Fleming College: Experience More

Do you love the outdoors?

Program Highlights

This two-semester certificate program is designed for those who love the outdoors and want to hone their skills, to train and certify prospective adventure tourism employees, and provide specialization for tourism or recreation students. You can obtain several certifications in this one program, in one timeframe, at one location. To acquire these certifications would ordinarily require travel all across Ontario, throughout the year. You can obtain cerrtifications such as:

• Flatwater Canoeing
• Canoe Tripping
• GPS and Wilderness Navigation
• Survival Skills
• Hike Leader
• Bronze Cross swimming qualifications
• Wilderness First Aid

These certifications, combined with trip planning, risk management, group and customer service abilities, are an attractive skill set to employers. Two field camps, in Fall and Winter, will give you the opportunity to really hone your teamwork and leadership skills - essential requirements for successful outdoor expeditions. As well, you will get a chance to participate in activities such as mountain biking, high ropes courses, winter camping, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and dog sledding. A visit to a canoe builder, canoe museum and outdoor education centre will be included in the program. In this program, you will spend almost as much time outdoors as inside the classroom, with three days of classes and two days of adventure skills and certifications training per week. You will develop professional skills while you experience personal growth and gain a deeper appreciation for the outdoors and the environment.

Upon graduation, you may decide to seek employment or to continue your education in a related program such as Fish and Wildlife Technician, Recreation and Leisure Services, or Tourism and Travel. You will gain exemptions in these Fleming College Diploma programs for some of the courses that you completed in the Outdoor Adventure Skills program.

What it Takes to Succeed

To enjoy the Outdoor Adventure Skills program, you do not have to be an athlete. The program has elements best suited for the reasonably fit, active individual. However, certain field trips and the field camps can be physically demanding. You will be riding, paddling, hiking and skiing and will also be carrying canoes and other equipment. People of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels have enjoyed Outdoor Adventure Skills. A certain amount of physical preparation will ensure that you get the most from your experience. To best prepare yourself for the program, you should be able to perform the following self test of course preparedness:

• Ride a mountain or fat tired bike for 6 km over uneven terrain in less than an hour
• Hike a moderate trail with a full day pack for 3 km in less than an hour
• Using any stroke, swim 10 laps of a 25 metre pool without stopping
• Paddle a canoe with a partner for 3 hours covering 9 km with one 5 minute break every hour
• Carry a 65 pound canoe, tandem, over a 500 metre portage
• Cross country ski, on rolling groomed trails, keeping a pace of 4 km per hour.

Career Opportunities

Some of the career opportunities include working for traditional and non-traditional adventure tourism outlets and in partnership with travel operators and other segments of the tourism industry. You might also find employment with recreational facilities, government agencies, parks, marine facilities, resorts, outdoor education centres or specialty outdoor equipment stores.

Minimum Admission Requirements

 

• OSSD with the majority of credits at the Workplace (E) level, including English.

When Workplace (E) is the minimum course level for admission, (C) and (U/C) courses are also accepted. 

Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

Other Requirements

Students must obtain Standard First Aid and CPR level C certificates by the end of first semester.

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Certification and Training I	75.00
Ecosystem Skills	60.00
Fall Field School	52.00
Introduction to Adventure Tourism	45.00
Trail Design and Construction	45.00
Trip Planning	45.00
Semester 2
Professional Portfolio Development	45.00
Certification and Training II	60.00
Customer Service Skills	45.00
Outdoor Adventure Leadership	45.00
Outdoor Adventure Risk Management	45.00
Winter Activities Field School	52.00

Semester 1

Certification and Training I

Course Number: APST075

In this course, students will experience training and certification in several outdoor adventure skills. Students will also have the opportunity to receive certifications in the following: ORCKA Flatwater Canoe certification (16 hours), GPS (7 hours), Wilderness Survival (15 hours), Hike Leader (7 hours). Course will a include field trips to go wilderness hiking, white-water kayaking and mountain biking.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Ecosystem Skills

Course Number: ECOS013

This course will focus on three areas of study: identification, field and lab skills. Students will identify and classify the living and non-living components of the specific ecosystems described in the Ecology and Environment (ENVR 20) course. Field skills to be developed include the ability to navigate through the natural environment and use a variety of ecosystem inventory techniques. Special emphasis will be placed on safe work habits in lab and field.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Fall Field School

Course Number: APST076

In this course, students will learn and have an opportunity to experience skills related to successful outdoor adventure participation. Students will be given a chance to apply trip planning and leadership skills as they relate to proper clothing selection, personal hygiene, group dynamics, risk management and food organization and preparation using both fires and cook stove. The students will be given an opportunity to complete their ORCKA Canoe Tripping 1 certification through a 3 night-4 day flatwater canoe trip.

