Gaspé Campus

Adventure Tourism

  • Diploma : Technical
  • Duration : 3 years
  • Quota : Yes
  • Program Code : 414.B0

Draw of 5 Parcours scholarships of $3,750 per session. For more information

Program description

You dream of the sea, towering mountains, and majestic rivers? Then let the great outdoors of the Gaspésie become your classroom! Unique in Québec, our program will provide you with practical skills to supervise all the necessary steps to organize professional outdoor group activities. Learn to plan, prepare, and supervise field trips, teach skills and techniques for summer and winter activities, interpret your environment, use maps and navigation instruments, and maintain equipment.

Apply for Admission

50 %
placement
rate in Quebec
$19,52
hourly wage
average initial*

Choosing to Study Here 

  • On the Gaspé Peninsula, we have the sea, as well as exceptional mountains and rivers perfect for training adventure and outdoor professionals. 
  • You’ll have access to the largest selection of specialized outdoor equipment of any adventure tourism program in Quebec.
  • Courses lead to obtaining certifications recognized by the industry, such as boating, white water, sea kayak, advanced wilderness first aid, etc. 
  • The program comprises four main disciplines: sea kayaking, canoeing, mountain skiing and hiking. You’ll have the chance to take technical, expedition and guiding courses in each of them.

 

Second Language Immersion 

As this program is also offered in French, some courses can be taken as part of French immersion.

Internships

The program includes two internships: a three-day exploratory internship during the second semester, and a two-week full-time summer internship between the fourth and fifth semesters.

 

 

International experience

It is possible to undertake a credited internship elsewhere in the country, in North America or abroad, subject to analysis of the internship environment and authorization from the internship coordinator. Japan, Belize, New Zealand and Thailand are among the countries our students have visited.

Your Future

Workplaces

  • Adventure and ecotourism outfitters;
  • Specialized schools and training centers: first aid,
    kayaking, canœing, white-water rescue, avalanche, skiing, etc.;
  • Outdoor education institutions, such as schools,
    summer camps and therapeutic adventure programs;
  • Private tour operators and other à la carte businesses,
    for example as entrepreneurs;
  • Public departments such as parks, reserves, ZECs, and municipalities.

University Studies

  • Bachelor’s degree in outdoor intervention, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.
  • Studies at Thompson Rivers University (British Columbia), e.g. Adventure Guide certificate or Tourism Management bachelor’s degree.
  • You can also be admitted into any university program requiring a DEC such as Physical Education, Teaching, Geography, etc.

Course Schedule

Note: School calendar for Gaspé English Section dates may differ for this program, causing it to end a little later.

  • First Semester
    29 h/week

    Wilderness Orientation 190-K13-GA

    This forestry technology course will enable Adventure Tourism Techniques students to develop skills in the use of topographic maps and the application of orientation and navigation techniques. Specifically, students will learn to read and use maps to orient themselves and travel in the natural environment. They will also become familiar with the use of a GPS unit in conjunction with a map, as a complement to the compass. Finally, students will use digital mapping software (e.g., Caltopo) to plan hiking routes and record data taken in the field during a field trip.  

    As such, this course is an introduction to the techniques of planning a hiking route using the proposed itinerary planning documents in the course. Finally, it is also an introduction to orientation and navigation in a natural land environment with a view to guiding a group while ensuring its safety. 

    Fundamentals of the Profession 414-H93-GA

    The Fundamentals of the Profession course is an introduction to the profession. It aims to situate the student in the profession of Adventure Tourism technicians by allowing them to understand the work functions, the tasks to be performed as well as the professional attitudes and behaviors essential to the practice of the profession. 

    Canoeing 414-HX3-GA

    Québec is known for its lakes and rivers. Whether for day trips or longer expeditions, the Canoeing Techniques course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge of the essential maneuvers of canoeing so that they can steer a boat in calm and white water and make the best decision on how to overcome the various obstacles encountered.  

    This course will allow students to acquire knowledge and skills related to calm water and white water canoeing. Within the course modules, theoretical notions will be covered. These will focus on the different equipment, components, and characteristics of canoes, but also on the rich history of the canoe in Canada’s history.  

    In addition to the notions of paddling techniques and history, participants will learn the basics of white water safety. They will learn the golden rules of white water safety, as well as the use of rescue tools such as the rope bag. In addition, speed reading will be a crucial element of the course. This way, students will feel comfortable in choosing the right line to take when paddling a class I or II rapid. 

    Wilderness First Aid 414-S43-GA

    Description to come

    Outdoor Cooking 414-S53-GA

    The Outdoor Cooking course focuses on outdoor eating and food management in the field. Topics include food and planning nutritious and balanced menus for different types of expeditions, food preparation, preservation, and packaging, organizing and managing an outdoor kitchen, hygiene and sanitation, different cooking methods and more. 

    Wilderness Camp Management 414-S63-GA

    Wilderness Camp Management is an introductory course in basic wilderness living skills for guided expeditions. It takes place at the very beginning of the program to equip students with site management and personnel management skills. 

    Knowledge 345-101-MQ

    Description to come. 

    Introduction to College English 603-101-MQ

    Description to come. 

    French S. L. Common GE 601-103-MQ

    Description to come. 

  • Second Semester
    28 h/week

    Communication and Leadership in Adventure Tourism 350-323-GA

    This course is designed to help students develop and critically evaluate their interpersonal communication skills as a means of contributing to their leadership development.  

