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Chris Melmoth’s students benefit from his 20+ years of first-hand experience in outdoor training, instruction, administration, and management with one of Canada’s leading outdoor adventure companies. He brings practical approaches and a wealth of national and international business knowledge to the classroom. His work has brought him to numerous adventure destinations across Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and western and eastern Europe. Chris has been involved in Algonquin’s ecotourism projects in Mexico and Costa Rica and has travelled to China as a consultant on experiential learning and adventure tourism programs.  He has also led the trip to Costa Rica for the Rainforest and Tropical Science course for several years.

Course Areas:
Risk Management, Leadership, Adventure Industry Analysis, Business Planning, Advanced Expedition, Whitewater Expedition

Adventure Industry Experience:

• 25 years of expedition guiding and instruction, ranging from the Yukon to Austria to the Southwest United States
• Senior instructor with Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School
• Manager of high profile kayak schools, expedition programs, and Nordic ski resorts; trail builder and trail manager
• Risk management consultant working with Canadian and international organizations
• Present and publish extensively on adventure-based risk management issues

Education:

• Ph.D., Sprott School of Business; research in the area of safety motivation and organizational culture
• M.Ed., Charles Sturt University (2005); thesis research in using case studies to build judgment
• Bachelor of Business Administration (Hon.) Wilfrid Laurier University (1993)

Professional Qualifications / Industry Certification:

• Co-author, Managing Risk, Systems Planning Of Outdoor Adventure Programs (2010)
• Whitewater kayak instructor trainer (CanoeKayak Canada); river rescue instructor

Other Interests:

Trail tourism and community development

Listen as Jeff Jackson speaks on CBC Ottawa about the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, and the potential dangers the wind and inclement weather may have >>

Cam has been involved in the action sports world for over 15 years. Cam is an avid cyclist and the director for a local not-for-profit trails association, with many years’ experience in trail design and planning and hosting a variety of outdoor events. 

Course Areas:
Sea Kayak, Mountain Bike, Cycle Touring, Rafting, Computer Applications, Rainforest and Tropical Science, Tourism and Sustainable Development

Adventure Industry Experience:

• Alpine & Nordic Skiing instructor at Whistler/Blackcomb, Kicking Horse Resort, B.C. 1998-2001
• Expedition Africa – Kilimanjaro (’06) 
• Trip Leader/safety kayaker Ottawa River – 6 years
• Sea kayak guide/instructor 5 years 

Education:

• Outdoor Adventure diploma; Algonquin College of the Ottawa Valley (2003)
• Bachelor of Tourism Management; Thompson Rivers University (2006) 

Professional Qualifications / Industry Certifications:

• Paddle Canada Sea Kayak level II instructor, Skills III
• CSIA II
• Canadian Cycle Guide Association, course conductor
• Wilderness First Responder

Other Interests:

• Sustainable Trail Design, Community/Tourism Development, Travel, Birding

Cam has also been featured on Bike Pack Canada speaking to what’s going on with bikepacking in the east, the Ottawa Valley Bikepacking Collective, his work with Algonquin College, and thoughts on liability. 

As a senior Trip Leader for WT, Betty spends her summers guiding rafts on the mighty Ottawa River and her winters teaching skiing as a level 4 teaching and level 3 CSIA ski instructor, level 1 CSIA Course Conductor and is the course leader for downhill skiing and snowboarding. Betty has taught with the Outdoor Adventure program since the second year it was offered and is currently teach rafting, swift water rescue and canoeing to the ODA and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist students. Betty’s wealth of experience on the river and ski slopes allows her to share her knowledge with students and her enthusiasm for what she does is contagious to all who surround her. 

Kristi was raised in the small rural town of Campbellford, ON. Living across from Ferris Provincial Park, she quickly found her love of nature, roaming the forests and learning about wildlife.  A deep passion for animals leads to countless hours spent tagging along with local veterinarians and outdoor enthusiasts, learning about animal care and treatment, camping, canoeing, and bush-craft.

This early experience lead Kristi to Trent University, where she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a major in Ecology. She is currently enrolled in courses on Avian health and welfare, and Equine nutrition, and has her sights set on obtaining a masters degree in an environmental field.

Since graduating, Kristi has held diverse positions in the environmental industry, including working for Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. She has over 16 years of experience as a Biologist and Project Manager and is on the Executive of the local Ducks Unlimited chapter.  Her current position with Ontario Resource Management Group has included projects ranging from small habitat protection plans, through to multi-million dollar hydroelectric facilities. She has worked with individual landowners, private companies, Provincial and Federal government agencies, First Nations, NGOs, and large corporate developers. Kristi has extensive experience in the identification of flora and fauna, Species at Risk surveys and permit applications, Ecological Land Classification analyses, Ontario Wetland Evaluations, Aggregate Resources Act planning and assessment, and Wildlife habitat management and mitigation. 

Kristi joined Algonquin College in 2012 as a professor of Ecology for the Environmental Technician program. Currently, she also teaches Environmental Chemistry, as well as Wildlife ID for Naturalists in the Outdoor Adventure Naturalist program, and Ecological Land Classification training for the Forestry Technician and Urban Forestry - Arboriculture programs.  As someone currently employed in the Environmental industry, Kristi knows the field and lab skills and training that new graduates need to be successful. She willingly passes on her knowledge to her students, and is always open to spirited discussions on environmental and ecological issues!

Matt has been teaching within the Outdoor Adventure and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist programs since their inception. He is the course leader for our river rescue, raft guide training, and canoeing courses. Matt is a CSIA Level 4 ski instructor and a Senior instructor with Rescue Canada. When Matt isn’t in the field with our students, he is training rescue professionals, professional guides, and outdoor enthusiasts. During the winter when he isn’t working with our students on his skis, he is training instructors for the CSIA, helping run a local snow school, and spending as much time as he can share his passion for the winter. Even doing all this, Matt has found the time to represent Team Canada in his canoe at the World Whitewater Freestyle Championships.

Jill has been teaching within the Outdoor Adventure and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist programs since their inception. Her expertise and passion for canoeing are shared among the students as she coaches them towards their instructor levels in canoeing. Jill is also our course lead for all the Wilderness First Responder courses offered by the College. She brings with her many years of commercial guiding experience from rivers all over Canada and the world.

A graduate from the first intake of the Outdoor Adventure program in 2001, Ben has since honed his skills as a course lead for the Adventure Programs within the cycling programs, including mountain bike instructor and cycle touring guide courses. Ben has also worked as an international guide for mountaineering and cycle touring, from the Himalayas to the Andes and everything in between. 

Combining his passion for the mountains and climbing with a background in industrial rigging and rope rescue instruction, Greg is the course lead for all our vertical programs, including rock climbing, ice climbing, slope rescue and rope rescue. Greg's expertise also spreads itself into the world of paddle sports, as our course lead for the sea kayak programs and expeditions offered within both Outdoor Adventure and Outdoor Adventure Naturalist.