Summer Intensives

Students are introduced to the exceptional biodiversity in their environment through place-based, experiential learning at a field research station.

Students will visit diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to gain familiarity with ecological monitoring and natural history.

Field projects and seminars will emphasize major environmental topics, including biogeography of the region, principles of ecology, human impacts and conservation.

Students will have the opportunity to contribute to scientific knowledge with meaningful discoveries of their own when completing a small group project.

Course details

Please note that fees are subject to change.

• Prerequisites: None 
• Dates: July 6-17, 2026
• Instructor: Alana Schick
• New student application deadline: May 5, 2026

Domestic students

• Accommodation, meals, tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $2,591
• Tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $1,091
• A non-refundable $50 domestic application fee applies to new domestic applicants.
• Contact: squamish@capilanou.ca

International students

• Accommodation, meals, tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $4,212
• Tuition, university fees and all activities: $2,712
• A non-refundable application fee of C$135
• Proof of High School graduation and English Language Proficiency based on regular English Language Requirements is required. Visit How to Apply for more information.
• Contact: visp@capilanou.ca

This course is a hands-on introduction to using digital maps and spatial data to better understand the world around us.

You’ll learn how to create, analyze, and share maps using powerful tools like ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, which are widely used in environmental science, urban planning, tourism and many other fields.

We’ll work with different types of real-world data, such as paper/digital maps, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and remotely sensed data, to explore topics like land use change, topography, natural hazards and community planning.

You’ll also learn how to design maps that communicate clearly and effectively. The course is project-based, with lots of practical exercises to help you build confidence using GIS software.

It all leads up to a final project, where you choose a topic that interests you, such as mapping forest canopy, analyzing climate data, studying local neighbourhoods, forest fire detection using remotely sensed data, or crime analysis.

Course details

Please note that fees are subject to change.

• Prerequisites: None. No previous experience with GIS or mapping is required. 
• Dates: July 20-31, 2026 
• Instructor: Hojat Yazdanpanah
• New student application deadline: May 5, 2026 

Domestic students

• Accommodation, meals, tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $2,434
• Tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $934
• A non-refundable $50 domestic application fee applies to new domestic applicants.
• Contact: squamish@capilanou.ca

International students

• Accommodation, meals, tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $4,594
• Tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $3,094
• A non-refundable application fee of C$135
• Proof of High School graduation and English Language Proficiency based on regular English Language Requirements is required. Visit How to Apply for more information.
• Contact: visp@capilanou.ca

Students from a wide range of disciplines will be invited to build and/or restore their relationship to land and water through a 10-day summer intensive course that centres on place-based learning, local environments, community and culture.

Exploring storytelling in its myriad forms (poetry, literature, visual art, fashion, cooking) this course will engage with the local Squamish environments through place-based activities (plant identification, Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre), reflective practice grounded in daily journal entries, guest speakers (artists and activists) and a cumulative exhibition at the end of the course where students will showcase their final projects.

The course centres around two research questions, formulated by each student, that will guide their creative practice for their two weeks of study and unify their process portfolios. The first question will focus on land, the second on water.

This experiential class will underscore the connection between land, water and mental health, as well as the climate crisis and how connection to land and water engages a sense of global responsibility and citizenship.

Course details

Please note that fees are subject to change. 

• Prerequisites: None
• Dates: April 27-May 8, 2026 
• Instructors: Bobbi-Lee Copeland and Alicia Fahey

Domestic students

• Accommodation, meals, tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $2,588
• Tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $1,160
• A non-refundable $50 domestic application fee applies to new domestic applicants.
• Contact: squamish@capilanou.ca

International students

• Applications closed for 2026. Contact visp@capilanou.ca for future offerings
• Accommodation, meals, tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $4,208
• Tuition, university fees and all activities is approximately $2,708
• A non-refundable application fee of C$135
• Proof of High School graduation and English Language Proficiency based on regular English Language Requirements is required. Visit How to Apply for more information.
• Contact: visp@capilanou.ca

These courses advance SDGs 4 (quality education), 13 (climate action), 14 (life below water) and 15 (life on land) by equipping students with ecological knowledge and GIS skills that foster climate action, biodiversity protection and evidence-based stewardship of land and water.