Adventure Studies Menu
Adventure Guide Certificate
The Adventure Guide Certificate is a 30-credit, eight-month introduction to adventure sports and the adventure industry with extensive time on field activity courses and compressed and modularized classroom course instruction. This is the ideal program for students wishing to explore their career interests in adventure-related fields.
This is the ideal program for you, if you ...
- Are interested in an introduction to adventure sports.
- Are interested in improving current adventure sport skills.
- Are interested in exploring the adventure industry as a career.
- Prefer a relatively short course of study.
- Wish to transfer credit earned into further Diploma or Degree studies.
Risk Statement
At TRU Adventure, we use the land and water as tools to teach students technical skills, leadership and guiding skills. Our adventure sport courses include mountaineering, white water rafting, ski touring, sea kayaking, rock climbing, and much more. Field courses are immersive and can be intense.
Safety is a top priority at TRU Adventure, and we incorporate risk management as an essential element in all our programming. Risk and uncertainty, however, are central to adventure guide training.
Students are exposed to settings and situations which will challenge them physically and emotionally. The environments in which our courses operate have inherent risks which range from avalanches, to drowning, to falling rock or ice. Adventure sports by their nature have risks that cannot be eliminated and which we accept as part and parcel to the learning process of becoming a guide.
Since our start 31 years ago in 1992, there have been no student fatalities, but there are occasional injuries which range from sprains and strains to shoulder dislocations and concussions. While we have robust risk management processes to reduce risk, the possibility of injury and even death cannot be eliminated.
Areas of study
The Adventure Guide Certificate will give you the skills, knowledge and experiences leading to a broader understanding in the adventure industry and leadership within. Applied and practical modularized classroom courses are offered in wilderness travel, wilderness first aid, guiding leadership, wilderness environment, expedition planning and the adventure industry.
Leadership, risk management and technical skills are built within the following adventure areas:
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Mountaineering
- Ski Touring and Avalanche Education
- Ski Instruction
- Canoeing
- Sea Kayaking
- White Water Rafting
- White Water Kayaking
- Swift Water Rescue
- Surfing
Program structure
The Adventure Guide Certificate allows for extensive time engaged in field activity courses and compressed and modularized classroom course instruction. There are approximately twelve weeks of classroom instruction and twelve weeks of field activity courses that make up the program.
All course credit completed in the Adventure Guide Certificate is transferable to other Adventure Studies programs. Students who complete the Adventure Guide Certificate and wish to continue their adventure studies at TRU may ladder directly into the Adventure Guide Diploma. Providing the required entrance requirements are met, students can ladder into the following degrees: the Adventure Concentrations in the Bachelor of Tourism Management (BTM) degree, or the Adventure Concentrations in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree. In order to be accepted into the BIS program from the Adventure Guide Certificate students may have to take additional courses to meet the BIS program requirements.
| Theory courses — required (18 credits) |
ADVG 1010 The Adventure Tourism Industry (3,0,0) ADVG 1010 The Adventure Tourism Industry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course offers an overview of the tourism industry and the adventure tourism sector. Upon completion of this course, students have a comprehensive understanding of the origins of tourism, the industry today, land management issues, future considerations, the guide's role, career paths, literature review, terminology, and definitions.
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ADVG 1020 Wilderness Travel (2,0,0,80F) ADVG 1020 Wilderness Travel (2,0,0,80F)Credits: 3 credits This course consists of a classroom theory component and two field modules in the fall term. Course content includes theoretical and practical aspects of wilderness travel and is an introduction to the organization of wilderness trips. Theory relates to clothing and equipment, navigation, environmental concerns, travel techniques, route plans and trip planning and field modules that includes navigation, route selection, group management, pacing, minimum impact camping and hazard awareness. This course is the prerequisite for most other introductory level ADVG courses.
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ADVG 1050 Guiding Leadership 1 (3,0,0) ADVG 1050 Guiding Leadership 1 (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course explores the role of leadership as it applies to guiding in the adventure tourism industry. Topics include philosophic approach, qualifications profile, group dynamics, communication skills, leadership styles, problem solving, and decision-making.
