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| Backpacking & Canoeing
Leadership & Guide Training Courses |
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This course This course takes place in the Yukon Territory of Canada. It combines a secluded canoe trip down the historic Yukon River with a pristine backpacking experience in the wilderness of Kluane National Park. The course will focus on developing competent leaders while emphasizing the backpacking and river skills needed to travel safely in the wilds of the Yukon.
The Instructors and Guides of IWLS are experts who continue to raise the industry standards in all aspects of outdoor leadership. Their experience comes
from over 15 years of teaching and leading expeditions around the globe.
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| Kluane National Park,
recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site, is a land of precipitous, high mountains, immense ice fields and lush valleys that yield a diverse array of plant and wildlife species and provides for an unrivaled outdoor experience. Kluane National Park and Reserve is also home to Mount Logan (19,545 feet), Canada's highest peak. The Donjek route rises over the vast alpine of the Burwash Uplands and then descends to the toe of the Donjek Glacier. This path challenges individuals to hone their routefinding and navigation skills and typifies pristine mountain wilderness.
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| The Yukon River Our course descends the Yukon River from Carmacks to Dawson City, with the compass needle set north. We pass many relicts of the historic gold rush of 1898, including the abandoned settlement of Fort Selkirk, on the 230-mile expedition on this mighty river. Camps are set up on the gravel or sand banks of the river, where one can enjoy a refreshing bath in the Yukon. Black bears, moose and bald eagles are common in the Yukon valley and are often seen by our students. The only major interruption to the rivers smooth journey is the mighty Five Finger Rapids. At the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike rivers we find the settlement of Dawson City, the famous gold rush town of the Yukon. Special canoeing skills are not required.
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Below is a partial list of skills that will be focused on
Cultural History
Routefinding/Navigation
Canoe Rescues
Canoeing skills
Bear safety
River Crossing Skills
River safety
Survival techniques
This course includes the Wilderness Education Association's basic 18-point curriculum. The Wilderness Education Association has been training and certifying
outdoor leaders for nearly 25 years, teaching students to safely and effectively lead groups
in the outdoors without harming the environment.
The International Wilderness Leadership Schools' The International Wilderness Leadership School’s educational model nurtures leadership development and creates an awareness of the guiding mentality that is essential for leading safe, fun adventures in the mountains. Through a combination of lesson plans, collaborative learning and experiential education, we will also develop a strong experience base in the following areas.
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Leadership Skills
Decision Making
Group Processing Skills
Judgment
Risk Management
Group Management
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- No experience is necessary for enrollment in this course.
- University credit is available for this and other IWLS courses.
- This course can be combined with our other 24-day programs for a
semester of outdoor leadership, experiential education, and outdoor
recreation for credit!
Upon Completion of this Course participants may qualify for the following certifications:
- Certified Outdoor Leader
Wilderness Education Association
- 24 Day guide training certificate of completion from IWLS
*Certification requires the demonstration of specific skills to a level acceptable by the WEA. This course provides all means to gaining the necessary skills, but also requires a minimum medical certification of Wilderness First Aid and assessment of leadership skills to a certifiable level.
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