Course Descriptions

This course is a certification level course for industry as designated by Avalanche Canada - Avalanche Skills Training course Level 1. In this course students learn how to recognize avalanche terrain, understand the avalanche forecast, plan trips, and perform a companion rescue. Upon successful completion students will receive Avalanche Canada certification Level 1.

Students will develop backcountry touring skills including track setting, winter camp craft, hazard avoidance, skiing techniques and route planning, weather observations and avalanche safety. Students that achieve the required competency level may achieve Avalanche Skills Training Level 2 Certification from the Canadian Avalanche Association.

Students will further develop their skills in navigation with map and compass, wilderness travel, survival skills, and mountain sense. Students will also develop a proficiency with electronic navigation apps, such as Gaia, and be able to implement a route plan while using this technology to provide a quality experience for themselves and others. Upon successful completion students will receive the Outdoor Council of Canada Map, Navigation and Compass certifications.

This course is designed for the experienced backpacker with little or no rope skills. Skills in basic rock climbing, rope management, crevasse rescue, snow and glacier travel and ice climbing will be developed.

A technical course for non-climbers, emphasizing technique development through practical application of field skills. Students will gain competency in outdoor top rope climbing and following a lead climber. Skill sets include anchor construction, rope management, rappelling, climbing and movement techniques, and hazard management.

An intermediate level of skill development of rock climbing techniques including rock rescue and introduction to lead climbing.

This course emphasizes the practical aspects of technical rock rescue.

This is an introductory course in Nordic skiing that develops competency in equipment selection and use, waxing, diagonal stride, poling, turns, skating, and telemark techniques. Students that achieve the required competency level may achieve Level 1 Instructor Certification from the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors.

Students will develop and demonstrate competency in skiing and teaching diagonal stride, snow plow turns, double poling, off-set skate, and intermediate telemark techniques. Students that achieve the required competency level may achieve Level 2 Instructor Certification from the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors.

A course in developing leadership skills in lake water canoeing; includes canoe history in Canada, equipment, canoe safety and leadership, tandem and solo rescues, and canoe-tripping standards and practice. Competent students may achieve industry certification for instruction in lake-water canoeing.

Tandem and solo moving water canoeing skills are developed in this course. Content includes theory, strokes, manoeuvres, and rescues. Competent students may achieve industry certification in moving water canoeing.

Includes equipment, strokes for oar and paddle boats, raft manoeuvring, and river reading. Competent students may achieve industry certification in rafting.

This intensive course is designed to prepare students for the rafting industry. Students that achieve the required competency level may achieve raft guide certification.

This course focuses on each student's ability to make safe leadership decisions, manage groups on the ocean, choose campsites, facilitate launches, and provide appropriate client care and instruction. Students may also earn certification and technical skills as part of the Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) and Paddle Canada curricula, if industry certificate requirements are met.

This course focuses on each student's ability to make safe leadership decisions, perform surf landings and launches, and provide a high level of client care and instruction. Students may achieve industry certification(s) in sea kayaking (Paddle Canada Skills Level 2 and/or Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC Assistant Overnight Guide certifications), if industry certification requirements are met.

This clinic introduces students to river kayaking equipment, safety procedures, strokes and rolling techniques. Skills will be introduced on flat water and will progress to river paddling.

This intensive course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in river rescue. Students that achieve the required competency level may receive Swiftwater Rescue Technician Certification from Rescue 3 International.

The course provides an awareness of safe guiding practices for leading mountain biking rides and competence at the beginner to intermediate levels. Topics discussed include site selection, teaching materials, demos, progression, skill analysis, biomechanics, teaching points, common errors and corrections, safety tips, and environmental variables.

This course introduces students to river kayaking equipment, safety procedures, strokes and rolling techniques.

A course developing leadership skills in snowboarding, including a comprehensive overview of the sport as it relates to snowboard instruction, guiding and leadership.

This course will review and deepen the trip planning event cycle and offer students effective group management techniques for longer outdoor trips. Students will further develop their skills in navigation with map and compass, wilderness travel, survival skills, and mountain sense. Students will also develop a proficiency with electronic navigation apps, such as Gaia, and be able to implement a route plan while using this technology to provide a quality experience for themselves and others. Students will learn how to lead longer trips in low-risk terrain classes relevant to their activity. Students who have earned Field Leader Hiking in REC 148 may also earn the following Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) certifications, if industry certificate requirements are met: Field Leader Overnight (Hiking), Go Outside (Map), Go Outside (Compass) certifications.

This course is designed to enable outdoor leaders to learn interpretation techniques regarding experiential teaching methods. These techniques enable students to interpret the surrounding wilderness environment including weather and the night sky.

The student will gain practical experience necessary to work effectively in an adventure industry business. The student will have an opportunity to work at a level comparable to that of a non-Work Experience employee of the organization. The student will integrate and consolidate theory and skills developed during the Wilderness Leadership Certificate program.

This course is designed to increase the students’ understanding of leadership theories and practices, and communication in teams. Students study literature on leadership, communication, and group dynamics. The course will provide a set of engaging, hands-on experiences for developing the capabilities for effective individual, and team leadership. This course will assist participants in improving their capability to lead others in a diversity of roles.

This course is designed to develop winter field leaders with effective personal and group management techniques for cold environments. This course will also provide an intermediate proficiency in the building of winter shelters and camp craft for a winter environment. Students may also earn certification and technical skills as part of the Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) Field Leader (Winter) curriculum if industry certificate requirements are met.

Building on skills, knowledge, and certifications earned in previous courses students will be on an extended alpine mountain field excursion in summer and fall like conditions, including glacier travel. The course provides ample opportunity for students to deepen their interpersonal skills, work within a team and engage in a support role to the leader on a mountain traverse.

This course allows students to attend outdoor/adventure industry courses and obtain recognized outdoor/adventure industry certifications. Course topics may include guiding, instruction, leadership, or technical proficiency in a variety of outdoor pursuits, including rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, backpacking, rope rescue, sailing, and mountaineering.

This course allows students to work towards obtaining an outdoor recreation industry certification in an area currently not offered in other skills courses within the Outdoor Recreation Management Diploma program. Specific topics will vary from year to year, but may include skills such as guiding, instruction and leadership, or technical proficiency in a variety of outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing, rafting, rope rescue, sailing, and mountaineering. The program convenor evaluates the industry certification to determine suitability.

This course allows students to work towards obtaining a second outdoor recreation industry certification in an area not currently offered in other skills courses within the Outdoor Recreation Management Diploma program. Specific topics will vary from year to year, but may include skills such as guiding, instruction and leadership, or technical proficiency in a variety of outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing, rafting, rope rescue, sailing, and mountaineering. The program convenor evaluates the industry certification to determine suitability.