"It has been frequently stated that the most effective leadership in the area of outdoor education comes from those who lead by example, who are involved with nature or who live in harmony with one’s environment. Clare Hume is a fitting example of such a leader."
(Melanson Award Citation, SOEEA)
Clare Hume (Melanson Award Winner, 1981)
Clare’s interest in the outdoors began as a child in Ontario where he took part in school-sponsored activities including spring trips to the woods to discover and identify wild flowers, fall bulb-planting competitions and an annual fall fair with sections for children’s garden products. When Clare’s family moved to a rural Saskatchewan setting near Saskatoon, his farms activities and church camping experiences served to broaden and deepen his interest in nature.
Clare’s early teaching experiences in the 1930s provided a unique experience for youngsters as he initiated field trips and evening star hikes to arouse an interest in the world of nature. His classes conducted germination and soil experiments, and a variety of demonstrations with equipment built by himself and students or purchased with his own funds.
The interests and activities of Clare’s early teaching experience followed him into administration. Clare held administrative positions (Vice Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Instruction) with the Saskatoon Public School System. He was Superintendent for the School for the Deaf from 1948-52, then Administrator of Saskatoon Elementary Schools from 1952 until his retirement in 1971.
In his career, he was particularly noted for launching the Outdoor Education program at Pike Lake for Grade 6 students, being involved with the academically gifted, promoting audiovisual resources, and expanding school libraries.
In retirement, a passion for photography resulted in numerous awards for his prints and slide-tape presentations and he became a mentor to many others in the Saskatoon Camera Club. Clare and his wife Clara spent many hours enjoying the prairie landscape and wildflowers looking for subjects for photography and painting. This interest in nature was enhanced by trips with the Saskatoon Natural History Society. Clare's home woodworking shop produced a variety of carefully crafted artistic pieces . He exemplified the concept of "lifelong learning" and was still challenging his mind up to his last day. He learned to use a computer in his eighties. The Learning Resource Centre at King George School was named after him.
Clare Hume passed away on December 12, 2004 at age 95.
Sources:
A. Clare Hume Obituary, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, December 31, 2004
Clare Hume Melanson Award Citation, SOEEA, 1981