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Wilderness Leadership Certificate Course Details
ABOUT YAMNUSKA -
WHAT IS THE W.L.C -
OUR STAFF -
WHO IS THE W.L.C. FOR?
CERTIFICATION - TAX DEDUCTIONS & FINANCING - HOW DO YOU QUALIFY? - ASSESSMENT GROUP SIZE - WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE - DATES AND PRICES - SAMPLE AGENDA REGISTRATION FORM - CONDITIONS OF REGISTRATION - NOTE FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG STUDENTS Logistical Details Have you ever wished you could get a job where you spend your summers in the outdoors! As a Camp Counselor or Trip Leader your job is to pass on your outdoor skills and knowledge to others and to help them enjoy Canada's fabulous wilderness areas in safety. The Yamnuska Wilderness Leadership Certificate has been designed to train you in the necessary skills you'll need to be able to work for youth camps or other outdoor programs. Who Are We? Yamnuska is the Canadian leader in mountain adventure training. Our mountain school had its origin at the Yamnuska Outdoor Centre, a branch of the Rocky Mountain YMCA, in 1979. It is now the largest provider of mountain skills training in Canada. What Is the Wilderness Leadership Certificate Course? The Wilderness Leadership Certificate (WLC) has been created to fill a void in adventure skills training. This program is geared towards individuals interested in being involved with youth camps or outdoor schools. It makes use of the outdoors as a classroom for teaching valuable leadership and risk management skills. It concentrates on technical skills that will be useful in a youth camp setting (canoeing, hiking, rock climbing). The program has been designed with input from many Outdoor Camps who are interested in hiring graduates from this program. On successfully passing the WLC, participants should feel confident leading small backpacking groups in the backcountry, assisting in the running of a rock-climbing program or instructing canoeing on flatwater. A Wilderness First Responder First Aid course can be added to this program. Who Are Our Staff? The WLC program director is Ms Julie McKinley. Ms McKinley is a graduate of the University of Calgary Outdoor Pursuits Program as well as being a graduate of Yamnuska's famous Mountain Skills Semester. In addition to her education in outdoor programming and leadership she has several years of practical outdoors camp experience. She will also be drawing extensively upon Yamnuska's highly rated pool of Association of Canadian Mountain Guides certified instructors as well as top professionals in related fields. Yamnuska staff are also chosen for their love of the mountain environment as well as their ability to convey knowledge and skill. Yamnuska Inc. is proud of its top caliber staff, no other outdoor company offering training courses in North America require such high standards for their staff. Who Is the WLC For? The WLC is for anyone who has considered working with outdoor camps or educational programs but who does not have the necessary skills background. It is also for those people who are already working with these organizations and want to upgrade and increase their skills and knowledge. The skills learnt in this course can complement an educational background in social work to enable the participant to work for outdoor programs that deal with youth-at-risk. Why Choose Yamnuska? Credibility that's why! Yamnuska's programs are highly regarded within the professional mountaineering field and by top-quality educational institutions such as Caribou College and the University of Calgary's Outdoor Pursuits Program. No one can match Yamnuska's staff of highly certified and vastly experienced instructors, many of whom are household names in Canadian mountaineering. What Certification Do I Get? Upon successful completion of the course you will receive the Yamnuska Wilderness Leadership Certificate, the Leave No Trace Trainers Certificate and the Canadian Recreational Canoe Association Level 1 Lake Instructor. If you choose to participate in and successfully complete the optional first aid section, you will receive a Basic Wilderness First Responder (WFR) First Aid Certificate. What About Tax Deductions and Student Loans? Yamnuska is accredited by Revenue Canada as an educational institution, making course fees tax deductible. These courses are not currently eligible for student loans although this may change in the future. How Do I Qualify For This Course? You need to be physically and mentally fit to participate. The course contains sections that are physically demanding. If you have any concerns about your eligibility for this course, please feel free to discuss it with us. Once booked, you will be sent a medical questionnaire for your physician to complete. You must also have a true desire and commitment to learn. Highly motivated individuals who are willing to take responsibility for their own learning will get the greatest benefit from this course. Enrolling involves a serious commitment to the program. Assessment and Evaluation Participants will be assessed during the course and marks accumulated to determine whether you pass or fail. As the course progresses greater emphasis will be placed on assessment. Our approach is to help students make a passing grade as much as we can. Ongoing reviews will be conducted to enable students to recognize areas of weakness and to be given tactics to aid improvement. Group Size Minimum group size is six, maximum 12. What Do You Have to Contribute? Your positive input will be expected. Our experience shows that participants who come to the course with a positive outlook, determined to learn as much as they