Adventure Tourism Business Operations Certificate

  Canada

• British Columbia: 
Golden

Term: Trimester 
Dates: September to June each year

Description: In response to industry demand for a more professional approach to adventure tourism operations, this program has been designed to assist individuals by helping to increase their business skills and future employment prospects within the adventure tourism industry. The program is appropriate for those wishing to grow within an existing adventure tourism operation or to develop their own opportunity. Students can take advantage of the outdoor lifestyle in and around Golden which includes access to several hot spring resorts, five national parks, several golf and ski resorts, hiking, rivers and lakes, and other adventure sporting activities.

The program includes the latest industry-developed training material, including these BC provincially-endorsed program standards: Adventure Tourism BC Standards and Certification for the Tourism Professional; Outdoor Technical Skills and Association Standards; Parks Canada Interpreters Certificate; National Coaching Certification Theory Level I; Commercial Recreation Management Plan; Advanced Wilderness First Aid; Avalanche Training; Business Plan Development.

Certification awarded upon successful completion. Students have the opportunity to attain direct experience from adventure tourism operators during the practicum.

This 10-month program covers formal academic and practical training in the business of adventure tourism. Course work helps prepare students with the business skills required in nature-based tourism businesses. The program consists of classroom study, lab work, field trip experiences, and culminates with a six-week practicum allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills on the job while working alongside a practicing professional.

Through exposure to existing adventure tourism businesses, students not only cover the industry standards, but also acceptable levels of performance and safety procedures in the field.

Highlights: Program Design
This 10-month program covers formal academic and practical training in the business of adventure tourism. Coursework helps prepare students with the business skills required in nature-based tourism businesses. The program consists of classroom study, lab work, field trip experiences and culminates with a six-week practicum allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills on the job while working alongside a practicing professional.
Through exposure to existing adventure tourism businesses, students cover leading edge industry standards, and acceptable levels of performance and safety procedures in the field.

Program Content
The program includes the latest industry-developed training material, including these BC provincially-endorsed programs standards: Adventure Tourism BC Standards and Certification for the Tourism Professional; outdoor technical skills such as; backpacking, white water kayaking, rock climbing, technical mountaineering, ice climbing. Canadian Avalanche Association - recreational avalanche course, telemarking clinic, back country ski touring, canoeing, swift water rescue Level 3, ocean kayaking, and marine radio operator licence, as well as association standards; commercial recreation management plan; wilderness first aid; avalanche training; business plan development. Certification awarded upon successful completion. Students have the opportunity to attain direct experience from adventure tourism operators during the practicum.

Job Prospects
Employment opportunities in the tourism industry are good as BC enjoys enviable natural resources to support a world-class adventure tourism industry. Graduates of the program have gained employment throughout the province in the Adventure Tourism field.

Required Courses
BUAD 136 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
ATBO 106 Experiential Leadership
ATBO 107 Naural and Cultural Interpretation
COMP 164 PC Software
BUAD 109 Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants
ATBO 114 Wilderness First Aid
ATBO 121 Hiking Level 1
COMC150 Introduction to Business Communications
ATBO 109 Risk Management
ATBO 101 Principles of Tourism
ATBO 105 Wilderness Travel
ATBO 113 Work Experience Practicum

Suggested Electives Year 1
White water kayak Level 1, Rock climbing Level 1, Ice climbing Level 1, Winter back country travel Level 1, Flat water canoe instructor, Sea kayaking Level 1, Ski/snowboard/telemark skills Level 1

Course Descriptions
BUAD 136 (3) Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management         
Introduces students to the basics of entrepreneurship and small business management. Students can gain an understanding of how to establish and manage a small business. Students complete an entire business plan, as well as analyzing several case studies.
Co-rerequisite: COMP 164

ATBO 106 (3)Experiential Leadership & Guiding
The intent of this course is to introduce the broad range of skills that encompass group leadership and group management, and begin to enhance each students personal effectiveness to deal with the challenges they will face in dealing with group dynamics. The need to develop good instructional and interpretation skills as a leader is also be emphasized.

ATBO 107 (3)Natural and Cultural Interpretation
Covers the knowledge and develop skills in cross- cultural issues and natural landscapes. This course is for front-line interpreters involved in the preparation and presentation of interpretative topics related to the Adventure Tourism industry.

COMP 164 (3)PC Software
Allows students to develop skills in the operation and applications of Professional Productivity Software for the PC. Students use the four applications of the Microsoft Office XP suite: Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. Additional workshops focus on developing skills with Outlook, sketching and drawing, animations, design, layout, and typography.

BUAD 109 (3)Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants
Designed to help non-accounting majors set up and maintain financial records as well as to analyze and interpret financial information. Concepts, terminology and principles are introduced at a basic level. Topics include revenue and expense recognition, cash vs. accrual accounting, the accounting cycle, analysis of financial statements and other financial information, ability to understand the accounting records of a small business and an opportunity to use an accounting software program.

