The program was developed in 2002, when Camosun College dropped their Adventure Tourism course. Phil was a lecturer of the Camosun course and Scot had graduated from the course and gone on to own his own Adventure Tourism business. Seeing a continued demand for the course, they founded the Sooke Adventure Tourism School, now known as the Westcoast Adventure College, to meet the Adventure Tourism industry’s demand for qualified and experienced individuals

The Westcoast Adventure College is designated through the Private Training Institutions Branch, which is under the Ministry of Advanced Education of British Columbia. PTIB sets basic education standards for registered private career training institutions in British Columbia and establishes standards of quality which must be met by accredited institutions. This allows students to apply for student loans. For more information please visit here.

The Westcoast Adventure College is uniquely positioned in that we have access to the booming tourism industry of Victoria, which boasts the busiest visitor centre in Canada, along with access to a whole range of parks and some of the best coastline in the world for kayaking and sailing. The college’s unique location allows students to smoothly and quickly transition from in the classroom to on the water or to nearby trails, optimising the use of time during classes.

Classes are typically 9-4, Mon - Fri. However this does change for some weeks, such as when the class goes on overnight trips and for certain other classes. This means that it is very possible to work a job alongside the course. It is important to note that students working a job alongside studying are required to make arrangements with their employers when there is a conflict of class time and work schedule, as missing classes will not only affect the student doing so but also the rest of the class. The students will be aware of the schedule well in advance, so this should not be a problem.

The college does not provide accommodation, however we are approached by a number of locals in Sooke each year with rooms or apartments to rent which we forward on to our students. In addition there are plenty of places available in Greater Victoria.

It is not necessary to own a car to be able to get to the college. There is a public bus stop right opposite the college with a direct connection all the way to downtown Victoria, and students will be able to get reduced rates on bus passes with their Student ID cards. As some classes will be taking place in parks around Victoria, some of which are not easy to access by public transport, it is up to students to ensure they are able to attend classes. We strongly encourage ridesharing on days outside of the classroom, even for those students that do have cars as there can be limited parking in some locations.

The cost depends very much on what quality gear you buy. It is possible to buy all of the gear you need for the course for under $1,500, assuming you have nothing at all. If there is any equipment you need for the course that you don’t already own, we recommend waiting until you start the course, as you will get a number of discounts at various retailers around Victoria with your student card.

The gear you will need is the following:

• Headlight or Flashlight
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Mat
• Rain Gear (pants and jacket)
• Hiking Boots or Running Shoes
• 45-50l Back Pack (if you already have a larger one then that works too)
• Whistle
• Silva Ranger CL (or comparable)
• Back Pack
• Day Pack
• Compass & Whistle
• Pocket Multi-Tool or Knife
• Water Bottle
• Warm clothes (no cotton or wool – polyester/fleece is best)
• Wetsuit, Booties, and Gloves ( 5ml surfer suit with hood preferable or a more expensive drysuit)
• 10l drybag
• Waterproof notepad

We will provide the following:

• Guide Tarp
• Some chord for the tarp
• 50ft rope for food hangs
• WAC branded synthetic tshirt (we will need to know your size).

Yes you can apply for the course, but please be aware that all cheques will be cashed for the first payment on July 1st, and student loans usually don’t come through until after the course has started. Please ensure that you will have sufficient funds available to pay the first payment in your account, failure to honour the cheque will result in your place being offered to the next student on the waiting list. Please ensure to also have sufficient funds for food and accommodation, as well as any gear you may need to purchase before starting the program, as relying on student loans may cause some difficulties.

We believe that the best way to learn is through integrated learning. What that means is that although there are separate modules to the course, all of the classes relate to each other. As a result, there is no risk of you learning something just for one class and then forgetting it, as you will constantly be working on and improving your skills in a variety of different contexts and scenarios.

We believe in students being able to benefit from the breadth of experience their cohorts bring to the course. For that reason, we will make the classroom and other resources available to students after scheduled class times upon request, giving students the chance to try teaching some of the material to their peers. It is up to students to catch up on areas of the program that they have already been taught but find themselves struggling with, and we will provide as much assistance with that as possible. On average we would expect students to spend 5 hours a week engaging in self-directed learning. Students who show proficiency are strongly encouraged to challenge themselves and expand their skill set by aiding their peers through workshops.

During the course, students will go for full day hikes in challenging terrain, paddle for multiple days in a row and will have to kneel etc for extended periods of time during the first aid course. For this reason students are expected to have a base level of fitness and to maintain that level. Applicants must inform the college of all conditions that could in any way inhibit their participation in classes. Students must also inform instructors in a timely fashion of any injuries that have occurred during the course or other conditions that could affect their participation so that potential alternatives can be sought.

Your medical details are very important. The course is both physically and mentally demanding, and your instructors will need to know as much about you as possible to be able to challenge you without pushing you past your limits. As well as being a physically demanding course, there are several scenarios we use for training purposes throughout the course that are deliberately designed to put pressure on students, so as to allow them to experience dealing with pressure in a controlled environment. Some of these scenarios are also deliberately realistic, and may cause some students difficulty. As we will be out in the field, instructors will need to know of any medical or psychological challenges beforehand so as to adequately prepare for them. If you have omitted any information from your application form please make sure to let us know of any additional information as soon as possible. Failure to disclose any relevant information pertaining to your participation in the course may result in exclusion from the program.

As well as a Certificate in Adventure Tourism II, you also get a large number of industry-relevant certificates. We have found that have these certifications makes all the difference when applying for jobs. For a full list of certifications, please see our certifications page by clicking here.

What do you mean after graduation? Most of our students will have a job working in the industry before they even graduate. The college is approached every year by a variety of different employers asking for our graduates, in the last few years, we have in fact been approached by more employers than we have students.

The reality of the Adventure Tourism Industry is that most jobs are seasonal. Many of our past graduates have used this fact to their advantage and have found their niche with a “summer” and a “winter” job, which means that the workplace remains exciting. The starting wage at some jobs can be $10-$15, which can be augmented with tips, however it is also very possible to earn significantly more depending on the chosen field. The biggest upside of working in Adventure Tourism is being able to make your passion your everyday life. The people that work in Adventure Tourism generally are passionate about their jobs, and the clients are there to have fun, which makes for a positive and exciting working environment. In addition, Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide, and so it is very easy for hardworking and keen individuals to move up in a company into better paying positions and year around employment.