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Faculty
Global & Community Studies

School
School of Outdoor Recreation Management

Connect your passion for the outdoors with a career in CapU's Outdoor Recreation Management program.

Through classroom study, relevant field trips, and work experience, you'll develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to contribute to the exciting and challenging outdoor recreation industry.

In the program, you'll take courses in financial planning, experiential education, entrepreneurship, outdoor guiding, risk management and more.

Your passion and commitment to the outdoors, along with training in the program, will prepare you for future careers in adventure tourism, community and outdoor recreation, parks and conservation, or experiential and outdoor education.

You'll also participate in a co-op work experience placement before completing your diploma, ensuring you'll make the jump from student to your new career seamlessly.

Students in the Outdoor Recreation Management program taking part in avalanche training.

Gain the skills to thrive

You'll grow your expertise with training in several vital areas, including tourism, wilderness travel, guiding, business management, marketing and leadership.

Career paths

  • Adventure tour guide
  • Outdoor educator
  • Park ranger
  • Parks & recreation officer
  • Recreation programmer
  • Rescue technician
  • Tour operator

Make adventure your career

If backcountry adventuring is your passion, you can expand your expertise in select skills courses, where you’ll grow your abilities in alpine travel, avalanche skills, backpacking, sea kayaking and winter travel.

Level up your diploma into a degree

After completing your diploma, your classes ladder directly into the Bachelor of Tourism Management degree program, so you have the option of finishing your degree at CapU.

Diploma in Outdoor Recreation Management

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Contact us

For more information about the Outdoor Recreation Management program, contact us today.

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Information sessions

Plan ahead with this calendar of important program information sessions and open houses.

Upcoming info sessions

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Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

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Intakes

Fall 2023

Location
North Vancouver

Course load
Full-time

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 4, 2022 – Aug 1, 2023

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jul 4, 2023

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 21, 2023

NOTE: Important dates may change.

How to Apply

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Review this program's admission requirements

First-time applicants submit your application on EducationPlannerBC

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay an application fee of $50, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs. 
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If you are currently in Grade 12, you must request that the Ministry of Education submit your transcript directly to Capilano University.
  • Documents must be in the original language of issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.
Apply on EPBC

Receive an acknowledgement email

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Submit your official transcripts

For students who have previously attended post-secondary, even though you submitted a digital copy of your transcripts on EducationPlannerBC, you must submit official university or college transcripts for transfer credit.

Please send all official documents to:

Registrar's Office
Birch Building, Room BR230
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, BC
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Official university or college transcripts

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and the signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing university or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Certified documents

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

Original academic documents

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Get ready for your first day

Once you've been accepted into a program, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
  • If you wish to receive transfer credits, please submit official university/college/International Baccalaureate (IB)/Advanced Placements (AP) transcripts either electronically or by mail:

     

    Registrar's Office
    Birch Building, Room BR230
    2055 Purcell Way
    North Vancouver, BC
    V7J 3H5

Admitted Students

Review this program's admission requirements

Learn about CapU's admission requirements and submit your application

Most CapU programs need proof that you:

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee of C$135, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs.
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If your original transcripts and supporting documents are not written in English, please submit a translated copy.
Apply on EPBC

Receive an acknowledgement email

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.
Funding for International Students

Submit your official transcripts

You've already sent digital copies of your transcripts to EducationPlannerBC as part of your CapU application, but we also need physical copies of your official high school, college or university transcripts.

If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Please send your official documents to:

Capilano University
Centre for International Experience, Room LB127
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Official high school, university, or college transcripts

Students must submit official high school and university or college transcripts for admission.

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing high school, university, or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Certified documents

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

Original academic documents

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Receive letter of offer

If you are accepted into a program, you will receive a letter of offer in your myCapU email inbox.

  • You will need to confirm your acceptance into the program by paying a tuition deposit outlined in your letter of offer.
  • This deposit will go towards your first-semester tuition once you are registered for courses at CapU.

Receive letter of acceptance and apply for a study permit

After paying your tuition deposit, you will receive a letter of acceptance in your myCapU inbox. This may be used to apply for, or renew, a study permit.

  • Depending on your citizenship, you may also need to apply for an entry visa.
Permits & Visas

Get ready for your first day

Once you've been accepted into a program and have applied for your study permit, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted international students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
Info for Admitted International Students

Apply Now

Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

Apply now to CapU

Transfer Students

Find out how you can transfer your credits from another post-secondary institution to CapU.

