Guide Training and Education Program
Living and traveling in wilderness environments requires conscious awareness, respect, humility, community and an understanding based on observation through the eyes of nature. This means that we do not see what we want to see, on human terms, but what is really there, on nature’s terms.
This course is set up as a rite of passage into the environments of the ocean and the mountains. It is designed progressively, as building blocks, built upon the preceding material, culminating in an evaluation and certification process.
Our goals and objectives are to foster a better understanding of the ocean and mountain environments, and ourselves in these places. This will promote a greater understanding of self, in relation to strengths and areas of further development needed for our continual growth and evolution leaders.
What Leadership is about:
- Leadership is about people
- Leadership is about leading yourself
- Leadership is about internal motivation
- Leadership is about striving for perfection, while accepting our imperfections
- Leadership is about change
- Leadership is about having confidence
- Leadership is about growth
- Leadership is about having energy
- Leadership is about creating a positive experience
- Leadership is about creating results, in you and others – with integrity
Creating a Positive Learning Environment
Learning in the outdoors has the potential for being an exciting and rewarding experience How ever; there are priorities that need to be established in order that the experience is positive, for all those involved.
These priorities when learning in the field are:
- Safety of the people involved
- Care of the equipment
- Creation of a positive and encouraging learning environment
- Care of the physical environment.
- Safety of the people involved includes safety in ALL aspects: physical, emotional and psychological,
- both for the individual and for the group.
Expectations
The emotional and psychological safety of people involved tends to be fairly subjective and so it is often helpful to define the expectations of both the students and the instructors. Below is a list of expectations of both the students and the instructors
Students’ expectations of Instructors
- Training / Instruction
- Support: logistically and emotionally
- Well-being and reduced risk
- To offer students a voice
- Feedback and evaluations
- Provide a safe learning environment
- Respect
Instructors’ expectations of students
- Be open-minded - be ready to learn
- Try new things - show initiative
- Teamwork
- Stretch personal comfort levels
- Follow the directions and lead of instructors, for safety and to achieve goals
- Feedback
Ocean Kayak Certifications
There are two Levels of Certification:
The course components will consist of:
- A guiding component
- Harmonic wilderness travel skills component
- Educating / teaching component
- Soft and hard skills component
Prerequisites for certification are:
- A recognized Wilderness First Aid course at the Leadership Level (including a current CPR standing)
- A marine radio operator's license
- Satisfactory participation at a leave-no-trace work shop (Harmonic Wilderness Travel)
- Age - a minimum of 19 years
- Successful completion of the appropriate
- Wilderness Guide/Educator Review
- Log documentation
The evaluation process will consist of:
The review board will be comprised of a minimum of 2 evaluators. The evaluation will be based upon an objective evaluation of tangible skill demonstration.
- Safety and judgment demonstration in a variety of situations.
- Teaching a mini workshop.
- Instructing a major workshop.
- Familiarity and demonstration of leadership styles appropriate to the specific situation.
- Scenarios and simulations.
- A basing of all decisions upon a foundation of personal and group safety at all times.
- Demonstration of the ability to perform specific hard skills in a variety of situations.
- There will be a written and practical component.
- There will be a written evaluation of the candidate.
Click here to see a sample of an Ocean Kayak Training Program
Photo: Terry Berezan
Program Details
West Coast Vancouver Island
Cost: $1400
Dates: April 18 - 25, 2011
Duration: 8 days
Sitka Alaska Departure
Cost: $2400
Dates: May 3 - 14, 2011
Duration: 12 days
Baja Departure
Cost: $2400 + hst
Dates: TBA, 2011
Duration: 12 days
