THE ADVENTURE GUIDE DIPLOMA
at Thompson Rivers University (TRU)
... the best known adventure training program in the world.
The Adventure Guide Diploma is a fast-paced, two-year course of study comprised of field trips, outdoor skills instruction, and self-directed expeditions. Courses cover a wide range of adventure activities and theoretical topics. Field trips make up sixty percent of the course load.
The 60-credit Adventure Guide Diploma is comprised of 38 required credits and 22 elective credits. The Diploma transfers into the Bachelor of Tourism Management degree (BTM) for students who wish to complete the degree. The Diploma is also a credential recognizing two years of study if a student chooses not to continue studies in the degree program. Because students in this Diploma do not take ENGL 106-3, STAT 102-3, ECON 200-3, or ENGL 107-3, these courses must be completed as part of the degree should a student decide to carry on with degree program studies.This means that it usually takes students from the Adventure Guide Diploma an additional five semesters of study to complete the BTM (as compared to Adventure Management Diploma students who can complete the BTM in four additional semesters).
The private sector is a major supporter of this program through training, certifying, and helping students build a network for future employment.
Adventure Guide Diploma graduates work as outdoor skills instructors, mountain or river guides, and in other wilderness-related leadership occupations. Where are TRU Adventure Studies graduates working now?
ACTIVITIES
The TRU Adventure Guide Diploma focuses on activities such as these:
| Backpacking |
Mountaineering |
Sailing |
| Canoeing |
Natural history |
SCUBA diving |
| Cross-country skiing |
Nature observation |
Sea kayaking |
| Heli-hiking |
River rafting |
Search and rescue |
| Heli-skiing |
Rock climbing |
Ski touring |
| Hiking |
Ice climbing |
Snowboarding |
|
|
Whitewater kayaking |
THEORY
Compressed, modularized classroom course instruction complements the seasonal field activities. Theory courses include the following:
- guiding leadership
- emergency management
- legal liability
- business management
- accounting
- customer service
- marketing
-
instructional skills
The Adventure Guide Diploma provides students with a solid foundation in adventure activities and builds on their previous experience. Skill assessments at the start of the program ensure that students are developing their skills at the level most advantageous to them throughout their course of study.
TRU Adventure Guide Diploma students have a unique advantage: they may distinguish themselves by achieving any of more than thirty-five industry certifications from provincial and national adventure associations and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG).
|
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION |
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides/TRU:
o Assistant Alpine Guide
o Alpine Guide
o Assistant Ski Guide
o Ski Guide
o Assistant Rock Guide
o Rock Guide
o Hiking Guide
o Backpacking Guide
o Climbing Gym Instructor Level I
o Climbing Gym Instructor Level II
o Climbing Gym Instructor Level III
o Top-Rope Climbing Instructor
Association of Canadian Sea Kayaking Guides:
o Assistant Guide |
National Association of Scuba Diving:
o Open Water
o Advanced Open Water
o Master Diver
o Dive Supervisor
Paddle Canada:
o Trip Instructor
o Flatwater Canoe Instructor
o Moving Water Instructor
Rescue Canada:
o Swiftwater Rescue Technician
o Swiftwater Rescue Specialist
o Swiftwater Rope Rescue Technician
o Swiftwater Rescue Instructor |
British Columbia River Rafting Guide License:
o Oar
o Paddle |
Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of British Columbia:
o Level One Guide |
British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program:
o Rope Rescue Team Leader
o Rope Rescue Team Member
o Search and Rescue Manager |
Transport Canada:
o Restricted Marine Radio Operators License |
Canadian Avalanche Association:
o Safety for Ski Operations I
Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance:
o Level I Instructor |
Whitewater Kayak Association of British Columbia:
o Basic River Instructor
o River Instructor
o Advanced River Instructor |
|
Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors:
o Telemark Instructor Level |
Wilderness Medical Associates:
o Wilderness First Responder |
Activity courses in the Adventure Guide Diploma travel extensively throughout Alberta, British Columbia, and the western United States. Expeditions often take place overseas; in 2007, students travelled to Tibet.
PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS
Applications to the Adventure Guide Diploma will NOT be accepted without applicants having first attended a program information session (see dates and locations).
The following lists courses for year one and two studies in the Adventure Guide Diploma. Detailed course descriptions can be found in the TRU calendar at http://www.tru.ca/calendar.html.
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|
|
YEAR 1 |
| FALL |
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 |
ADVG 101-3 The Adventure Tourism Industry
ADVG 102-3 Wilderness Travel
ADVG 105-3 Guiding Leadership
ADVG 203-3 Advanced Wilderness First Aid
Elective Activity
Elective Activity
Elective Activity
|
| WINTER |
1
2
3
4
5
|
ADVG 111-3 Emergency Situation & SAR Management
ADVG 180-3 Computer Applications for the Adventure Tourism Industry
ADVG 190-2 Expedition I
Elective Activity
Elective Activity
|
|
|
YEAR 2 |
| FALL |
1
2
3
4
5
6
|
TMGT 115-3 Marketing & Customer SErvice
ACCT 100-3 Financial Accounting
ADVG 204-3 The Business of Adventure
Elective Activity
Elective Activity
Elective Activity
|
| WINTER |
1
2
3
4
5
6 |
ADVG 206-3 Legal Liability & Risk Management
ADVG 285-3 Instructional Skills Workshop
ADVG 201-3 The Natural Environment
Elective Activity
Elective Activity
Elective Activity |
Required Activity Courses:
Students must include the following five activity courses in their selection:
| 1 |
ADVG 153-2 Kayak 1 or ADVG 249-2 Kayak II |
| 2 |
ADVG 151-2 Flatwater Canoe Instructor or
ADVG 264-2 Sea Kayking I |
| 3 |
ADVG 155-2 Skiing I, or
ADVG 245-2 Alpine Ski Instructor I, or
ADVG 255-2 Telemark Instructor 1 |
| 4 |
ADVG 156-2 Ski Tour I, or
ADVG 158-2 Mountaineering I, or
ADVG 281-2 Mountaineering 2 |
| 5 |
ADVG 157-2 Rock Climbing I, or
ADVG 280-2 Rock Climbing 2 |
International Students
If you are an international student interested in the Adventure Guide Diploma, please visit the International Student page for admissions information.
