THE ADVENTURE GUIDE DIPLOMA
Overview

Adventure tourism is currently the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry in Canada.  

Historically, individuals drawn to work in adventure tourism activities were motivated by their primary interest in an outdoor, travel-oriented lifestyle. To stay employed and competitive in today's adventure industry, however, these individuals are increasingly confronted with the need to offer good hospitality and conduct sound business practices.

As the size of the adventure industry has increased and high-risk sports have become socially acceptable activities, the industry has become more professional in its operations, it has developed new approaches to risk management and it requires higher levels of qualification and certification in its workforce.

Operators, Investors and Land Managers

Guides and small business operators not only take care of adventure-seeking clients – they must also address the prominent role that land managers and investors now play in the adventure tourism industry. Although many adventure tourism businesses were started by "lifestyle" operators, tourism developers are now seeking out viable adventure tourism operations in which to invest. This trend creates new issues to address about the integration of operators, investors and land managers.

Technical Training for Full-Time Employment

Employers are primarily concerned for the care and safety of their clients and the legalities of operation. Legally qualified, competent guides will find themselves in demand. The Adventure Diploma program offers training that keeps pace with the rapid changes of the adventure tourism industry by providing complete and formalized guide training. Guides are the backbone of the adventure industry, and it is the Adventure Diploma's intent to train participants to become qualified and competent guides with a broad background in more than one technical skill. This is necessary to obtain full-time employment.
 

Hospitality and Business Management Training

But technical expertise is not enough. One of the biggest obstacles to growth and long term planning for many adventure businesses today is the inability to consistently find employees qualified not only in adventure sport activities, but in hospitality and business management skills as well.

Consequently, the Adventure Guide Diploma program combines adventure activity skills with the interpersonal, hospitality, technical and organizational skills necessary to secure long-term employment and careers in the adventure industry. It offers training that specifically addresses guiding knowledge and leadership, adventure tourism industry issues, small business ownership, trip planning and certification through numerous provincial and national adventure associations.

The Adventure Guide Diploma program formalizes and integrates existing industry association standards and certification to be as useful to employees and employers as possible.

For Whom is the Adventure Guide Diploma Program Designed?

This program is designed to attract individuals who are 

• Seeking employment within the adventure tourism industry as guides or entrepreneurs.
• Seeking additional, formalized training and certification to enhance their current adventure tourism industry employment.
• Seeking further education in the Bachelor of Tourism Management degree after completing the Adventure Guide Diploma 
• Looking for career and lifestyle changes in the recreation or tourism field.

Transfer into the Bachelor of Tourism Management Degree

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 Adventure Guide Diploma and the Private Sector

The private sector has contributed to the development and delivery of this program, and continues to be involved through substantial use of industry association curriculum, advisory committee participation, and the program’s consistent practice of using association examiners as contract instructors on all activity courses.

The Adventure Programs Department is comprised of instructors who are highly respected and long-standing guides, as well as contract instructors who instruct and/or examine for their various national associations (see the faculty section for more information). The Adventure Guide Diploma is taught exclusively by guiding professionals in the adventure tourism industry who are at the pinnacle of their sport, and this forms a unique integration between members of the private sector and TRU. This link gives the program additional validity and purpose, gives students excellent networking opportunities, and has stimulated a good deal of interest within the international adventure tourism community as a desirable model for adventure education delivery.

Training Where Students Will Work

One of the goals of the Adventure Guide Diploma is to have students training in the geographic areas where they may work. Activity courses in the program travel extensively throughout Alberta, British Columbia, and the western United States Students spend approximately 50% of the program course time on various trips throughout western North America.

The employment possibilities for graduates of this program are excellent provincially, nationally and internationally. The Adventure Programs office currently receives dozens of job offers each year, and many companies have realized the benefits of hiring exclusively from this resource of adventure students. Companies may post job openings with the program, as well as come to TRU to interview prospective candidates for employment.