About Wilderness Leadership
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Why join the Wilderness Leadership Program and its highly qualified instructors?
- History: Over 35 years of experience educating students in outdoor recreation and leadership
- Location: Well placed in the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada – Squamish, BC
- Only one hour from Vancouver, and one hour from Whistler / Blackcomb ski resort
- Adventure: Outdoor opportunities that are among the best in the world
- World class climbing routes, a multitude of lakes for paddling, multi-class rivers for kayaking and rafting, high end mountain bike terrain and quick access to alpine terrain.
- Outdoor Learning: A natural classroom of rich biodiversity, old-growth forests, the pacific ocean, and alpine ecosystems. In fact 70% of the program is outside!
- Timing: 20 weeks to a 30-credit Capilano University Certificate in Wilderness Leadership. It begins in early August and continues until mid December.
- An additional 17 weeks for a 15-credit advanced certificate, culminating in a practicum.
- Choice. Skill sets that are suited to your interests
- Certifications. You leave with certifications in a wide array of employable skills
- Condensed Program. Take a look at the Wilderness Leadership Program sample calendar
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Wilderness Leadership Skills
You will acquire a diverse set of leadership-oriented skills in this intensive program. Expect to be challenged physically, mentally and emotionally as we inspire you to learn more about yourself and others. The skills courses are field based, and student's camp for up to six days at a time. In addition, students take six core courses which are a mixture of indoor and outdoor learning.Our Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) instructors will provide you with the backcountry skills such as: top roping, mountaineering, lead climbing and rock rescue. Our Sea Kayak Alliance, Master Canoe (BCRCA) and Swiftwater Raft instructors will set you on the path to being a guide in the aquatic environment. The rest of our instructors will provide you with the resources to understand BC's adventure industry and to help you succeed in making this a successful career choice. Your skills upon completion can include but not be limited to:
| Leadership & Group Skills |
Environmental Awareness |
General Guiding Skills |
Specific Guiding Skills |
| Teambuilding |
Interpretation of Natural Landscapes |
Safe Guiding Practices |
Rock Anchor Set Up |
| Leadership Skills |
Environmental Issues |
Nutrition & Meal Planning |
Rock & Rope Rescue |
| Problem Solving |
Weather Forecasting |
Navigation & Route Finding |
Paddling Efficiency |
| Risk Management |
Interpretive Instruction Skills |
Equipment Selection |
Kayak Roll Techniques |
| Client Care |
Nature History Awareness |
Survival Skills |
Climbing Techniques |
| Emergency Response |
Environmental Stewardship |
Instruction Techniques |
Avalanche Awareness |
| Group & Hazard Awareness |
Log Book Development |
Skill Analysis |
Snow Pack Observation |
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Wilderness Leadership Graduates Employment Prospects
Wilderness Leadership graduates expand their skills in many diverse areas, but none more than learning about themselves and their leadership ability. Students finishing the certificate program may choose to increase their skill level through the advanced program or compliment their skills with the management techniques offered by the two-year Outdoor Recreation diploma. Those that are ready for the workforce often end up in the following fields: Lead guides, assistant guides, outdoor recreation instructors, sport camp coordinators, children's camp leaders, rental/retail assistants and equipment maintainers.
Some of our former students have taken the plunge and even started their own ecotourism businesses.
Many use their hard skills as instructors in:
- Canoe trainers
- Sea kayaking guides
- Ski & snowboard instructors
- Day hiking leaders
- Raft guides
- Climbing gym coaches
- Sail crew
Others use the soft skills and communication skills they developed to be:
- Park information hosts
- Nature interpreters
- Municipal recreation coordinators
- Environmental centre managers
- BC Parks wardens
- Youth at Risk programmers
Certifications Available
Industry Certifications & Guide Training
In approximately 20 weeks you will be able to graduate with a 30-credit Capilano University Certificate in Wilderness Leadership. Depending on the skill set you choose you will have the opportunity to receive industry certifications and guide training. Certifications are associated with skill set and the advanced program and include the following:
- Avalanche Skills Training Level 1
- CANSI Nordic Level 1 (AWLP)
- CANSI Nordic Level 2 (AWLP)
- BCRCA Lakewater Instructor Certification (WLP - Both skill sets)
- Assistant Sea Kayak Guide Certification (AWLP)
- Wilderness First Aid Certification (WLP - Both skill sets)
- Advanced Wilderness First Aid Certification (AWLP)
- CPR Certification (WLP - Both skill sets)
- Competent Crew & Day Skipper Sailing Certification (WLP - Water skill set only)
- Radio Operators License Marine (WLP - Both skill sets)
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Transferability to Higher Education
Upon graduation you will have the foundation of experience needed to begin a career in outdoor recreation or adventure tourism. Many students, however, decide to continue in school after they achieve their certificate. Completion of the Wilderness Leadership Certificate helps students transfer into Capilano University's Wilderness Leadership Advanced certificate or Outdoor Recreation Management diploma. From there students can apply their two years from the diploma towards a Bachelor of Tourism Management degree with a specialty in Outdoor Recreation.
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