Welcome to the Wilderland Outdoor Academy, where you explore and practice essential outdoor skills, gain imperative field experience, and become confident in wild places.
All of our courses include experienced local instructors, all group gear, stocked medical kit, emergency equipment, and applicable camping permits.
Participants are responsible for transportation, personal items (clothing, sleeping bags, food, etc) unless otherwise stated. Comprehensive packing lists, itineraries, and trip plans will be provided for every course.
8 Hour Course
This interactive day paddling course will introduce participants to safe and rewarding canoeing day trips. You will learn foundational paddling strokes, safety, and risk management as well as essential outdoor skills such as trip planning, emergencies, fire building, navigation, and more. No experience necessary. Must be ages 16+, minors must be accompanied by parent.
2 Day / 1 Night Course
Join us for a dynamic overnight learning experience where you will explore the foundations of trip planning (food, gear, routes, etc) plus build on your paddling skills to grow competency and confidence on the water and in a front country environment. No experience necessary. Must be ages 16+, minors must be accompanied by parent.
8 Hour Course
This interactive day hiking course will introduce participants to safe and rewarding day hiking trips. You will learn trail skills and etiquette as well as a foundation of essential outdoor skills such as trip planning, emergency planning, fire building, navigation, and more! No experience necessary. Must be ages 16+, minors must be accompanied by parent.
2 Day / 1 Night Course
Overnight hiking & camping course that introduces participants to safe and rewarding camping trips. You will learn trail skills as well as a foundation of essential outdoor skills relevant to overnight camping. This includes trip planning, meals, emergencies, fire building, navigation, and more! No experience necessary. Must be ages 16+, minors must be accompanied by parent.
4 Day / 3 Night Course
Wilderness Camping is an intermediate camping course for those with some camping and paddling experience but would like to learn the skills necessary for wilderness travel as well as develop basic leadership and risk management skills. Throughout the course, students will be expected to lead the group in various activities including navigation, meals, and camp set-up and take-down. Successful students will have a strong camping skill set and can plan and participate in camping trips up to a week long in a wilderness setting. They will be able to provide peer leadership and navigation skills while on trip. PREREQUISITES: - Camping Skills certification or Equivalent skill & knowledge at the discretion of the instructor. - Intro to Tandem Canoe Skills certification. - Camping Experience of minimum 4 trips of 8+ nights. - Must be ages 18+.
5 Day / 4 Night Course
This course is an intermediate/advanced camping program for those leading groups of adults or children as a formal leader want to develop their camping leadership and group management skills. Successful students will be able to take a formal leadership role in the planning and execution of a recreational camping trip, provided the participant has also achieved the Paddle Canada certification appropriate to the vessels used and expected conditions of said trip. Throughout the course, participants will be expected to take on leadership roles in various activities such as trip preparation, extended scenarios, group decision making, advanced navigation, meals, etc. PREREQUISITES: - Camping Skills certification or Equivalent skill & knowledge at the discretion of the instructor. - Intro to Tandem Canoe Skills certification. - Camping Experience of minimum 4 trips of 12+ nights in the wilderness environment. - Must be ages 18+.
16 Hour Course
This 2 day course offers a systematic approach to planning and managing a hiking activity for one day in 3 season. To be hiking leaders, participants should have some hiking experience and be able to participate in a low risk natural environment hike on a designated trail while carrying what they will need for the day outside. Participants must have the physical ability to hike on a footpath with rocks and roots, etc. Most of the course will take place in a classroom setting with 4-6 hours on a local hiking trail. Students will be required to read a 60 page manual and complete attached quizzes before attending the course. Graduates of the FL (Hiking) course are qualified to lead one day trips into class 1 hiking terrain as defined in the Outdoor Council of Canada's matrix. Students must attend both days and demonstrate compe Must be ages 18+ and have hiking experience.
16 Hour Course
This 2 day course offers a systematic approach to planning and managing a paddling and/or a hiking activity for one day. Prior to the course, it is recommended that students obtain a technical paddling certification from another organization (like Paddle Canada). To be paddling leaders, participants should have some paddling experience and be able to participate in a low risk natural environment paddle on a sheltered water body while carrying what they will need for the day outside. Participants must have the physical ability to paddle up to 4 hours. Most of the course will take place in a classroom setting with 4-6 hours on a local waterway. Students must read a 80 page manual and complete attached quizzes. Course length is 16 hours. Graduates of the FL (Paddling and Hiking) course are qualified to lead one day trips into class 1 paddling environments and class 1 hiking terrain as defined in the Outdoor Council of Canada's matrix. Prerequisites: - Must be ages 18+. - Must possess paddling skills certification.
8 Hour Course
This one day certification course is an extension of other Field Leader courses. This module will review and deepen the event cycle and offers effective group management techniques for cold environments. The Field Leader (Hiking) is a prerequisite to this module. Students will be required to read a 40 page manual and complete attached quizzes before attending the module. Module length is 8 hours, most of which is spent outside. Graduates of the FL (Winter) module are qualified to lead one day trips in low-risk winter environments as defined by the OCC Hiking Terrain matrix. PREREQUISITES: - Field Leader Hiking, Paddling, or Equine certification. - Have winter hiking experience. - Must be ages 18+.
2.5 Days including 1 Overnight
This certification is an extension of other Field Leader courses. Students must have complete at least one other Field Leader course prior to registering. This module will review and deepen the event cycle and offers effective group management techniques for longer outdoor trips. Students will be required to read a 80 page manual and complete attached quizzes before attending the module. Module length is 20 hours of instruction time, most of which is spent outside, plus one night outdoors. Graduates of the FL (Overnight) module are qualified to lead longer trips in low-risk terrain classes relevant to their activity. PREREQUISITES: - Field Leader Hiking, Paddling, or Equine certification. - Have camping experience. - Must be ages 18+.
8 Hour Workshop
Join us for a full day workshop that introduces Educators to the OCC Field Leader framework and practical risk management strategies on the trail. We spend the first half of our day in a classroom setting discussing and navigating the process of effective participant focused trip planning. The afternoon is spent on a local trail learning how to implement, lead and manage a group during an outdoor event. The last hour is spent debriefing our day as well as discussing strategies of how to use this framework within our own personal leadership contexts such as field trips, community outings, and outdoor events. No experience necessary. Must be ages 18+.
8 Hour Workshop
Join us for a full day workshop that introduces Summer Camp Leaders to the OCC Field Leader framework and practical risk management strategies on the trail. We spend the first half of our day in a classroom setting discussing and navigating the process of effective participant focused trip planning. The afternoon is spent on a local trail learning how to implement, lead and manage a group during an outdoor event. The last hour is spent debriefing our day as well as discussing strategies of how to use this framework within our own personal leadership contexts such as camp activities, day trips, and wilderness programs. No experience necessary. Must be ages 16+.