Units: 52.00
Hours: 52.00

Introduction to Adventure Tourism

Course Number: TOUR041

This course provides an overview of tourism and trends in Adventure Tourism. Students will explore the components of risk and adventure, market segments, natural and human adapted environments meeting the needs of the Adventure tourist. Exploration of ecotourism and adventure tourism providers will also be included in the course.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Trail Design and Construction

Course Number: FREC002

The growth of trail-oriented creation in the past 25 years has been phenomenal. The increase in population and the popularity of walking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling has led to an ever increasing demand for trails. This course will provide students with knowledge and basic skills in the design and construction of a variety of recreational trails. Design principles such as trail standards, configuration, and master planning will be taught in lectures. Trail construction and maintenance techniques taught in the lab, such as hand tools, slope determination, and type of tread material.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Trip Planning

Course Number: TOUR039

In this course, students will learn some of the skills required for a successful outdoor adventure expedition including strategies related to gear preparation, selection and organization, route planning, map reading skills, minimal impact camping techniques, clothing selection, weather prediction, menu planning and food preparation. Field experiences will provide opportunities for practice and assessment of practical outdoor trip planning skills.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 2

Professional Portfolio Development

Course Number: GNED033

Get the Work You Want! This course will assist post-secondary students to locate and win positions they want in the workplace. The use and development of a professional portfolio will be emphasized. Through career analysis self-assessment, goal setting, and portfolio development participants will improve their ability to link their skills and knowledge to appropriate career positions. The basics of job searching will be enhanced with sessions on electronic resume posting, web site searches, and online job links. Participants will complete this course with the foundation of a professional portfolio and the knowledge to find the work they want.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Certification and Training II

Course Number: APST078

This course includes several opportunities for students to develop certification and training in key areas of outdoor leadership. Students will be able to attain certification in Bronze Cross Life Saving. In addition, Wilderness First Aid and an Ice Safety and Rescue training will be offered. These certifications will add to the repertoire of certifications from Semester 1 to give the students a solid base of technical skills in outdoor adventure pursuits.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Customer Service Skills

Course Number: MKTG095

In this course, students will learn how to provide excellent customer services for work as adventure skills trainers, adventure business or tourism employees. Topics include basic customer service skills, etiquette, diversity, conflict resolution, dealing with customer concerns and complaints and how to deal with difficult clients.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Outdoor Adventure Leadership

Course Number: TOUR042

In this course, students learn personal and interpersonal skills transferable to adventure programs and trips. Students examine leadership theory, acquire group management and decision making skills and apply this knowledge to the area of adventure leadership. Self-awareness and developing sound leadership judgement will be emphasized. Outdoor skill teaching and group facilitation are other key skills developed through experiential applications in class and outdoors.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Outdoor Adventure Risk Management

Course Number: TOUR040

This course introduces theoretical and practical applications to dealing with risk in the outdoor adventure industry. Accident theories, perceived and inherent risk, duty of care and negligence are studied. The Canadian legal system, liability, waivers and releases and insurance will be looked at from a broad adventure industry perspective while risk identification, mitigation, managing emergency response and documentation are covered from a leader's perspective.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Winter Activities Field School

Course Number: APST077

In this course, students will learn more details around planning for a winter camping experience including menu planning and food preparation, special considerations and skills of cold weather camping and outdoor pursuits. This experiential credit provides an opportunity for development of winter skills including shelter building, dressing for winter activity, traditional winter travel and outdoor cooking. The camp could include: winter camping, survival simulation, snowshoeing, wildlife tracking, cross country skiing and dog-sledding.

Units: 52.00
Hours: 52.00