Student Experience
Gain hands-on experience
We have partnered with Wilderness Tours to ensure that our students have access to high-quality equipment and exceptional training facilities during their hands-on practical experiences. Students participate in four multi-day expeditions, including a canoe expedition on the Ontario river system, a fall hiking expedition in Algonquin Park, a winter camping trip in the Ottawa Valley, and a sea kayaking expedition in Georgian Bay. In their student-directed final expedition, students get to apply all of their trip planning and adventure travel skills. In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in a paid summer co-op position.
“I am happy to graduate from Algonquin College which gave me great exposure and real-life knowledge. It not only taught me the skills to be successful as a guide but also gave me an entirely new direction and meaning to my life. When I quit my corporate job a few years ago, I was not exactly sure what I was going to do but after completing the Outdoor Adventure Naturalist (ODAN) program I know why I made that decision. Also, as a newcomer to Canada, it was difficult for me to adjust to the new country, the weather, the culture but going back to school turned out to be the best decision to acclimatize to Canada.
ODAN not only made me a Naturalist and an outdoors person but taught me a new way of life, a different perspective to look at this beautiful world. Every skill day was an experience of a new domain of this vast natural world. I can say without any doubt that this program is the best college program in the world and whoever designed it, has done a great job. And I am the luckiest person to find this program and graduate to be an ODAN for life.” – Abhishek Gupta, Outdoor Adventure Naturalist grad
Final Expedition Student Videos
In the final term, students complete their Student-Directed Field Trip where students explore areas of personal interest in a field trip format. In small groups, students propose, plan, fund and execute an independent field trip. Trip plans are subject to approval by the program coordinator. In this culminating performance, student groups demonstrate a synthesis of industry, activity and business skills, with a focus on integrating sustainability concepts, as well as interpretive guiding into running a commercially viable trip. The three major components of safety, travel mode (various) and interpretation are addressed equally over the duration of the course. Below are some of the videos created by our students.
Our Industry Partners
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Wilderness Tours (WT) is Canada’s largest whitewater rafting/kayaking and adventure resort, and outdoor training center. It was founded in 1975 when Joe E. Kowalski and five others (Sean Mannion, Jimmy Casilio, Robbie Rosenberger, Ken Czambel and Paul Fogal) took rafts down and navigated the section of the river known as Rocher-Fendu. Their mission is to provide the best rafting experience on the Ottawa River and to protect its natural splendour. |
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Bear Creek Outdoor Centre is located on 400 acres, contains two private lakes and miles of wooded trails perfect for nature exploration, orienteering, and hiking. Their philosophy is to explore, play, learn. Bear Creek Outdoor Centre is a small, family-run, overnight camp near Ottawa Ontario. Our students get to learn the joy of creating programs and opportunities that challenge, stretch and grow children and youth with the help of the Bear Creek team. |
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Mount Pakenham is Eastern Ontario’s premier family ski, board and tubing area. They have three of the newest lifts in the region and we’re just a short drive from Ottawa, Arnprior, Almonte, and Renfrew. Our students learn from some of the best ski and snowboard instructors in Eastern Ontario. |
Applied Research
Students from the Outdoor Adventure Naturalist (ODAN) and Outdoor Adventure (ODA) programs led Algonquin College’s inaugural International Multidisciplinary Applied Research project. As a key part of their Rainforest and Tropical Science Ecology course, which included a trip to beautiful Costa Rica, six students from the Pembroke campus investigated the use of emerging mobile hand-held technologies for the collection and production of digital marketing media and educational materials. Read more about the MIST applied research project on the Algonquin Strategic Academic Partnerships website.
These videos were produced before the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It reflects a campus life that is currently altered to ensure the health and safety of our students and employees. We are currently following all protocols as outlined by our public health authorities.
Combined Theory & Experience
Students in the Outdoor Adventure Naturalist program at Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley learn a combination of theory and outdoor skills such as kayaking and canoeing, snowshoeing, cycling, backcountry camping and wilderness travel skills. You won’t find another outdoor adventure program that offers the opportunity to earn up to 8 industry-recognized certifications, experience more than 700 hours of practical skills training each semester, and participate in great expeditions!
Learn from the best
Professors and instructors in the Outdoor Adventure program are all leaders in their field and recognized across North America. Your instruction team represents national team athletes, international expedition leaders, the highest-level instructor trainers, and industry experts. We have also partnered with Canada’s leading adventure and learning institutions to ensure students learn to be successful. Not only do you get to learn from the best, but you also have access to the best in equipment including NRS gear!
Opportunities for further study
Articulation agreements or degree pathways are agreements between Algonquin College and other post-secondary institutions that facilitate recognition of prior post-secondary study and transfer credit or admission to upper levels of study. As a result, it may take you less time to complete your degree or, result in a reduced course load. This means that you may enter the job market sooner and potentially save time and money.
Outdoor Adventure Naturalist graduates have the opportunity to take advantage of our articulation agreement:
- Thompson Rivers University (Canada): Bachelor of Tourism Management; Graduates with a minimum GPA of 2.0/4.0 (63%, C) will be granted up to 33/120 credits towards their degree. Students can expect to complete their degree in an additional 3 years of full-time online study.
* Best efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of this information. Please visit the full list of Articulation Agreements.
Plenty of job prospects
Tourism is Canada’s fastest-growing industry, with Adventure and Ecotourism as the fastest-growing individual segment at 15% per year (according to the Canadian Tourism Commission). The estimated 10,000 Outdoor Tourism companies in Canada struggle to find certified, trained staff, and regularly recruit and post positions through our program. Graduates will find employment opportunities as guides or instructors in their activities of choice, as well as in supervisory and management positions.