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Outdoor Adventure Leadership

Explore the natural beauty of Northern Ontario while earning your degree.

This program is designed to assist individuals in becoming competent leaders in the outdoors. Students will develop sound theoretical knowledge in physical and health education and outdoor adventure leadership. Students have a choice to obtain a significant number of nationally recognized certifications.

Students in the program will partake in some of the foremost and longest-running outdoor adventure leadership training in Canada. Have an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experiences and earn provincially or nationally recognized technical certifications in outdoor activities, such as canoe tripping, river rescue, and wilderness emergency first aid.

The learnings, techniques and theories of outdoor leadership, are easily transferable to any other context. Industries today are constantly requiring quality leadership; the adventure leadership discipline promotes this and creates opportunities for its students to be successful wherever they may end up after graduation. Students are well-rounded in their experiences and market-ready (and driven) upon graduation. Self-motivated, passionate and active students will excel in this program which offers many student-directed, and hands-on experiences.

Academic Advisor

Professor Jim Little

Telephone: (705) 675-1151 ext. 1205

Email: jlittle@laurentian.ca

Office: School of Education SE-205

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Laurentian University aerial view
By land area, Greater Sudbury is the largest city in Ontario and as such, the great outdoors beckon with its vast expanse of lakes and waterways, varied terrain, forests and comprehensive network of trails.
Delivery Method: On campus
Program Language: English

Interesting Facts:

  • Small and interactive class sizes for many courses; many courses have less than 30 students.
  • Many practical/experiential courses (Wilderness Outdoor Living Skills, Canoe Tripping, Rock Climbing and Rescue, to name a few).
  • Third-year intensive field camp experience with an opportunity for international travel and expeditions. Opportunity to obtain several internationally recognized certifications (Wilderness First Responder, River Rescue, Canoeing, etc.).
  • Earn Canada’s first EcoHealth Promotion certificate within the program/school offerings.

Ontario High School Applicants

Program Prerequisites:

  • 1 grade 12 English U/M course;1 grade 12 U Biology or Exercise Science; 4 other grade 12 U/M courses
  • A minimum overall average of 75% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses

 

Additional information for applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses.

Additional information for applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate.

Click here to view information regarding General Admission Requirements.

 

Applicants from outside an Ontario High School 

International Students

Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario

Applicants from Colleges

Applicants from other Universities

Mature Students

Canadian Applicants

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must complete your application through the Ontario Universities Application Center (OUAC).

For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: Canadian Undergraduate Applicants page.


Apply Now as a Domestic Applicant

International Applicants

If you’re an international applicant, you must fill out the International Application Form.

For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: International Students page.


Apply Now as an International Applicant
Note for Current Students

The degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.


Outdoor Adventure Leadership (120 credits)

Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements.

This program focuses on outdoor leadership, guiding, and instructing in various environments including remote locations. Students have the opportunity to gain valuable experiences and provincially or nationally recognized technical certifications in outdoor activities, such as canoe tripping, white water, sea kayaking, rock climbing, and wilderness emergency first response.

Program of Study

First Year:

PHED 0199E     Outdoor School I

PHED 0100E     Outdoor Leadership Colloquium

PHED 1006E     Exercise Science, Wellness and Health

PHED 2149E     Introduction to Outdoor Living Skills

PHED 2159E     Canoe Tripping Leadership

BIOL 2105E     Human Anatomy and Physiology

PSYC 1105E     Introduction to Psychology

6 credits of electives

 

Note:  In order to advance to the second year of the program, students must provide a photocopy of a current certificate in CPR (level C) and First Aid before February 28.

Second Year:

PHED 0299E     Outdoor School II

PHED 0200E     Outdoor Leadership Colloquium

PHED 2109E     Wilderness Camping

PHED 2329E     Cross-Country Skiing

PHED 2516E     Musculoskeletal Anatomy + lab   

     OR  PHED 2517E     Applied Human Physiology + lab

PHED 3615E     Wilderness Emergency Management

PHED 2406E     Outdoor Education

15 credits of electives

 

Third Year:

PHED 2606E     Adventure Leadership

PHED 0300E     Outdoor Leadership Colloquium

PHED 3116E     Expedition Planning

PHED 3906E     Outdoor Adventure Leadership Internship

PHED 3236E     Outdoor Facilitation and Team Building

PHED 4446E     Risk Management in Outdoor Environments

PHED 3049E     Outdoor School Leadership

PHED 4209E     Winter Camping

12 credits of electives

 

Fourth Year:

PHED 4116E     Advanced Outdoor Expedition

PHED 4079E     Outdoor Adventure Pursuits

PHED 4149E     River Rescue

PHED 3029E     Climbing and Rescue Management

PHED 4009E     White Water Canoing

PHED 4906E     Internship 

     (OR)  any PHED theory elective

PHED 4447E     Recreational to Therapeutic Adventure

PHED 4126E     Professionalismin Outdoor Leadership

PHED 4246E     Ecohealth Promotion

9 credits of electives

 

Certificate in Ecohealth Promotion (Scroll to the Certificate in Ecohealth Promotion section)

 

Academic Regulations
To be in good academic standing in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, the student must:
 1) satisfy all conditions of admission;
 2) not fail more than 3 credits in an academic year or in the previous 30 credits;
 3) maintain a cumulative overall average of at least 4.0 on all courses taken.

