Name Destination Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Bachelor of
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Name Will Mackaness Destination Thompson Rivers University (TRU) British Columbia Canada Course Bachelor of Applied Science (Adventure Ecotourism) “Through my exchange [with TRU] I participated in the Adventure Guide Diploma (AGD) - a two- year course, of which sixty percent of that time is spent in the field. The training program attracts worldwide scrutiny and sets the standard for training whitewater, ocean, climbing and ski guides in Canada. ” W hen I first came here in 2002 I had no idea that people lived in such temperatures, let alone went about the daily lives. The up side of this climate, which couldn’t be further away from arid Australia, plus the addition of huge mountain ranges, is the production of 12 metres of natural snowfall per year (Rogers Pass, BC). waterfall ice, the size and height, bigger than a football field (Weeping Wall, AB) and the preservation of 18 000 year old glacier ice, from the peak of the last ice age (2% of landmass). I’m talking about Canada of course, the mountainous part of western Canada and the two provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. From the west Coast of Canada through to the prairies of Alberta span several mountain ranges including the Coastal Mountains, Interior Mountains and Rocky Mountains. These mountain rangers have helped shaped the culture of western Canada, with their recreational and tourism opportunities. Canada is a world leader in Adventure tourism, with western Canada being the epicenter of the industry. Western Canada has a thriving adventure industry with large segments of Hiking, Rock climbing and Mountaineering, Helicopter skiing, hiking and mountaineering, ski touring, sea kayaking, white water rafting and kayaking. Thompson Rivers University and the Adventure tourism department have lead the way with internationally known experts and researchers. Developing since 1992, Adventure Tourism training that is not only highly regarded in Canada but also internationally. Through my exchange I participated in the Adventure guide diploma (AGD). The AGD is a two-year course, of which sixty percent of that time is spent in the field. The program aims to provide a well rounded program of study, with students training in the various water, mountain and snow based adventure sports. Theory courses are compressed modularized format, for example a 12 day course from 9am to 4pm. Theory courses range from legal liability and business management, to instructional skills and guiding leadership. A sample of some of the subjects that I participated in are Mountaineering 1, Sea kayak 1, Rock Climbing 3, Wilderness Travel, Guiding Leadership, Legal Liability and Risk Management, Emergency Situation Management, Rope Rescue, and ski tour 1. Britich Columbia and Alberta have thriving backcountry ski touring and helicopter skiing industries. Ski tour 1 is a seven day field course where students are flown into a commercial backcountry Chalet via a bell 212 helicopter. The course is designed to give you the basic foundational skills to lead a group in the backcountry snow environment, which includes make decisions in Avalanche terrain, efficient uphill track setting, and safe decent group management, snow shelter building techniques and winter glacier travel. My fellow students in the Adventure Guide Diploma ranged in age from 19 years old to 42 years old, some where already quite experience within the Adventure tourism industry, for example an Icelandic Adventure Business owner while others had strong recreational backgrounds in hopes of turning their passions into their career. We were also quite diverse in our nationalities with, myself from Australia, two Icelandic folk, a Norwegian, a Swede, a Fin, a Frenchman and a Scotsman. Which made for some excellent cultural exchange. On some
Transcript of Name Destination Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Bachelor of
NameWill Mackaness
DestinationThompson Rivers University (TRU)
British ColumbiaCanada
CourseBachelor of Applied Science (Adventure
Ecotourism)
“Through my exchange [with TRU] I participated in the Adventure Guide Diploma (AGD) - a two-year course, of which sixty percent of that time is spent in the field.
The training program attracts worldwide scrutiny and sets the standard for training whitewater, ocean, climbing and ski guides in Canada. ”
W hen I first came here in 2002 I had no idea that people lived in such temperatures, let alone went about the daily lives. The up side of this climate, which couldn’t
be further away from arid Australia, plus the addition of huge mountain ranges, is the production of 12 metres of natural snowfall per year (Rogers Pass, BC). waterfall ice, the size and height, bigger than a football field (Weeping Wall, AB) and the preservation of 18 000 year old glacier ice, from the peak of the last ice age (2% of landmass).
I’m talking about Canada of course, the mountainous part of western Canada and the two provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. From the west Coast of Canada through to the prairies of Alberta span several mountain ranges including the Coastal Mountains, Interior Mountains and Rocky Mountains.
These mountain rangers have helped shaped the culture of western Canada, with their recreational and tourism opportunities. Canada is a world leader in Adventure tourism, with western Canada being the epicenter of the industry. Western Canada has a thriving adventure industry with large segments of Hiking, Rock climbing and Mountaineering, Helicopter skiing, hiking and mountaineering, ski touring, sea kayaking, white water rafting and kayaking.
Thompson Rivers University and the Adventure tourism department have lead the way with internationally known experts and researchers. Developing since 1992, Adventure Tourism training that is not only highly regarded in Canada but also internationally.
Through my exchange I participated in the Adventure guide diploma (AGD). The AGD is a two-year course, of which sixty percent of that time is spent in the field. The program aims to provide a well rounded program of study, with students training in the various water, mountain and snow based adventure sports. Theory courses are compressed modularized format, for example a 12 day course from 9am to 4pm. Theory courses range from legal liability and business management, to instructional skills and guiding leadership.