ATBO 114 (2)Emergency Wilderness First Aid
Covers in-depth principles in medical and legal aspects relative to injury prevention and care. Regulations, legislation, contagious/infectious disease, assessment, communication, anatomy and physiology, airway management, respiratory emergencies, cardiac arrest, circulatory, soft tissue and wound management, injuries to eyes, ears, nose, throat; burns, poisons, and environmental emergencies including other considerations in wilderness survival.

ATBO 121 (2)Hiking Level 1
This experiential learning course exposes students to the basic physical and mental skills required for successful wilderness travel. Hiking and camping techniques, equipment, navigation, route finding, tour guiding, and leadership skills are covered. Mountain environment natural history is presented. The students is exposed to ecologically sound mountain wilderness travel techniques. The course incorporates hiking and overnight camping in a wilderness environment.

COMC 150 (3)Introduction to Business Communications
Introduces the student to the business communication process including the planning, organizing, composing, and revising of business messages. Topics include letters, memos, and other brief messages with an emphasis on clear, concise communications. There is a unit on the resume and cover letter as well as the employment interview. Fundamentals of grammar and usage, and format and layout are covered.
Prerequisite: None

ATBO 109 (3) Applied Risk Management
Focuses on the outdoor planning relevant to adventure tourism companies. Issues inherent in the adventure tourism industry include risk taking versus safety and preparation. Students are introduced to consumer protection, code of conduct, types of liability, legislation, and the implication of international law on the industry as it pertains to mountain adventure.

ATBO 101 (3) Principles of Adventure Tourism
An overview of the variety, products and infrastructure of adventure tourism in the province. Students explore past trends and discuss the future of adventure tourism. A wide variety of field trips may enable students to investigate the ecological, economic and cultural impacts of tourism on the community. Also helps students evaluate the scope of career options and define their own role in this exciting industry.
The student is required to successfully complete this course as a prerequisite to further career tourism development.

ATBO 105 (3) Wilderness Travel
Setting the foundation for all field based courses, wilderness travel theory looks at such topics as clothing, equipment, trip planning, and backcountry etiquette from the perspective of personal group travel. The fundamentals of navigation and topics of health and safety issues are also be covered.

ATBO 113 (3) Adventure Tourism Practicum
Workplace experience helps the student apply the knowledge and skills introduced in the classroom. Adventure Tourism students sample a number of short-term industry opportunities throughout the 10-month program. When classes are complete, students begin a six-week placement in an approved tourism-related operation. (This placement may be extended for students planning to complete a Tourism Management Diploma program.)

ATBO 131 (2)White water kayak Level 1
Students are educated in safety issues as well as equipment design and use. Instruction is provided in flat water techniques moving onto gentle white water and river running procedures. This course helps prepare students to safely progress to Grade 1 and 2 waters and covers theoretical knowledge of whitewater kayaking skills.

ATBO 141 (2)Rock Climbing Level 1
Introduces the student to the basics of top roped rock climbing. It covers the basic knots, safety procedures, equipment and rope skills, group management, and climbing techniques to safely set up and climb basic top roped climbs.

ATBO 142 (2)Ice Climbing Level 1
Introduces the student to the techniques and skills used in waterfall ice climbing. Safety and hazard management is the focus and covers anchor building, ice evaluation, belay considerations, moderate angle and vertical climbing techniques.

ATBO 152 (2)Winter back country travel Level 1
A preparatory course for students interested in winter access to the backcountry on skis or snowboards. Topics include appropriate equipment, winter hazards, navigation, route finding skills and winter camping.
Prerequisite: Ski/Snowboard/Telemark Skills Level 1

ATBO 132 (2)Flat water canoe Instructor
Helps prepare students to canoe tandem and solo in lake water situations. Basic strokes and maneuvers are taught. Canoe safety and self-rescue are focused upon. This course incorporates the Recreational Canoeing association of BC Flat water canoe instructor certification course.

ATBO 133 (2)Sea kayaking Level 1
An introductory course designed to expose students to the fundamentals of sea kayak guiding and to improve paddling technique. Emphasis is placed on navigation, rescue techniques, surf zone skills, open coast skills, radio operation and natural history. Risk management and safety essentials are covered.

ATBO 151 (2)Ski/snowboard/telemark skills Level 1
Helps develop a sound foundation of winter skills and experience to prepare the students to be certified at the basic instructor level. Topics include the fundamentals of skiing or boarding technique, skiers responsibility code, learner progressions and the use of ski area lifts.

Program Structure
The Adventure Tourism Business Operations Certificate is awarded upon completion of 42 credits, comprised of:
* 34 credits from the following required core courses: BUAD 136; ATBO 106; ATBO 107; COMP 164; BUAD 109; ATBO 114; ATBO 121; COMC 150; ATBO 109; ATBO 101; ATBO 105; ATBO 113
* A minimum of eight and a maximum of 14 credits from each of the following two-credit electives: ATBO 131; ATBO 141; ATBO 142; ATBO 152; ATBO 132; ATBO 133; ATBO 151.
* Note: A student who meets the prerequisites may choose instead to do any elective that is offered to the ATBO Diploma students.

Cost in US$: $6800

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Canada Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 20

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

College of the Rockies's Mission Statement: Empowering citizens and communities through knowledge and skills

Year Founded: 1975