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ADVG 2010 The Natural Environment (3,0,0) ADVG 2010 The Natural Environment (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course studies the natural resource base upon which the adventure tourism industry depends; these include geographic features, mountain geomorphology, geology, fluviology, meteorology, ecology, flora and fauna species identification, nature interpretation and current environmental concerns.
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ADVG 2030 Advanced Wilderness First Aid (80 hours) ADVG 2030 Advanced Wilderness First Aid (80 hours)Credits: 3 credits This is an advanced wilderness emergency response course that provides detailed instruction in wilderness emergency response and pre-hospital care. Course content includes situation assessment, anatomy, physiology, airway management, respiratory emergencies, cardiac arrest, circulation emergencies, burns, eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
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ADVG 2850 Instructional Skills Workshop (0,3,0) ADVG 2850 Instructional Skills Workshop (0,3,0)Credits: 3 credits The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is a laboratory approach to the improvement of the teaching and learning process. Participants review basic ideas about teaching, check current practices, and within the safe environment of the workshop, try new strategies and techniques.
Prerequiste: ADVG 1050 |
| Field courses — required (4 credits) |
ADVG 1530 Kayak 1 (60F hours) ADVG 1530 Kayak 1 (60F hours)Credits: 2 credits This course is designed to introduce students to the foundational techniques and concepts of whitewater kayaking.
Students will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to identify and manage river hazards and successfully
navigate whitewater rapids up to class 3. Skill development in this course lays a foundation for future whitewater
kayaking, rafting, sea kayaking, and swift water rescue courses.
Prerequisite/ |
ADVG 1570 Rock Climbing 1 (50 hours) ADVG 1570 Rock Climbing 1 (50 hours)Credits: 2 credits Students participate in a rock climbing personal skill development course designed to build a foundation in industry standard systems. Activities include gym climbing, outdoor top roping and sport climbing. Course content emphasizes hazard management, communication skills, technical movement skills, rope & equipment handling, knots and systems, fixed protection use, belay systems, anchors, and sport leading strategies. By the end of the course, students lead climb on bolted routes. Upon completion of the course, the student may be recommended for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) Climbing gym instructor course and may participate in more advanced TRU rock climbing courses.
Prerequisite/ |
| Field courses — required minimum of one of the following four courses (2 credits) |
ADVG 1510 Flatwater Canoe Instructor (60F hours) ADVG 1510 Flatwater Canoe Instructor (60F hours)Credits: 2 credits This is an introductory Flatwater Canoe instructors' course in which the successful students may be granted either the Paddle Canada, Intro Lake Tandem Canoe Instructor certification or the Recreational Canoeing Association of BC Lake Water Instructor Level 1. It is also preparation for the Moving Water Instructor course. The Flatwater Canoe Instructor course provides a national certification of competence in the instruction and administration of Flatwater Canoe courses.
Prerequisite/corequisite: ADVG 1020 |
ADVG 2070 Ocean Surfing 1 (60F hours) ADVG 2070 Ocean Surfing 1 (60F hours)Credits: 2 credits This is a five day ocean surfing development course intended to introduce ocean surfing skills, techniques and instruction in moderate ocean swell conditions.
Prerequisite/ |
ADVG 2640 Sea Kayaking 1 (60F hours) ADVG 2640 Sea Kayaking 1 (60F hours)Credits: 2 credits Upon completion of this course, students gain an understanding of sea kayaking techniques and the ocean environment, tides, ocean flora and fauna, sea kayak equipment, and ocean safety. Students perform rescues, navigate in a variety of ocean environments, and execute various guiding techniques.
Prerequisite/ |
ADVG 2660 River Rafting 1 (60F hours) ADVG 2660 River Rafting 1 (60F hours)Credits: 2 credits The general objectives of this course are to enable the participants to competently guide a raft in a safety conscious
manner and operate as a member of the guide crew knowing standard whitewater rescue techniques in Class 2+
rapids. This guide training program will include topics such as: rafting techniques, crew training and management,
emergency and rescue techniques, knowledge of equipment, safety and emergency procedures, rapid theory,
leadership, and river signals.