can and who are willing to put effort into creating and maintaining a functioning group will get the most out of this course. Dates and Prices 2000 Schedule: May 1 - June 10 & July 3 - August 12 $4500 Cdn includes meals, accommodation, on-course transportation, instruction, use of specialized gear, National Park backcountry user pass, GST and membership to the Alpine Club of Canada. Cancellation Insurance is $270. Sample Agenda Day 1: Welcome, Introductions, Dinner, Course Agenda and Goals Day 2: Navigation and Preparation for Initial Backpacking Trip The morning will be spent learning and reviewing the basic navigational skills necessary for safe travel in the backcountry. The afternoon will be spent getting personal and group gear in order, working on trip planning and going through the food for the trip. All the essentials of backcountry trip planning will be introduced on this day. Day 3 - 5: Three Day Hiking Trip It is on this segment that you will first learn the skills of outdoor living and traveling. This trip will take place mainly on established trail and campsites. You will practice your navigation skills, 'Leave No Trace' environmental ethics and basic group management. It is also where you first get to know and work with your fellow participants. During the following weeks the group's ability to function well together will be crucial to the success of the program. Day 6 -7: 'Leave No Trace' Trainer's Certificate This certificate will enable you to instruct courses on 'Leave No Trace' environmental ethics. Day 8: Interpretive Skills Today will be spent with an instructor from the Bow Valley Provincial Park Interpretive Program. It will be a fun day of using drama with children in the outdoors and improving our story telling skills. Day 9: Day Off A well-earned rest and the chance to catch up on personal maintenance. Day 10: Risk Management and Leadership Risk Management and strategies for minimizing the potential for problems to yourself and your students will be discussed. The afternoon will be spent on developing your leadership skills in order to make you successful in that role. These skills will be put into practice throughout the entire course. Day 11 - 15: Canoe Certification The Canadian Recreational Canoe Association Flatwater Instructor Certificate will cover all the necessary skills for teaching and managing a group on flatwater. This will allow you to teach skills like strokes, pivots, sideways movement, landings as well as canoe and swimmer rescues in both tandem and solo canoes. Randy Clement of the Rocky Mountain Canoe School runs this section. There may also be an introduction to slow moving water skills. Day 16: Emergency Response To be able to efficiently and safely handle a rescue situation is an essential skill for every outdoor leader. The day will be spent devising plans of attack for various possible situations and discussing the basic theory behind rescue operations. Day 17: Day off Day 18: Day Hike This day will be spent on a day hike applying the 'Leave No Trace' principles and working on group management. It is an ideal opportunity to brush up on our knowledge of wildflowers and tree identification. Lunch may include special treats like freshly made rosehip or lavender tea. Day 19: Weather, Learning Styles and Prep for Heritage Arts The morning will be an introduction to the various ways that people learn. This background will make teaching more beneficial for both the students and the teacher. All of the necessary skills to take weather observations in the backcountry and the skills to begin predicting and tracking weather systems will be introduced. This is an important skill to have when leading groups in the backcountry. The afternoon will be spent preparing for the upcoming section. Day 20 - 22:Heritage Arts This section will allow you to practice the skills you have already developed as well as developing more. The days will be spent learning survival skills. The focus of this course is to give you all the skills necessary to avoid ever being in a survival situation. In the event that it does happen, we do want you to be prepared. Even if you don't ever use them as survival skills, things like dingle-sticking a chicken, lighting a matchless fire or building a sweat lodge can be the highlight of a trip Day 23: Initiative Games and Dealing with High Needs Using similar principles as those used on the ropes course, initiative games can be used on the spur of the moment to help work through a teamwork or communication problem. They also come in very handy if the bus is late picking you and your group up! Some discussion on children with higher needs and strategies for helping them have an enjoyable time and preventing them from becoming a distraction. The focus will be on things like managing behavior problems and not with dealing with severe disabilities. Day 24: Low Ropes Course Today will introduce you to the various activities that are possible with 'low ropes' courses and how to safely manage a group on a course. Day 25: Day off Day 26 - 30: Rock Climbing These 5 days will build on what was learnt in the introductory day. It will cover the basics necessary for setting up top ropes and assisting in the running of a climbing program. One day will be spent at an indoor wall learning how to run programs on walls. Day 31: Environmental and Historical Hands on experience in the environment working on tree and flower identification and brainstorming activities that include an environmental / nature component. Time will also be spent learning the legends and some of the old ways of the indigenous people of the area. Day 32: High Ropes Course We will use the skills learnt