A sample of some of the subjects that I participated in are Mountaineering 1, Sea kayak 1, Rock Climbing 3, Wilderness Travel, Guiding Leadership, Legal Liability and Risk Management, Emergency Situation Management, Rope Rescue, and ski tour 1.
Britich Columbia and Alberta have thriving backcountry ski touring and helicopter skiing industries. Ski tour 1 is a seven day field course where students are flown into a commercial backcountry Chalet via a bell 212 helicopter. The course is designed to give you the basic foundational skills to lead a group in the backcountry snow environment, which includes make decisions in Avalanche terrain, efficient uphill track setting, and safe decent group management, snow shelter building techniques and winter glacier travel.
My fellow students in the Adventure Guide Diploma ranged in age from 19 years old to 42 years old, some where already quite experience within the Adventure tourism industry, for example an Icelandic Adventure Business owner while others had strong recreational backgrounds in hopes of turning their passions into their career.
We were also quite diverse in our nationalities with, myself from Australia, two Icelandic folk, a Norwegian, a Swede, a Fin, a Frenchman and a Scotsman. Which made for some excellent cultural exchange. On some
field trips it felt like the token Canadian was the odd person out.
The faculty of the Adventure department are true expertise of their field, they have extensive experience in operating adventure tourism business, developing industry standards, teaching and instruction, and expert consultation with the industry. With this much experience they are defiantly memorable characters. In addition to the faculty, guides currently working within the industry are employed on a regular basis to run instructional field courses. Within the mountain stream these are Association of Canadian Mountain guide qualified guides. This mix of experience keeps the training and the program relevant and at the forefront of industry best practice.
The Campus is located in Kamloops, British Columbia. Kamloops is situated in central British Columbia on a high Plateau, with larger mountain ranges to the east and west it is relatively dry compared with much of BC, and has quite an arid landscape. Kamloops while being quite centrally located to the BC Coast, rivers and Mountains in my opinion is not particularly inspiring, now keep in mind I have spent time in some spectacular Canadian mountain towns like Banff, Canmore and Revelstoke. Thankfully with the Adventure Guide Diploma you are always away on field trips and Kamloops does provide for a good rest away from the lure of the mountain activities. It’s not that bad!
If you’re worried about culture shock don’t be, you’re more likely to get climate shock or lack of sun and warm days shock. Canadian’s are very similar to Australians. Here are some differences and similarities; Canadians have a similar sense of humour, although they my struggle with sarcasm a little, Canadian’s are defiantly more polite and less out spoken. There language is less playful then ours, more formal and more descriptive than ours.
And lastly a caution, if you love adventure, adventure sports and adventurous people beware you might just wont to stay!
Will Mackaness, 2011
Exchange Tips
Preparation Australian exchange students require a student visa to study in Canada.
The best way to apply for a student visa is online via the Canadian Citizenship and
Immigration web site. This is an expansive website although if you take the time to navigate
you will most likely find the information you require. I found the online application process quite
straightforward. Currently the processing time for student visa as of August 2011, using the online
application process is 73 days.
If you would like to work during your studies or stay longer for the purpose of work and holiday, Australians now have the option to receive a 2 year working holiday visa to Canada. Australians can receive multiples of these visas until the age of 31. Insurance International students must sign up to British Columbia provincial health insurance if their total stay in BC is for more than six months. International students are eligible for BC health insurance. It cost $60 per month and covers general hospital and doctor care. There is a waiting period of two month + the rest of the month after you arrive in BC. So you will have to purchase travel insurance for the time you are not covered by BC health.
Applying for the AGD To participate in the Adventure Guide Diploma as an exchange student I had to apply to their regular application process, which consists of documenting all the relevant outdoor experience, and outlining my goals for the future.
Keep in mind that I was the first exchange student from CSU to participate in any TRU program, and I think perhaps the first exchange student to participate in the Adventure Guide Diploma.
As far as prerequisites go, if you have completed the Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation component of the Adventure Ecotourism degree with some prior experience, and an adventurous attitude you will have no problem with being accepted. Additional costs There were additional costs associated with my exchange because of the participation in the Adventure Guide Diploma. This amounted to roughly $3000 per semester depending on which field electives where chosen. Field course costs range from $300 to $900 and represent in my opinion excellent value. For example ski tour 1 cost $700. The trip consisted of being flown in and out by helicopter to a back country chalet, the use of school skis, a 1:5, ACMG guide to student ratio was used for the weeks instruction. This purchased commercially would be more than three times the price.
Clothing and Other Equipment Most likely you are going to have to equip your self with clothing more suitable for the Canadian climate. TRU provides a lot of the equipment needed for courses although there is defiantly items where it is much more beneficial to have your own well fitting pair. Mountain Equipment Co-op is a Canadian gear store that produces its own line of products mostly clothing and also stocks other outdoor brands. MEC’s prices are usually the best you will find in Canada. MEC’s line of out door clothing is excellent quality and value for money.
