Semester 1

✦ Computer Applications (Exempted)

Students learn to apply, appropriately and effectively, standard word processing, spreadsheet and database software to business applications. Optimizing the utilization of their mobile learning device for both theory and skills courses is another focus. In addition, students combine these software applications with presentation software to produce effective marketing and instructional aids. Emphasis is given to software which is most common and utilized globally in an effort to enhance students' readiness to work in an international setting/industry.

✦ Communications I (Exempted)

Communication remains an essential skill sought by employers, regardless of discipline or field of study. Using a practical, vocation-oriented approach, students focus on meeting the requirements of effective communication. Through a combination of lectures, exercises, and independent learning, students practise writing, speaking, reading, listening, locating and documenting information and using technology to communicate professionally. Students develop and strengthen communication skills that contribute to success in both educational and workplace environments.

✦ Marketing the Tourism Experience

Tourism operators face unique challenges and opportunities in marketing their products. Students examine navigating these challenges as well as capitalizing on the opportunities. Students learn fundamental marketing tools such as market analysis, product development, target marketing, pricing, selling and promotion. These marketing functions are applied against the structural features of the tourism industry as a whole and the adventure sector in particular. Tourism concepts, such as travel motivators, tourism generators, tourism sector interrelationships and economic impact are considered through the lens of marketing and promotion. Students develop depth of knowledge into a particular product or sector of the tourism industry.

✦ Outdoor Expedition

This first of four expeditions in the program is to introduce students to a challenging variety of rafting rivers and commercial operations. Destinations may include a variety of rivers in Quebec, Ontario or United States, allowing students to apply their guiding, rescue and river skills in new settings. Students are required to observe and evaluate a variety of successful commercial operations and initiate trip log and trip reporting.

✦ Fall Camp

Students are provided with an introduction to their diploma program and to the skills training component. Based at the Wilderness Tours site, activities include whitewater rafting, team building activities, and the start of skills training courses. The Fall Camp is a means for Outdoor Adventure students to become better acquainted with the policies, procedures and expectations of their program.

✦ Camp Craft

Students further develop camping, cooking and travel skills with an emphasis placed on backcountry travel and winter camping. Core learning outcomes include: application of Leave No Trace (LNT) skills, map and compass skills, the camp triangle, shelter, tarp and sleep systems, as well as camp food preparation and packing.

✦ River Rescue I

Students learn river rescue techniques as they pertain to canoes, kayaks and rafts. Hypothermia and drowning, rescue in moving water, improvised rescue, rope system rescue and rescue simulations are covered in this introductory course. This course is standard training for employment in the river industry. Successful completion may qualify students for certification.

✦ Whitewater Kayak I

This course is an introduction to whitewater kayaking: kayak equipment, strokes and concepts, river running, rolling and rescues are introduced. Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles of moving water and kayak safety. (All skills are performed on Class I to III white water).

✦ River Rafting I

Students learn the fundamentals of paddle raft guiding. Students become familiar with such techniques as driving, ferrying, drifting and surfing. Scouting, hazard identification, strokes, communication and teamwork are core elements. By course completion, students are equipped to guide class III whitewater.

✦ Flatwater Canoeing

Students learn basic flatwater skills that are necessary to earn instructor certification. They are educated in canoe construction, equipment, strokes, and tandem and solo paddling. Focus is placed on learning basic canoe skills and structuring a canoe class.

✦ Cross Country Cycling I

This is an introductory course in mountain biking offering the student instruction in biking equipment, basic bike repair, and riding technique. Trail riding skills, riding responsibility and leadership are core elements of this course. Students participate in a full day mountain bike tour.

✦ Rock Climbing I

Students develop specific skills required to manage themselves in an outdoor climbing environment. Rock climbing, belaying techniques, equipment, core knots and rope systems are covered. Specific safety and rescue skills must be demonstrated to earn this credit.

✦ Outdoor Adventure Leadership

Leadership skills are used to foster a safe, respectful, and well-organized outdoor adventure expedition. Students build foundational leadership skills specific to the adventure tourism industry. Decision-making, judgement, and client safety are examined through case-based learning, trip planning and instruction. Group management skills are developed through theory and practical exercises.

Semester 2

✦ Accounting

Accounting is used to record business transactions, organize information and communicate financial information in order to make sound business decisions. Students develop an understanding of accounting principles including the accounting cycle, recording transactions, payroll concepts and procedures, and the preparation and analysis of financial statements. Students learn to accurately record financial information and complete the accounting cycle.