on the 'low ropes' course and expand on them to include high ropes course management and safety considerations. Day 33: Day Off Day 34: Job Applications, Resumes and Prep for Final Hike The morning will be spent refining your resume and identifying the specifics that employers are looking for. A basic discussion on interviewing will also be included. The afternoon will be spent organizing all the details for the final student lead trip. Day 35 - 39: Student Lead Hike This final five-day hike allows you to show off everything you have learnt over the past 5 weeks. The location and all the logistics of the hike will be organized by the students and the instructor will go along just to observe and provide support if necessary. Day 40: Final Gear Sort, Course Debrief and Final Banquet Day 41: Depart in the morning or begin the optional Wilderness First Aid Course An optional 6-day Wilderness First Aid Course (Day 41-49) can be added to this program for those who are interested. On successful completion of the first aid section you will be awarded certification in Basic Wilderness Emergency Response and CPR. LOGISTICAL DETAILS Course Location The course is based in Canmore, Alberta in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains just minutes from Banff National Park. Section locations vary according to conditions but we typically stay close to the Canmore area to minimize driving time. Climate We have a continental or inland climate that varies greatly in temperatures and weather. Average temperatures range from 15 -20 C (Celsius). Up in the mountains, the temperatures can drop a fair bit in the evenings and it has, on occasion been known to snow at any time of the year. Accommodation Accommodation is mixed throughout the course. A large part of the course will be spent at the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC). This is a comfortable, hostel-style facility. Sleeping is in dorm-style bunkrooms and the ACC has communal living, cooking and washing facilities. In addition there is a coin operated laundry, a sauna and shared storage for gear while out on trips. The Alpine Club, located about four kilometers from downtown Canmore will become your home away from home. On trips, mountain tents will be your home. Meals Since this program is about developing all-round wilderness skills, you will be involved in menu planning, food packing and food preparation for out trips. At the Alpine Club you and the other course members will be responsible for cooking for the group. The food supplied will be healthy and nutritious with emphasis on simplicity. Do not expect a lavish menu, but also do not expect to starve, you will eat well. All meals are provided. PLEASE NOTE: If you are a regular vegetarian (no meat but dairy and eggs OK) and wish to remain so please let us know when you book. We can not cater to more specialized diets (vegan, wheat free, no fat, etc.) If you follow such a diet, bring extra money to buy supplementary foods. Transportation Transportation will be supplied on all necessary days. During evenings and on free days, transportation is not supplied. Equipment All group camping and all technical gear is supplied during the program time. You will need to bring your own outdoor clothing, footwear, backpack and sleeping bag. A full list of what to bring will be sent to you on booking. The following will give you an idea of what you need.
* Can be rented, ask us for details. Yamnuska supplies all technical climbing gear and camping gear Note for parents / guardians of students 19 years old and younger The Yamnuska Wilderness Leadership Certificate is a serious wilderness skills program that demands a great amount of commitment and motivation from the participant. Our students come from all over North America and Europe because they are serious about learning wilderness skills and leadership in the wilderness. In order for an individual to be successful on this program he or she must possess a high level of maturity and the ability to live on their own without supervision. Days off between trips and evenings spent in town are all unsupervised. Inappropriate behavior or misconduct by a participant is not tolerated and could result in a dismissal, without refund, from the course. This is not a course for people who are at risk with the law, or who have drug, alcohol or behavioral problems. Yamnuska Inc. reserves the right to refuse admission to or expel anyone who is a danger to the environment, her/himself, or others, for gross misconduct, or who, in the opinion of the school or its agents, would be unable for any reason to satisfactorily complete course requirements. Safety on the course is our prime concern. We have an excellent safety record to date. Our guides are professionally certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and hold extensive first aid training. Safe wilderness technique and travel is the main focus of the program and strictly adhered to. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact myself or one of our staff at the Yamnuska office. Julie McKinlay Program Coordinator |
Mountaineering ·
Hiking, Backpacking ·
Semesters & Leadership ·
Rock Climbing ·
Ice Climbing ·
Avalanche Safety
Ski & Board · Private Guiding · Wilderness First Aid · About Us · Booking Information · Links · Japanese Site
Ski & Board · Private Guiding · Wilderness First Aid · About Us · Booking Information · Links · Japanese Site
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Yamnuska Inc. Suite 200 Summit Centre, 50 - 103 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, Alberta, Canada, T1W 1N8 Tel: +1 403 678 4164 · Fax: +1 403 678 4450 · E-mail: info@yamnuska.com |