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| Field Courses — required minimum of one of the following two courses (2 credits) |
ADVG 1560 Ski Tour 1 (70 hours) ADVG 1560 Ski Tour 1 (70 hours)Credits: 2 credits Students participate in a ski touring skill development course. This is preparation for the ACMG training scheme. Students will focus on the following skill areas: navigation, tracksetting, emergency winter camping, downhill skiing, basic avalanche terrain assessment and avalanche rescue skills. It is mandatory that students have prior downhill skiing experience.
Prerequisites: ADVG 1020 |
ADVG 1580 Mountaineering 1 (80F hours) ADVG 1580 Mountaineering 1 (80F hours)Credits: 2 credits This is a mountaineering skill development course which includes mountaineering equipment, mountain safety, belays, anchors, mountaineering techniques, and crevasse rescue.
Prerequisite/ |
| Electives — minimum of two more elective activity courses (4 credits) |
ADVG 1550 Skiing 1 (60 hours) ADVG 1550 Skiing 1 (60 hours)Credits: 1 credits This course is an introduction to downhill ski techniques and equipment. Students participate on alpine skiing equipment. The purpose is to develop strong downhill skiing techniques on groomed and variable snow conditions, and to progress towards instructor level abilities and/or backcountry skiing. CSIA teaching progression and techniques are utilized.
Prerequisite/ |
ADVG 1600 SRT 3: Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1 (60 hours) ADVG 1600 SRT 3: Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1 (60 hours)Credits: 2 credits Students develop a comprehensive understanding of river rescue instruction as it pertains to canoes, kayaks, and rafts, hypothermia, and drowning. Students are able to perform rescues in moving water, create improvised rescue and rope system rescues, and participate in numerous rescue simulations.
Prerequisites: ADVG 1020 |
ADVG 2260 Ocean Surf 2 (60F hours) ADVG 2260 Ocean Surf 2 (60F hours)Credits: 2 credits Students focus on the development of intermediate surf skills, including advanced paddling skills, enhanced wave judgment, proper positioning in the line up, and intermediate wave riding techniques. Additionally, students develop a deeper understanding about the effects wind, weather and swell have on surf conditions.
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ADVG 2490 Kayak 2 (60 hours) ADVG 2490 Kayak 2 (60 hours)Credits: 2 credits This white water skill development course is intended to prepare students for the Level 1 Flatwater instructor course through Canoe Kayak British Columbia.
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ADVG 2500 Rock Climbing 2-Traditional (52 Hours) ADVG 2500 Rock Climbing 2-Traditional (52 Hours)Credits: 2 credits This is a rock climbing personal skill development course. Students will build skills based on industry standard systems. The students' primary goal of the course will be to develop their traditional climbing skills. Students will practice and demonstrate the placement of protection, hazard management, crack climbing movement skills, and leading strategies. Students will lead climb traditional routes by the end of the course. Upon completion of the course the student may be recommended for the A.C.M.G Climbing Gym and, or Tope Rope instructors program.
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ADVG 2570 Ski Tour 2 (80F hours) ADVG 2570 Ski Tour 2 (80F hours)Credits: 2 credits A successful Ski Touring Leader combines the ability to recognize and deal with the various winter hazards; and the
ability to choose terrain and snow conditions to ensure fun, efficient travel on ski touring equipment. The leader uses
his or her snow hazard evaluation, terrain evaluation, group interaction and management skills, ski technique and
ultimately sound judgement to ensure safe and enjoyable winter travel.
Prerequisites/Corequisites: ADVG 1560 and ADVG 1590 |
ADVG 2750 River Rafting 2 (60F hours) ADVG 2750 River Rafting 2 (60F hours)Credits: 2 credits The objectives of this course are to prepare the participants to competently guide a raft in accordance too British
Columbia River Outfitter (BCROA) and International Rafting Federation (IRF) Class 3 river guide standards. This
course is designed to prepare students for industry certification exams. This guide-training program will include
topics such as: international rafting standards, provincial rafting standards, advanced rafting techniques, advanced
crew training and management, advanced emergency and rescue scenarios, advanced safety and emergency
procedures, rapid and hazard identification, guiding leadership, and communication.
Prerequisite/ |
| Total credit minimum (30) |