Applying as a Transfer Student

Returning Students

If you're returning to CapU to complete your program or to apply into a new program, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Contact Registrar's Office

Switching Programs

If you want to change your program of study, you need to submit a new application to CapU.

Re-apply to CapU

Tuition and Fees

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $7,172 $2,200 $9,372
Year 2 $5,951 $1,668 $7,619
Total $13,123 $3,868 $16,991
Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $24,826 $2,200 $27,026
Year 2 $20,172 $1,668 $21,840
Total $44,998 $3,868 $48,866

Tuition & Fees Estimator

Get a detailed breakdown of the tuition and fees for your program.

Calculate my fees

Entrance Awards

All new CapU students can fund their education with entrance awards.

See if I qualify

Term Awards

Continuing your studies at CapU? You may be eligible for awards, too.

Take me to the awards

On this page

Required Courses

Required Courses

Total credits: 52.00

Required:
CMNS 154Communications in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism3.00 credits
ENGL 100University Writing Strategies3.00 credits
REC 111Introduction to Commercial Outdoor Recreation3.00 credits
REC 115Connecting Outdoor Recreation to the Natural World4.00 credits
REC 148Introduction to Wilderness Travel3.00 credits
REC 152Environmental Stewardship I3.00 credits
REC 156Natural History for Tourism and Outdoor Recreation3.00 credits
REC 191Outdoor Recreation Career Management3.00 credits
REC 222Transformational Leadership and Experiential Education4.00 credits
REC 225Entrepreneurship in Commercial Outdoor Recreation3.00 credits
REC 260Outdoor Recreation Co-op Work Experience6.00 credits
TOUR 112Tourism Marketing I3.00 credits
TOUR 116Financial Planning in Tourism I3.00 credits
TOUR 208Risk Management for Tourism and Outdoor Recreation3.00 credits
WLP 149Overnight Field Leader2.00 credits
WLP 153Leadership Fundamentals3.00 credits

 

Elective Courses

Total credits: 9.00

Choose 9.00 credits from the following list:

Electives can be chosen from any course at the 100 or 200-level from the prefixes below:

FYSFirst-Year Seminar
RECOutdoor Recreation
SATOStudy Abroad - Tourism/OREC
TOURTourism Management

 

Wilderness Leadership Skills Courses

Total credits: 4.00

Choose 4.00 credits from the following list:

Students may choose skill courses in their WLP course selections with a focus on Snow (WLP 124/164), Backpacking (WLP 126/166), Sea Kayaking (WLP 137/138) or a Personalized Option (WLP 184/185).

WLP 124Winter Skills2.00 credits
WLP 126Backpacking2.00 credits
WLP 137Sea Kayaking I2.00 credits
WLP 138Sea Kayaking II2.00 credits
WLP 164Winter Leadership2.00 credits
WLP 166Introduction to Alpine Travel2.00 credits
WLP 184Select Skills Course in Outdoor Recreation I2.00 credits
WLP 185Select Skills Course in Outdoor Recreation II2.00 credits

Total program credits: 65.00

Learning outcomes

  • Recognize and participate in the commercial aspect of the Outdoor Recreation Industry.
  • Be able to effectively deliver information to a diversity of audiences in an outdoor recreation context.
  • Actively participate in local and global outdoor recreation community initiatives to develop competency in a leadership role, social consciousness and a sense of responsibility.
  • Analyze, adapt and apply the fundamentals of environmental and cultural stewardship as they relate to the outdoor recreation industry and to the global community.
  • Apply theoretical concepts, relevant research, experience-based judgment and critical thinking to make decisions within the context of commercial outdoor recreation that meet the industry standard.
  • Have a comprehensive understanding and the tools necessary for working within a sustainable and environmentally conscious outdoor recreation business.
  • Demonstrate professional appearance, attitudes and behaviours appropriate to the commercial outdoor recreation industry.

For the official publication of programs, course descriptions and admission requirements please view the Capilano University Calendar (pdf).

Have a question?

Get in touch with us!

About this program

School of Outdoor Recreation Management
604 986 1911, ext. 3043
outdoor@capilanou.ca

General inquiries

Student Information Services
Birch Building, room BR230

604-984-4900
604-984-1798 (fax)
registration@capilanou.ca

Related Programs

Bachelor of Tourism Management Degree