✦ Communication for the Outdoor Adventure Workplace (Exempted)

This course continues from Communications I to help you achieve graduate level communication skills. Topics include workplace and employment correspondence, reports, presentations and other communication skills required in the outdoor adventure industry.

✦ Winter Expedition

This course is a multi-day winter expedition with direct focus on winter camp craft and winter travel techniques. Students apply and demonstrate skills, such as map and compass, on and off trail navigation, meal preparation, Leave No Trace techniques and group management skills.

✦ Nordic Skiing I

Cross country skiing is introduced. Classic striding and skating technique, equipment knowledge, waxing and basic fitness are covered.

✦ Ice Climbing I

Focus is placed on the sport of ice climbing with emphasis placed upon safety in the winter environment, in the vertical environment, ice climbing technique and equipment. Students meet or exceed the ability to climb grade III ice.

✦ Wilderness First Aid Skills

Outdoor professionals require a Wilderness First Aid Certificate in remote areas. Students focus on the principles of patient management and decision making. Special emphasis is placed on prevention, traumatic injuries, illness assessment, accident scene management, long-term patient care, leader responsibility and liability, advanced medical aid kits, wound cleaning, evacuation procedures and working with Emergency Medical Services.

✦ Risk Management for Outdoor Adventure

Minimization of risk contributes to a safe and sustainable outdoor adventure environment. Students explore theoretical and practical applications related to risk in the outdoor adventure industry. Risk assessment, systems-based planning and prevention, and control and mitigation strategies are focuses. Students examine emergency situation management, training, planning and documenting from the guide's perspective. The Canadian legal system, liability and negligence, waivers and releases and insurance are looked at from the business perspective.

✦ Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding I

Students are introduced to alpine ski and snowboard techniques and equipment. This course utilizes Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) and Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI) teaching progression and techniques and serves as an introduction and preparatory course for students to take the CSIA or CASI Level I instructor course. Successful completion may qualify students for certification. Skills are marked according to the CSIA and CASI Level one instructor standard.

✦ Ecology

A broad overview of ecological concepts and issues is provided. The ecological foundation that students need to understand the environment and the impacts of development on a variety of ecosystems is also presented. Concepts that are covered include ecological principles, sustaining biodiversity and humans as agents of change. These ecological principles are studied and discussed in the context of current ecological issues, as they relate to local, regional and global sustainability.

✦ The Fungus Among Us (General Education Elective)

Understanding fungi is critical for a more complete picture of both natural history, as well as historical and current human affairs. Students learn the major groups of fungi most of which are beneficial to humans. Students learn the influence of fungi on historical and cultural activities including art and food. Students also examine the direct involvement of fungi on industrial processes and current medical and biotechnological processes. Students explore the role of fungi as it relates to soil fertility and best practices in agriculture and environmental sustainability. Students will connect fungi to the world around them.

Semester 3

✦ Human Resources

Human resources are a key asset of adventure tourism operations. Students learn practical staff management skills ranging from work and task analysis, through job descriptions, scheduling and the Employment Standards Act. Current issues relevant to adventure guiding such as managing diversity, maintaining a positive workplace culture, Occupational Health and Safety and the Employment Standards Act are explored.

✦ Sea Kayak Expedition

This multi-day expedition takes place in a large river/lake fresh water environment. Sea kayaking, Leave No Trace practices, open water hazards, the lake and river environments, navigation, marine charts, land and water group management practices, and ecological interpretation are among the many skills either newly learned and/or reviewed, refined and applied.

✦ The Outdoor Adventure Industry

The history, current status, and future trends of the different segments within the adventure travel industry are discussed. Through industry analysis, students examine market players, participants, growth areas, and professional associations in different activities and geographic regions. Government, land and resource management are examined for their role and relevance to adventure tourism both in Canada and internationally.

✦ Canoe Guiding

Students prepare for canoe trip leading. Trip planning, logistics, navigation, on-water group management and safety are covered via a multi-day trip. Tandem and solo moving water paddling and rescue modules round out this skill set.

✦ Backpacking Guide

Students enhance their wilderness travel skills while experiencing a multi-day backpacking expedition. Land based navigation, Leave No Trace instructor training and advanced camp craft techniques are core topics.

