Coffee table book + Photography displayed at The Fina Gallery at the University of British Columbia as part of Everything and Then Some April 2025

Elevation Outdoors is a Kelowna-based nonprofit dedicated to making outdoor recreation accessible to youth facing financial and social barriers. Through programs in snowboarding, mountain biking, skateboarding, rock climbing, hiking, and a 10-month leadership development program, the organization empowers participants aged 14–18 by providing all necessary equipment, transportation, and instruction.

Designed to mentor and support vulnerable youth, these programs foster personal growth, resilience, and a sense of belonging. By connecting participants with like-minded peers, volunteer mentors and new passions, Elevation Outdoors helps guide them toward a healthy, fulfilling, and productive future. Each outdoor pursuit is structured to instill fundamental life skills, encouraging confidence, leadership, and perseverance.

Mikah is the designer, photographer, and writer behind this coffee table book — a visual and narrative tribute to the impact Elevation Outdoors has in the Kelowna community.

From 2023–2025, she was deeply involved with the nonprofit as a program leader, volunteer, and photographer, witnessing firsthand the transformative experiences it creates for local youth. Inspired by her studies in graphic design at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand — where she trained in typography, book design, and commercial printing — the book reflects a thoughtful, hands-on approach to layout and storytelling.

Rooted in her passion for outdoor recreation and community connection, the final publication (completed June 2025) includes Elevation Outdoors’ spring hiking and rock climbing programs and will be distributed to donors, volunteers, and community partners. For Mikah, creating a lasting piece that lives beyond gallery walls was central to the project.