- When and where does the program take place?
Academic semesters of the Adventure Tourism Management diploma take place at the Campbell River campus on Dogwood street. The Coastal Adventure Tourism (CAT) certificate program (also the “Guiding 1” semester of the Adventure Tourism Management diploma) runs from January to May with classroom sessions and field trip logistics based out of the Comox Valley campus in Courtenay. Both the diploma and certificate are timed for immediate work in June during the primary coastal adventure tourism season. Field sessions take place mostly on and around the waters of Vancouver Island, generally including Barkley Sound, Clayoquot Sound, Johnstone Strait, the Gulf Islands, and the Discovery Islands.
- Why all of the entry requirements?
Successful CAT applicants require Grade 10 math & English, or equivalent assessment through placement testing. Math skills are mainly necessary for accurate and safe navigation (e.g., calculating tides and currents) which are required and evaluated in both the sea kayaking and sailing courses. Grade 10 English is helpful in all of the courses – especially for comprehension when reading or researching a topic for assignments, or when preparing for industry-established exams.
Otherwise, applicants are required to complete a medical information form, a physical exam with doctor’s permission, and to have a suitable fitness level for paddling heavily loaded sea kayaks or canoes (sitting for up to 3 hours while doing a lot of torso rotation), travelling by foot over uneven terrain, carrying heavy loads, etc. Applicants need to complete an “outdoor experience summary” describing previous experience living and travelling in the outdoors – it’s essential for group learning and safety that students know they are comfortable in what can often be cold and wet conditions for several days in a row…in beautiful and inspiring locations! This isn’t for whiners or princesses.
We also need to learn more about applicants’ background and suitability to the program (questionnaire, resume, and interview). The interview gives applicants the chance to clarify and assess whether the program is a good fit with their background, interests, learning styles and career goals.
- How much field time is there compared to time spent in the classroom?
About half and half. We balance classroom time with practical expedition experience, training and field trips. Usually, 50% of our instructional days (6h+/day, 5 days/wk, for 18 weeks) are out and about, though the exact ratio varies depending on group needs, interests and available opportunities. Another 2 weeks are spent on a practical work placement experience at the end of the program. We know that good guiding skill, knowledge and judgment come from an important dance between theory and practice. Our formula works well for developing skills, making industry contacts, researching topics of interest, getting wet, spending part of the winter warm and dry, caring for pets, repairing vehicles and having contact with family and friends.
- How does this program differ from others?
Location. Marine focus. Holistic Approach, including important First Nations content. Immediate work. The whole is much greater than the sum of the parts – as much is learned from going through this experience with your classmates as from the individual courses themselves. Our marine-focused program is busy from start to finish with high expectations both in and out of the classroom. Whether kayak surfing in a following sea, catching nor'westers in your sails, or hooking a smiley, you need to understand all of the forces at play - group dynamics, changing weather, equipment limitations, ecological impacts, etc. Our courses emphasize industry familiarity, risk management, communication, interpretation and resource stewardship alongside opportunities to develop strong nautical skills for navigating, trip planning, multi-vessel operation and emergency response. We expose you to an array of highly respected marine educators and operators who shape the industry.
- What does it cost, why is it so expensive, and what’s included in these cost-recovery tuition fees?
As all post-secondary students know, going to school isn’t cheap! This experience is not like traditional college or university programs where you are one student in a class of 50 to 100 or more. As governed by the guide associations and industry standards, you will be one of only 3-5 students per instructor during most field-based activities. Even in the classroom, our ratios range from only 8-16 students per instructor. You will receive lots of individual attention! However, we are sure you realize that student to instructor ratios of 3-5:1 are much more expensive than those of 100:1. In addition, your tuition fees cover all food costs for the trips, field equipment and many miscellaneous expenses as listed below. This is no ordinary college program! Our graduates frequently comment about how much “bang for their buck” they received in CAT and can’t believe how much was provided and accomplished in their five months with us. Most graduates also go straight into summer work with minimal living expenses while guiding. When applying to this full-time program, you are eligible for student loans, or may otherwise be able to access funding assistance through government sponsored employment training assistance programs. Your CAT Certificate/Guiding 1 program fees cover the following:
• Delicious and substantial group food for ALL overnight field training - not just beans and wieners! (e.g., Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, sailing trip, sea kayaking expeditions, etc.)
• All instructional costs for required courses and activities
• Low instructor to student ratios for safety and quality instruction – generally 1:3-5 for all field activities
• Multi-day accommodation and intensive programming at the Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre on Hornby Island, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, and the U’Mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay
• Use of canoes and sea kayaks (and paddles, PFDs, etc.) on scheduled outings
• Some in-program kayak and canoe borrowing privileges for personal skill development
• Use of two-person tents, tarps, and group kitchen equipment (stoves, fuel, pots, utensils, shelter) on trips
• Van transportation and ferry costs for all out-of-town field trips outside the Comox Valley
• Certification and examination fees to many external agencies (e.g., CYA, Industry Canada, etc.)
• Admission fees for regularly scheduled course activities (e.g., pool time, museum visits, cultural events, etc.),
…and many more misc. and budgeted expenses that add up, but would be long and tedious to list!
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Is kayaking the focus of this program?
No…but sort of. Students are exposed to a variety of important technical skills in canoeing, sailing, powerboat operations and sportfishing. Sea kayaking, however, is a key focus because extended expeditions by small self-propelled craft are the best tools we have for teaching fundamental leadership, judgment, risk management and customer service skills. As a guide you'll be processing and juggling weather, tides, group strength and sea state to make decisions that maximize safety, comfort, fun and learning. We use our kayak outings to practice these skills in a realistic and memorable way. So, whether you plan to be a sportfishing, whale watching, or kayaking guide, the skills that you develop while leading your peers on kayak expeditions are invaluable for developing your overall abilities as a guide. In addition, many graduates have found immediately rewarding and relevant work in the sea kayaking industry, so this has proven to be a very relevant part of their training and entry-level guiding opportunity.
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How much will I have to spend on equipment?
Equipment costs vary depending on what you already own, your budget, your resourcefulness and what you should have for the type of guiding you decide to do. All technical gear is supplied (kayaks, canoes, paddles, tents, kitchen equipment, VHFs, flares, etc.), but you are responsible for providing your own personal gear such as a sleeping bag, foul weather gear, PFD, wetsuit, neoprene booties, drybags, etc.. Previous students have spent between $400-$2000 depending on what they previously own and what they intend to do after graduating. Good equipment is essential for the expedition components as we often travel in cold, wet, winter conditions. Apart from your personal clothing items, much of your personal gear can also be rented through industry contacts (e.g., wetsuit, PFD, paddling jacket, dry bags,…). Consult the pre-program information documents and Program Coordinator for more details.
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What are the job prospects when I graduate?
Great! Though the college can't guarantee employment, tourism is a fast-growing segment of the economy here on Vancouver Island and we have a very high rate of graduate employment within and outside of the college region. The Coast Adventure Tourism (CAT) certificate prepares students for entry to mid-level positions and wages are commensurate with experience. For example, a starting wage for a sea kayak guide could be between $90-$130/day plus gratuities (and meals while guiding); a day guide for sportfishing might start at $10-$15/hour plus gratuities. Starting wages for a diploma graduate may be higher. The Adventure Tourism Management diploma includes a mandatory summer Co-op placement and the CAT program includes a two-week (80 hour) work practicum that greatly enhances students' job prospects. Past students, for example, have found excellent Co-op and work placements and subsequent employment with the following companies:
Tofino Sea Kayaking Company
Majestic Sea Kayaking
Tofino Expeditions
West Coast Expeditions
Coast Mountain Expeditions
Batstar Adventures
Spirit of the West
Coastal Spirits
Northern Lights Expeditions
Comox Valley Kayaks
Knight Inlet Lodge
Painters Lodge & April Point Lodge
Weigh West Marine Adventures
Tla-ook Cultural Tours, and
Many other smaller resort operations and companies that play important roles on the coast.
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Aren't guiding jobs here seasonal?
Typically, guiding on the BC coast is seasonal with some shoulder season (spring and fall) opportunities. However, there are excellent, realistic job opportunities in New Zealand, Latin America, the Caribbean, and elsewhere for well-trained and motivated guides seeking year-round work. Students seeking such employment have to be mobile and sometimes willing to acquire second language skills. Many of the CAT instructors have international experience teaching and guiding in such locales as Mexico, Belize, Tonga and Alaska. Faculty can provide valuable perspective on the requirements and challenges of international guiding and can steer students towards potential contacts. Meanwhile, here in BC, seasonal marine guiding allows many graduates to pursue other "off-season" careers at winter resorts, consulting, retail, teaching, artisan, carpentry, etc.
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Do I have to attend all of the program components to obtain my certificate?
Absolutely! Attendance every day is mandatory and you must successfully pass all program components to receive your certificate - passing is largely based on full participation.
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What certification will I receive if I attend and pass all of the components?
Remember, this program is about much more than the courses that provide all of the individual component certificates – some of the most relevant learning is in the non-certificate components. Regardless, we strive to offer the most relevant and well-rounded formal certifications and training required to work in the coastal adventure sector. This varies slightly from year to year depending on current standards, industry expectations, regulations, available instructors, and student background, readiness, and motivation. These certifications include:
• SKGABC approved kayak leadership course & Assistant Overnight Guide assessment
• Recreational Canoeing Association of BC Lakewater Level 3
• Canadian Yachting Association Coastal Cruising Standard (sailing)
• Canadian Yachting Association Powerboat Standard
• CCG Pleasure Craft Operator Certificate
• Wilderness First Aid and CPR Level 'C' (40 hours)
• FoodSafe Level I and WorldHost Fundamentals
• Marine Emergency Duties (A3)
• VHF Restricted Operator Certificate – Maritime Commercial
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I'm interested, but how do I know if I'm suited for success in this program?
You need to have a positive team-oriented attitude and a strong desire to teach and guide in the outdoors. Students must come prepared to stretch their personal comfort zone physically, mentally and emotionally. You must be willing to participate fully and enthusiastically in all facets of the program. It is important to remember that skills of leadership and communication, so fundamental to guiding, are acquired through study of group process - how groups work and function effectively. Commitment to this process - and being open to ongoing feedback - is essential for your success in this program. Also, comfort on the water is imperative, as is basic physical fitness for repetitive endurance activity (paddling!) and lifting (boats & gear).
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Is there a possibility I could get advance credit for experience or certification I already have?
The CAT coordinator and NIC determine prior learning or transfer credit on a case-by-case basis according to specific course outcomes and certification requirements. If you provide proof of having an up-to-date certificate otherwise offered in the program, you can receive permission to sit-out that specific course, but then miss the group learning and development with your classmates…which is often equally, if not more, valuable. Please discuss your specific situation directly with the CAT program coordinator.