David Pinel
Coordinator, Faculty
Tourism & Hospitality Mgmt
M.Sc., Rural Planning & Development (University of Guelph)
Subjects: Nautical, Tourism Adventure Guiding, Tourism & Hospitaly Mgmt
Harley Elias
Faculty
Business Administration, Tourism & Hospitality Mgmt
MBA, Strategic Planning and Marketing (University of Washington)
Subjects: Business, Tourism & Hospitaly Mgmt
Mike Neville
Faculty
Tourism & Hospitality Mgmt
Bachelor of Tourism Management, (Vancouver Island University)
Master of Recreation Management, (Acadia University)
Subjects: Tourism Adventure Guiding, Tourism & Hospitaly Mgmt
Sessional Faculty
Laurel Archer
Laurel is a SKGABC Guide Trainer and Level 4 Sea Kayak Guide, Paddle Canada Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor, Paddle Canada Instructor Trainer in Moving Water Canoe, Lake Canoe and Canoe Tripping, RCABC Master Instructor, Canadian Power and Sail Squadron ROC (Maritime) Examiner, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and PADI Open Water Diver.
She’s paddled waterways from Central America to Asia and the South Pacific, including competing in some of the most challenging canoe and kayak races in the world. Besides writing a thesis for her Masters degree in Distance Education, she’s penned three guidebooks based on her extensive experiences exploring and guiding on rivers in northern Saskatchewan and British Columbia, as well as published numerous articles, short stories, and poems. Laurel is a member of the International Explorers Club and Royal Canadian Geographical Society, inducted for her work in documenting historic and lesser-known waterways and her efforts to promote their conservation.
Dave Prothero
For Dave, growing up on Vancouver Island meant many weekends were spent in a canoe exploring lakes and areas of the North Island.
His first introduction to whitewater came during a 3 month stay at a mountaineering school in the Canadian Rockies with a company called Yamnuska. This lead to a 2 month excursion to Nepal and his first rafting trip, a 5 day on the Kali Gandaki river. This followed by another five day trip on the Jarbridge/ Bruneau rivers in Idaho. This lead to the start of a guiding career that allowed Dave to work across Canada, Australia, NZ, Iceland, Scotland, England, Honduras, India, Morocco, Turkey, and Chile, and guiding in the North of Canada.
You can find some of these adventures at http://raftinglife.ca/.
Tony Shaw
Tony discovered his love of canoeing in his teens, which led to a lifelong passion for the sport. With a background in education, he joined NIC in 2000 as a sessional instructor teaching canoeing for several programs, including Adventure Guiding. “Canoeing is such a beautiful art,” says Shaw. “There’s a lot more to it that people think and I love helping students discover the joy and the art of canoeing.” Shaw is certified as a Master Instructor by RCABC and Paddle Canada. He specializes in canoe tripping and white water canoeing.
Graham Vaughan
Graham is in his happy place on the water and in the wilderness sharing his knowledge and love of the ocean and its critters. He is a graduate from Capilano University's Wilderness Leadership and Outdoor Recreation Management Programs.
As a Level 2 Instructor with Paddle Canada, and an Examiner, Guide Trainer and volunteer Director with the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC, Graham is committed to the sea kayak industry and instilling a passion for kayaking to students and aspiring guides alike. At Spirit of the West Adventures, he guided and was the Manager of Operations throughout the past ten years and is now guiding with West Coast Expeditions and Kingfisher Adventures exploring new areas of the coast and ensuring everyone goes home having enjoyed their adventure. He has also guided white-water river trips and worked oversees in Chile, the Bahamas and New Zealand. He is passionate about marine education, tourism, and conservation, and is currently pursuing that through a Masters degree program at Royal Roads University.
Partners
Our Adventure Guiding students gain a wealth of relevant field-skills training, certification, and industry contacts with instruction and support from many key partners who contribute to the success of our program, working hard to enhance our students’ experiences.
Alpine First Aid www.alpinefirstaid.com/
Owner/operator and chief instructor, Mel Rodgers, ensures that our first aid training is relevant for wilderness settings and workplace requirements. Mel offers clear instruction with realistic scenarios based on his vast experience in many settings: search and rescue, alpine ski patrol, remote industrial sites, paramedic with BC Ambulance Service, and years of teaching. As a life-long learner himself, he knows how to impart solid first aid foundations without causing undue stress!