A student who fails to attain good academic standing may be allowed to continue on probation for no more than one year (or 30 credits). If after one probationary period, the student does attain good academic standing, he or she may proceed in the program. However, if after the probationary period, the student fails to attain good academic standing, he or she must withdraw from the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, but may apply to transfer to another program at the university.

A student who fails over 6 credits in the 1st-year of the program may not proceed to upper-year PHED courses.

After one calendar year, a student who has been asked to withdraw from the program may petition the Senate Committee on Academic Regulations and Awards for readmission, but such measures should have the recommendation of the academic unit before being considered by the Senate Committee.

PHED-1198EL - Professional Development Seminar PHED-1099EL - Outdoor School I PHED-1006EL - Exercise Science, Wellness and Health PHED-1106EL - Human Movement PHED-1206EL - Perspectives of Physical Education and Sport PHED-1506EL - Anatomy and Kinesiology I PHED-1507EL - Anatomy and Kinesiology II PSYC-1105EL - Introduction to Psychology PHED-2198EL - Professional Development Seminar PHED-2109EL - Wilderness Travel PHED-2259EL - Minor Games PHED-2329EL - Cross-Country Skiing PHED-2406EL - Introduction to Outdoor Education PHED-2506EL - Physiology I PHED-2507EL - Physiology II PHED-3615EL - Wilderness Emergency Management PHED-2099EL - Outdoor School II PHED-2149EL - Introduction to Outdoor Living Skills
PHED-2159EL - Canoe Tripping Leadership PHED-3198EL - Professional Development Seminar PHED-2606EL - Adventure Leadership PHED-3049EL - Outdoor School Leadership PHED-3116EL - Expedition Planning PHED-3126EL - Physiology of Exercise PHED-3236EL - Outdoor Facilitation and Team Building PHED-3905EL - Outddor Adventure Leadership Internship PHED-4209EL - Winter Camping PHED-4446EL - Risk Management in Outdoor Environments PHED-4507EL - Nutrition PHED-3029EL - Climbing and Rescue Management PHED-4009EL - White Water Canoing PHED-4116EL - Advanced Outdoor Expedition PHED-4149EL - River Rescue PHED-4199EL - ADVL Senior Seminar PHED-3129EL - Expedition Leadership Practicum PHED-4447EL - Recreational to Therapeutic Adventure

List of Faculty Members

Sessional Members:

  • Randy Battochio
  • Jean  Benoît
  • Lise Brown
  • Michelle Brunette
  • Carlo Castrechino
  • Randy Cavallin
  • James Coffey
  • Coulombe Jasmine
  • Carla Cox
  • Tony Cox
  • Nicole Dubuc-Charbonneau
  • Gino Ferri
  • Charles Fink
  • Sarah Forbes
  • Sheila Gagnon
  • Robert Jack
  • Thomas Lee Kingston
  • Michelle Laurence
  • Jeffrey McGarry
  • Karen Rebeiro Grouhl
  • Raymond Savignac
  • Olivier Serress
  • Natalie Tissot Van Patot
  • Andelka Tuttle
  • Diana Urajnik
  • Melissa Wiman

 

Adjunct Professors:

  • Ben Hejer, Ph. D.
  • Hakim Hariti, Ph. D.
  • Pascal Lefebvre, Ph. D.
  • Nicole Dubuc-Charbonneau, Ph. D.
  • Ann Pegoraro, Ph. D.

 

Ginette Michel

Ginette Michel

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Jian Chen

Jian Chen

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Michel Larivière

Michel Larivière

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Sebastien Nault

Sebastien Nault

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Alison Godwin

Alison Godwin

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Alain Gauthier

Alain Gauthier

Faculty of Education and Health
Tammy Eger

Tammy Eger

Office of the Vice-President, Research
James Little

James Little

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Stephen Ritchie

Stephen Ritchie

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Robert Schinke

Robert Schinke

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Sylvain Grenier

Sylvain Grenier

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Sandra Dorman

Sandra Dorman

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Bruce Oddson

Bruce Oddson

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Jaouad Alem

Jaouad Alem

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Nancy Lightfoot

Nancy Lightfoot

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Amanda Schweinbenz

Amanda Schweinbenz

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Georges Kpazai

Georges Kpazai

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Elizabeth Wenghofer

Elizabeth Wenghofer

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Barbara Ravel

Barbara Ravel

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Caroline Dignard

Caroline Dignard

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Kerry McGannon

Kerry McGannon

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences