The two-year Outdoor Adventure Naturalist Ontario College Diploma program, delivered in a compressed format over 43 weeks, is the perfect choice for anyone interested in working as a professional in the soft adventure/ecotourism sector, guiding and educating clients through the interpretation of natural environments and led outdoor activities (LOAs). The Program is delivered with our partner, Wilderness Tours, Canada`s largest outdoor adventure company.

As a student, you spend approximately 600 hours completing field study and practical skills training in outdoor settings/classrooms.

Explore areas such as:

• flatwater canoeing
• kayak touring
• river rafting
• no-trace camping and wilderness travel skills
• winter camping and travel skills
• cross-country cycle touring
• ski touring
• tracking
• wildlife viewing and birding
• wild edible and small plant identification
• astronomy
• photography

Students complete extended activity skills training sessions and take on several expeditions - the last being self-executed. The program`s curriculum also includes business courses in interpretive media, marketing the tourism experience, as well as financial and small business management to enhance and diversify your career options and pathways.

Students also have the option to gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op work term are subject to availability and academic eligibility. Please note admission to the co-op program does not guarantee a co-op placement.

In addition, students have the opportunity to obtain several industry-related certifications, such as:

• Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) Wild Educator Facilitator
• Assistant Cycle Tour Guide
• Paddle Canada Waterfront Canoe Instructor and Paddle Canada Wilderness Camping Instructor
• Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
• Paddle Canada Level I and Level II Sea Kayak Skills
• Heritage Interpreter Certification
• Leave No Trace (LNT) Master Educator

Upon graduation, you are ready for an exciting, in-demand career. Be prepared to work in:

• provincial, national, and international nature-based adventure tourism
• museums, interpretive centres, and historical centres
• education
• municipal parks and recreation

Graduates may also pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in the nature/adventure/ecotourism sectors.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Enjoy a hands-on approach to learning about the outdoor adventure tourism industry.
• Are concerned about social, economic and environmental (SEE) sustainability and want to personally learn more about SEE sustainability in the Outdoor Adventure Tourism industry.
• Are committed to guiding and teaching others in a variety of environments.
• Are interested in learning the skills and abilities required to become an interpretive/nature based guiding professional.

Careers

To meet the expressed industry needs of provincial, national and international adventure tourism, parks and education centres, graduates are trained and prepared to work as nature and heritage interpreters, nature, interpretive or ecotourism guides, program managers and/or entrepreneurs. They also meet the professional standards established by the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council Heritage Interpreter program.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Create risk management systems, consistent with best practices, that assess risk and exposure, manage liability and provide a safe and sustainable environment for clients, staff and resources.
2. Provide leadership through the professional application of risk, group and time management skills.
3. Develop the conceptual framework necessary to consistently identify and interpret ecological concepts, plants, trees, wildlife, constellations and other naturally occurring phenomenon.
4. Plan, market, deliver and evaluate sustainable nature based interpretive programming for a variety of domestic and international clients.
5. Identify and apply discipline-specific factors that enable their contribution to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.
6. Display the technical skills required for employment through the acquisition of industry recognized certifications.
7. Identify and develop business, marketing, management and financial strategies to capitalize on opportunities in the nature, interpretive and eco/sustainable tourism segment of the outdoor adventure industry.

Application Information

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE NATURALIST (CO-OP AND NON CO-OP VERSION)
Program Code 6783X10FPM

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants applying from out-of-country can obtain the International Student Application Form at https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/ or by contacting the Registrar`s Office.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley
1 College Way
Pembroke, ON K8A0C8
Local: 613-735-4700
Toll-free 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 1-866-620-3845
Fax: 613-735-4739
Web: https://www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke

Program Resources

CO-OP INFORMATION:
All applicants apply directly to the co-op version of this program through OntarioColleges.ca or our International Application Portal. Applicants not wishing to pursue the co-op version will have the opportunity to opt-out after being admitted to the program but prior to the first co-op work term.

Co-operative education (Co-op) allows students to integrate their classroom learning with a real-world experience though paid work terms. Two academic terms prior to the cooperative education work term, students are required to actively participate in and successfully complete the self-directed co-op course, readiness activities and workshops.

Students must actively conduct a guided, self-directed job search and are responsible for securing approved program-related paid co-op employment. Students compete for co-op positions alongside students from Algonquin College and other Canadian and international colleges and universities. Algonquin College`s Co-op Department provides assistance in developing co-op job opportunities and guides the overall process, but does not guarantee that a student will obtain employment in a co-op work term. Co-op students may be required to relocate to take part in the co-op employment opportunities available in their industry and must cover all associated expenses; e.g., travel, work permits, visa applications, accommodation and all other incurred expenses.

Co-op work terms are typically 14 weeks in duration and are completed during a term when students are not taking courses. For more information on your program`s co-op level(s), visit the courses tab on your program`s webpage.

International students enrolled in a co-op program are required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to have a valid Co-op/Internship Work Permit prior to commencing their work term. Without this document International students are not legally eligible to engage in work in Canada that is part of an academic program. The Co-op/Internship Work Permit does not authorize international students to work outside the requirements of their academic program.

For more information on co-op programs, the co-op work/study schedule, as well as general and program-specific co-op eligibility criteria, please visit www.algonquincollege.com/coop.

Outdoor Adventure Naturalist Program Additional Information:
The Outdoor Adventure Naturalist (ODAN) program is offered at the Pembroke Campus, which is surrounded by the fantastic natural resources of the beautiful and rugged Kitchissippi/Ottawa Valley. Sitting on the shores of the mighty Kitchisippi/Ottawa River, the Campus resides on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin People. It is in close proximity to world-renowned Algonquin Park, numerous natural history interpretive sites, important Algonquin Anishnaabeg culture sites and its program partner, Wilderness Tours. The Wilderness Tours resort is located just 20 minutes from the Pembroke Campus.

At least two weekends per term are scheduled for expeditions and/or practical skills courses. Students must attend these weekend programs. A schedule is distributed on or before the first day of fall semester.

Please note that the activity skills offered in this program are subject to weather and logistical requirements.

Statement of Responsibility, Safety and Liability:
In order to learn the skills necessary to become an effective leader in the adventure industry, students must perform beyond the limits of a mere participant and assume a greater degree of responsibility and risk. There is an inherent element of risk in the program, which is beyond human control. Although every effort is made to minimize exposure to these risks, we can ultimately assume no responsibility for your safety or loss of personal equipment. Specific participation requirements are detailed in a separate document at the bottom of this webpage.

A signed liability release is required of all students before commencement of the program. An additional liability release may be required for courses delivered through subcontractors or host agencies. A parent/guardian release is required for minors (under 18 years of age)

Additional Resources:

• Statement of Responsibility, Safety and Liability
• Outdoor Adventure Naturalist Handbook
• Application Process Personal Info and Health Form
• Assumption of Risk and Release Form
• Support Document Upload