Bamfield Marine Science Centre www.bamfieldmsc.com/
The Public Education team at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre go over and above – and under - introducing our Adventure students to intertidal life, marine birds and mammals, forest ecology, Indigenous cultural context, and coastal conservation. Our sessions at the BMSC develop both knowledge and techniques for understanding and sharing interpretive programs in a marine setting. We spend time in labs with aquariums and touch tanks, multi-media presentations and discussions, in the forest, on the water in boats, walking the beaches, and poking around in tide pools.
Lilian Hunt – Alert Bay Tours lillianhunt.ca/
Adventure guiding in coastal BC is always in areas that are at the foundation of Indigenous cultural past, present, and futures. Understanding this context and associated relationships is paramount to meaningful and respectful interactions. Since 2003 we’ve partnered with the inimitable Lillian Hunt to choreograph and lead an Indigenous cultural module, together with local facilitators in Alert Bay and from the ‘Namgis First Nation, including Miss Dawn Cranmer (ethnobotany walk), U’mista Cultural Centre and staff, Randy Bell, and others. Lillian is well-connected throughout tourism, as a Director with Indigenous Tourism Association of BC, Tourism North Vancouver Island, and Tourism Vancouver Island.
Island Alpine Guides www.islandalpineguides.com/
Our rock, mountain, and snow-based field skills training is delivered in partnership with the Island Alpine Guides team and instructors who have a deep wealth of experience and professional certification in alpine settings. IAG guides are known for high standards in outdoor leadership and adventure training, whether for personal experiences or working toward professional credentials.
Program Highlights
Qualify for employment across a wide range of recreation and adventure tourism activities and earn credit toward further studies that open the door to multiple career pathways.
Outdoor guiding requires strong leadership, interpersonal, and interpretative skills as well as a high level of expertise and knowledge in specific skill areas. During the program, you'll develop and practice valuable career skills while training in sea kayaking, canoeing, sailing, river rafting, mountain travel, wildlife viewing, wilderness first aid and other outdoor education specialties. All courses are highly experiential, giving you the opportunity to progressively build your knowledge and confidence.
Applied theory courses will provide you with a more comprehensive view of the adventure guiding industry, including a focus on sustainability, law and ethics and cross-cultural skills. This includes learning through Aboriginal tourism interactions as part of guiding on the coast. Course hours are divided between the classroom and the field. Classmates frequently take turns co-leading while instructors provide support, direction and feedback.
Formal and informal evaluation, which is ongoing throughout this program, takes place in the classroom and in the wilderness. In addition to achieving industry-recognized certifications, you will receive college grades and credit based on practical skills evaluations, contributions to group learning, presentations, assignments, quizzes and exams.
Go further with your Outdoor Leadership Career
Qualify for entry-level leadership and guiding positions with sea kayaking and river rafting companies, coastal and mountain resorts, sailboat-based tours, whale and wildlife tour operators, outdoor centres, youth wilderness programs and camps, adventure therapy programs, interpretative centres and other rewarding settings.
You will be well-prepared with relevant outdoor leadership skills that transfer across a variety of career paths and professions such as conservation officer, park ranger, teacher, community recreation programmer, field researcher or assistant (biology, geology, etc.), professional ski patroller and other industries and services.
Supply List
Outdoor gear is an important part of the Adventure Guiding program. NIC provides most of the group equipment but you are required to have certain articles of clothing and equipment to participate in field activities. Please review the supply list document for complete information.
Tuition & Costs Estimate
Additional fees may also include necessary equipment, supplies, NIC appointed uniforms, or field trips not included in these estimates.
While we do our best to share accurate and timely fee information, changes may occur. For more information, visit our tuition page.
Domestic Fees
|
|
| Tuition |
$9,325
|
| NISU Fees |
$130
|
| Learner Resource |
$145
|
| Health and Dental |
$275
|
| Total |
$9,875
|
Equipment:
costs for clothing, personal gear, and books vary. Students may spend up to $2000.
Students
may choose additional Field Skills electives, in which case additional charges will be incurred.
International Fees
|
|
| Tuition |
$16,555
|
| NISU Fees |
$130
|
| Student Services Fees |
$800
|
| Learner Resource |
$145
|
| Health and Dental |
$275
|
| Total |
$17,905
|
Additional
costs for International students include the $100 application fee (required) and the $250 Accommodation Placement fee (optional).
Equipment:
costs for clothing, personal gear, and books vary. Students may spend up to $2000.
Students
may choose additional Field Skills electives, in which case additional charges will be incurred.