top. There is a wind turbine that helps power the lights and gondola. There are another few things you can see there, the owl talks, ranger talks and mountain ropes adventure. The owl talks is where a wildlife specialist explains what owls are all about, there are four owls that you can see, Athena (Great Horned Owl), Odin (Barred Owl), Blizzard (Snowy Owl) and Cleo (Barn Owl). Ranger talks are where rangers will explain cool things animals do throughout the day and how to stay safe. The Mountain Ropes Adventure is like a regular zip-line but there are also bridges made out of thin logs, and ladders to climb. Grouse Mountain is packed with things to do all day and has a dining option where you can look out at the city of Vancouver.

Photo by Roshan Raj on Unsplash

Deep Cove

Deep Cove is a beautiful and small area where you can buy ice cream, or doughnuts. There are beautiful views of the mountains overlooking the water, outdoor showers in case you want to swim and an art gallery. Honey’s Doughnuts is world renowned for their doughnuts plus other foods and drinks. Honeys Doughnuts is open from 6AM-5PM every day of the week but are super popular and can be difficult to buy from. Deep Cove Ice Cream has a wide selection of flavours to try on a hot day, they are open 12-10 PM each day. The water averages to be 17 degrees during the summer but on some days you may not be allowed to swim. The local art gallery showcases much local art and hosts events. Deep Cove Kayak is a great way to get out on the water for a day, and affordable.

Photo by Angela Porisky on Unsplash

There are many other places in Deep Cove that are attractions for the summer. Maybe you’ll have to find out.

-Riley .C

As a new term begins and most classes keep an online component, it is important for all new and returning students to be familiar with the most used educational resources at Capilano. Here is our take on the most relevant five and the great news is you will only need one set of username and password to access them all!

1. myCapU Email

From newsletters and announcements to department-based inquiries and private messaging with teachers and classmates, your CapU e-mail is the first and most important communication channel within our community. You probably got yours set up the day you were admitted to your study program but if you haven’t logged in yet, here’s how you do it.

You can also access your email from your phone, through the Outlook or E-mail App, whether you are using Android or iPhone. Once all is set up, you will be able to connect your email account with other Office 365 features, such as your calendar and contacts, and apps like Word, Excel, and Teams. As a CapU student, you have access to the full Microsoft Office 365 package, so make the most out of it!

2. myCapU Account

Your myCapU account holds and lets you access all of your personal information as a student –and as a CapU employee, if that applies to you– in one place. Here’s where you go to register for your courses each term, check your schedule and your student records, make or review a payment, order textbooks, ask for financial aid… or any kind of official process you want to do at CapU.

3. eLearn

This is the official learning platform for all your courses, where you post assignments, complete tests, and engage with your class materials. When you log in to your eLearn (a.k.a. Moodle) you will be able to see all the courses you are registered for this term in your Dashboard. When you access each of them, you should be able to find all the information the teacher has posted so far, such as the course’s syllabus, announcements, assignments, discussion forums, and so on.

Make sure you are up to date with the available information and that you have everything you need for each assignment before the final deadline so you can prepare in advance. You can also contact teachers and classmates through private messages on eLearn. eLearn goes through periodical maintenance, in which it denies access to all users for a couple of hours, but it is always announced on the home site days in advance. Make sure you do the necessary arrangements for it.

4. Zoom

At this point probably no one needs us to explain what Zoom is or how it works (if you do, here is a “getting started guide”), as it was one of the very few good things that 2020 left us with. What you do need to know is that most teachers and pre-recorded lectures will require you to be signed in using your CapU Zoom account. This is to avoid unverified and potentially dangerous guests outside of CapU.

The first time you log in to your CapU Zoom account, you will need to log out of your personal Zoom account and sign in using SSO, which will ask for your usual CapU log-in information. After that, you can simply switch accounts from your Zoom profile.

 5. Microsoft Teams

If you are enrolled in classes delivered online or by mixed mode, you will probably use Zoom the most to attend online lectures, but some teachers prefer MS Teams, as it is an all-in-one platform.

You can do video conferences, phone calls, send private messages to anyone in your organization, have conversations within a team or a channel, post files, connect to your calendar and many other apps. Let’s just say there’s a reason why the SDA online support team started on Teams before we had a live chat on our website!

Although these are the most important technologies used now at Capilano, they are not the only ones. You might need to download Webex for some online lectures, learn how to upload Kaltura Capture videos for required assignments or create your ePortfolio. However, if you get yourself familiar with these 5 digital spaces we introduced you to in this post, you will find your term will run more smoothly and you can always reach us if you have any questions or concerns. Simply click the chat button on this website or send us an email to sda@capilanou.ca

Studying from home can be challenging. Noise, snacks, pets, tv, laundry, your bed… Many things can get in the way between you and that long essay you have not started yet, especially if you dread the place in which you should sit down and write it! That is why it is important to create a space comfortable enough to focus on your assignments but not so cozy that you end up snoring on top of your desk. Here are some simple tips on how to create the perfect study environment at home.

Finding the right spot

First of all, you want to find a space where you have a good WiFi signal, an energy outlet, and where you get enough light, either natural or artificial, but you should be able to sit upright and read comfortably for long periods. Ideally, a room separate from other people and distractions, but you can always use headphones to achieve this. A folded blanket is also a good idea if your chair is too stiff, but you should definitely avoid studying from your bed or any other space meant for relaxation, as your brain will get confused on when to be alert and when to rest. Having a consistent designated spot to study also helps you better recall the information for your exams.

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Make it shine!

Create and follow a routine of cleaning, decluttering, and organizing your study area every day before your classes or study session begins. Make sure you have your computer, headphones, charger, books, something to take notes with, something to drink, and everything you will need to get started so you do not interrupt your own workflow. You can place a nice little plant, candle, or piece of decoration to keep you motivated, but try to avoid anything that could potentially distract you. A clean desk makes for a peaceful mind.

Focus on what matters

To make the best out of your new study space, we recommend not only to keep your phone silent during classes and while you study, but to literally keep it out of sight from this space so you avoid any temptations and distractions. Use a wall-clock, a wristwatch, or simply set all your alarms on your computer so you can avoid getting distracted with your phone. A visual reminder of what you need to do in the day, such as a calendar, planner, agenda, to-do list, or post-its, will help you keep on track. Just try not to cram too many things around you, remember this should be a comfortable space for you to focus and not a place to overwhelm yourself.

Photo by STIL on Unsplash

Apart from drawing boundaries between your study and living environments, what will help you avoid the remote learning burn-out, is respecting your own schedule and that includes breaks. Every hour or so, get up, stretch, walk around, rest your eyes from screens, refill your glass of water, and to come back fully replenished to this amazing space you created for your own success!