✦ Cycle Touring Guide

Students develop guide-level cycle touring skills with a focus on learning and executing industry-specific standards for cycle touring guides. Emphasis is geared towards planning and executing multi-day cycle touring trips, client management, equipment packing and care, and retrieving industry related information for successful trip planning. A multi-day cycle tour with daily distances ranging between 50km to 90km, is incorporated.

✦ Understanding the Natural Environment

Various aspects of earth science and life systems are studied. Topics provide students with information they can incorporate into guiding and outdoor educational activities. Field trips, assignments and class labs allow students to apply their knowledge and develop natural history interpretation skills. Topics include glacial landscapes, global geological processes, plant/ wildlife identification and forest ecology/sustainable forest management. Weather is also discussed so students can understand/interpret weather and make short-term weather forecasts.

✦ General Education Elective (Exempted)

Students choose one course, from a group of general education electives, which meets one of the following five theme requirements: Arts in Society, Civic Life, Social and Cultural Understanding, Personal Understanding, and Science and Technology.

Semester 4

✦ The Business of Outdoor Adventure

Concepts learned in previous accounting, marketing, human resources and industry courses provide students with basic skills required in planning, establishing and managing a business in the adventure industry. A major focus is on financial planning and budgeting. Students demonstrate cumulative knowledge and skills.

✦ Digital Marketing for Outdoor Adventure

Digital media has changed how marketing is created, delivered and consumed. Students learn specific tools and strategies to leverage new media avenues. Web-based applications, social networks, brand creation and customer relationship management are addressed. Digital imaging, video and audio material are applied to a variety of media.

✦ Mental Health First Aid Skills

This mental health first aid course is designed for guides working with diverse populations. Common mental health disorders are explored as participants develop the skills to interact confidently with people experiencing mental health problems in their workplaces and communities. Through role-play and interactive activities, participants build basic mental health first aid skills that enable them to help a person developing or experiencing a mental health problem until appropriate resources, support or medical treatment can be obtained.

✦ Advanced Expedition

Advanced Expedition is designed as the culmination of all expeditions within the Outdoor Adventure program. Students complete all logistical planning. Advanced outdoor skills and leadership are expected to be demonstrated; students must qualify for participation based upon satisfactory performance to date.

✦ Wilderness First Responder Recertification

The Wilderness First Responder recertification is a skills-based course that focuses on case-based scenarios, dealing with in-field patient care and evacuation.

✦ Introduction to Mountain Rescue

Students acquire a basic knowledge of travel in an alpine environment. Core elements include an introduction to weather in alpine environments, a practical introduction to avalanche rescue equipment and victim recovery, group travel in mountainous terrain, self-rescue and self-arrests techniques.

✦ Graduate Portfolio

Students analyze their professional development and learning based on program standards and specific course learning requirements. Students document this analysis in a professional portfolio. Included in this portfolio are evidence of professional development and related work, training logbook, and other artifacts proving that professional standards and core competencies have been met or exceeded.

✦ Sports Injury Management

Sports injury, especially as it relates to outdoor sports is examined. Students understand the underlying mechanisms of orthopedic injury in relation to overuse and chronic support problems. Students learn how to apply support to common sports injuries and manage stable orthopedic injuries in the field. Therapeutic strategies for strengthening common stable injuries are also examined.

✦ Ski Patrol

This course introduces students to the duties and responsibilities of resort ski patrol. Emphasis is placed on resort protocols and procedures for opening and closing hills, scene management, victim management and ski lift evacuation.

✦ Rain Forest & Tropical Science

Students actively participate in the Algonquin Rain Forest Project by completing a one week field trip to Costa Rica to explore its ecosystems and the rich biological resources found in its humid tropical climate. Students appreciate the biological resources of the rain forest, the humid tropics, and the variable characteristics of the rain forest habitat, as well as examine sustainable agriculture and other environmental management practices. Students are, at times, required to hike long distances in difficult-to-navigate terrain. They are expected to reach the Algonquin Rain Forest Reserve via a whitewater rafting trip down the world-famous Rio Pacuare. Guided by professional river guides, students experience several ecosystems before arriving at the Algonquin College Forest project area. Students also study and learn at Escuela de Agricultura de la Region Tropical Humeda (EARTH University).

✦ Alpine Ski II

Emphasis is placed on teaching techniques for intermediate skiers. Students enhance their skiing and teaching skills while focusing on assessment and development. This course culminates with a Level 1 Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance instructor exam and builds beyond these required skills.