Adventure Guide Training

Pre-Requisite

No prior guiding experience is required but you must be comfortable hiking in winter conditions on established trails.

Objectives

At the end of the course, you will have an understanding of:

• the scope of practice, the role of the guide and the guide progression;
• the adventure model and the importance of the components in facilitating moments that creating connections with place and people;
• a guest centred model where the guest is the hero of the adventure;
• the event cycle and the adventure development process; and
• the four constraints and how they impact the role of the guide.

Agenda

The course is three full days. We will be outdoors for the afternoon of day 1 and most of day 2 and 3. Come prepared for the weather and dress warm since we will be moving slowly.

The indoor sessions will be at the Nordegg Canteen. Masks are mandatory in addition to physical distancing.

Pre-Course

• Readings about the Outdoor Council of Canada, the guide progression and the adventure model.

Day 1

Adventure Tourism (indoors)

• The different adventure and outdoor recreation contexts
• The adventure tourism context
• The role of the guide
• The four constraints of adventure development

The Adventure Model (outdoors)

• We'll discuss the adventure model as we hike to the Cline River Canyon, a 4 km hike.

Day 2

Risk Management

• We'll start the day indoors as we discuss the legal requirements that apply to guiding.
• We'll be on the ice at Abraham Lake for the rest of the day as we discuss risk management plans, risk factors related to the cold, group management and more.

Day 3

Facilitating the Adventure

• We'll start the day indoors planning our adventure.
• We'll be putting everything we've discussed into practice as we hike to Siffleur Falls, a 7 km hike.

What to Bring

• Come dressed for the weather. Bring extra warm clothes since we will be moving slowly on the trail and stopping frequently to discuss guiding and adventure tourism.
• Bring a pen and notebook.
• Bring a water bottle, snacks and lunch for each day. Lunch will be on the trail.