Yukon Outdoor Educator Backpacking and Whitewater Canoeing

  Canada

• All Other Areas in Canada: 
Whitehorse

Term: Summer 

Description: This expedition for practicing and aspiring outdoor educators combines the skills of wilderness backpacking with an introduction to northern river canoeing in Canada's Yukon Territory. Throughout the 30-day course, you'll observe and discuss different teaching techniques and then put those methods into action.

You'll begin with two weeks of mountain hiking, learning the curriculum progression and skills of the backcountry professional in the Cassiar, Itsi or Pelly ranges northeast of Whitehorse. You'll find an abundance of caribou, mountain goats and sheep, as well as alpine wildflowers carpeting the Near Ogilvie Mountains tundra, and valley floors enveloped by waist- or head-high forests of dwarf birch and willow. After learning the hiking skills needed to manage groups in the remote backcountry, you'll swap your backpack for a paddle and spend two weeks learning introductory canoe skills on the Hyland (Class II-III), Wolf (Class II-III) or South MacMillan (Class I-II) rivers. Here you'll learn technical river skills, teaching techniques and river rescue concepts.

The theme for this educator course is "the expedition," so after two weeks in the rugged mountains and nearly the same on the river, you'll have a powerful set of water and mountain skills for future professional and personal adventures in the backcountry.

Highlights: The theme for this educator course is "the expedition," so after two weeks in the rugged mountains and nearly the same on the river, you'll have a powerful set of water and mountain skills for future professional and personal adventures in the backcountry.

College Credit:
(Optional)         

6 Semester Credit Hours:
2 Hours Leadership Techniques
2 Hours Risk Management
2 hours Skills Practicum

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: USD 3,465

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Canada Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Scholarships are Available. Each year NOLS offers over USD 800,000 dollars in scholarship assistance. Scholarship aid is available to applicants who show great potential to excel as NOLS students and who would be unable to attend without financial aid. These scholarship dollars are made available through the generosity of alumni and friends to the NOLS Fund. Our graduates realize the great impact a NOLS education has and volunteer both time and money to further the school's mission.

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

NOLS The National Outdoor Leadership School's Mission Statement: The mission of the National Outdoor Leadership School is to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment.

Year Founded: 1965