    The tools introduced and used in this course are intended to allow students to better understand their own reactions, those of others and their impact in different interpersonal contexts. With this knowledge, students will be able to communicate in a more informed manner (style, tools, means) and make choices based on their objectives as a leader and the objectives of the group when they lead or participate in an expedition.  

    Exploratory Work Placement 414-HS3-GA
    Personal : 3 hours

    The exploratory internship course is an opportunity for students to verify their interest in the field and to deepen their knowledge of the adventure tourism industry. The course is also a prerequisite for the internship offered in the fourth semester. 

    Sea Kayaking 414-HY3-GA

    In this course, the student will learn the skills of sea kayaking. The elements in the program cover safety and the acquisition of theoretical, technical, and practical knowledge. The student will develop attitudes such as judgment and leadership to be able to pass on techniques related to the practice of summer activities at the end of the Adventure Tourism Techniques program. 

    Wilderness Trip Planning and Preparation 414-KH4-GA

    This course is an introduction to the planning and preparation of a wilderness trip. Students will be exposed to the various planning tools, basic risk management concepts and the various logistical elements that must be considered during such an outing. Finally, students will be able to validate the quality of their planning and learning through a winter camping field trip. 

    Avalanche Safety  414-KK4-GA

    Based on the content and objectives of Avalanche Canada’s “Avalanche Safety 1” and “Self-Rescue” courses, the Avalanche Terrain Safety course is designed to provide students with knowledge of avalanches and mountain weather, as well as the opportunity to develop their skills while traveling in avalanche-prone areas and performing self-rescue simulations. 

    Backcountry Skiing 414-KM4-GA

    The Backcountry Skiing course is an introduction to backcountry skiing. Students will have the opportunity to learn the basic skills and knowledge required to participate in a day of backcountry skiing in a safe and enjoyable manner. 

    White Water Rescue 414-S33-GA

    Description to come. 

    Literary Genres 601-102-MQ

    Description to come. 

  • Third Semester
    29 h/week

    Discovering Natural Environments 147-K24-GA

    Description to come. 

    Supervision of Outdoor Activities 414-HW3-GA

    Description to come. 

    Canoe-Camping Expedition 414-HZ3-GA

    Description to come. 

    Backpacking Expedition and Orientation 414-KJ4-GA

    Description to come. 

    Sea Kayaking Expedition and Navigation 414-S23-GA

    Description to come. 

    Physical Activity and Health 109-101-MQ

    Description to come. 

    World Views 340-102-MQ

    Description to come. 

    Literary Themes 603-103-MQ

    Description to come. 

    Elective course 1 COM-001-03

    Description to come. 

  • Fourth Semester
    31 h/week

    Client Experience in Adventure Tourism 414-HQ3-GA

    Description to come. 

    Risk Management 414-HU3-GA

    Description to come. 

    Rafting 414-HV3-GA

    Description to come. 

    Backcountry Skiing Expedition 414-KN4-GA

    Description to come. 

    Equipment Maintenance and Repair 414-S73-GA

    Description to come. 

    Physical Activity and Effectiveness 109-102-MQ

    Description to come. 

    Humanities in Sciences and Technology 340-C33-GA

    Description to come. 

    English for technologies 604-CGF-R4

    Description to come. 

    Elective course 2 COM-002-03

    Description to come. 

    French S. L. Applied GE 602-PGE-R4

    Description to come.

  • Fifth Semester
    27 h/week

    Interpretation of Natural Environments 147-K93-GA

    Description to come. 

    Site and Trail: Development and Maintenance 190-K23-GA

    Description to come. 

    Guiding a River Expedition 414-KP4-GA

    Description to come. 

    Guiding a Sea Kayaking Expedition 414-KQ4-GA

    Description to come. 

    Guider une expédition en randonnée pédestre (en français) 414-KS4-GA

    Ce cours vous fera vivre une expérience de guidage en randonnée pédestre durant sept jours. Les objectifs d’apprentissage se concentrent sur la planification d’itinéraire, la navigation, le leadership, la gestion des risques et l’interprétation de l’histoire naturelle et culturelle du territoire. La première moitié de la sortie sera consacrée à l’apprentissage des techniques de guidage par le biais d’exercices pratiques. La seconde moitié constituera une période d’évaluation où vous guiderez tour à tour le groupe pour obtenir une rétroaction sur vos compétences.

    Québec Traditional Cultures and Indigenous Perspectives 414-S13-GA

    Description to come. 

    Work Placement: Guiding in Adventure Tourism 414-S83-GA

    Description to come. 

    Product Design in Adventure Tourism 414-S93-GA

    Description to come. 

  • Sixth Semester
    25 h/week

    Geography, Culture and Landscape 20-K13-GA

    Description to come. 

    Marketing in Adventure Tourism 410-K03-GA

    Description to come. 

    Advanced Leadership 414-HP3-GA

    Description to come. 

    Socio-Economic and Environmental Issues in Adventure Tourism 414-HT3-GA

    Description to come. 

    Advanced Wilderness First Aid 414-KL4-GA

    Description to come. 

    Guiding a Backcountry Skiing Expedition 414-KR4-GA

    Description to come. 

    Instructional Skills in Paddling 14-S03-GA

    Description to come. 

    Physical Fitness III 109-331-04

    Description to come. 

General Conditions

Possess a high school diploma or hold a high school vocational diploma and have successfully completed the following courses:

  • Language of Instruction – Secondary 5
  • Second Language – Secondary 5
  • Mathematics – Secondary 4

Special Conditions

Students who make an application for admission will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • Good physical health;
  • Experience and skills;
  • Quality of the academic record.

Fill out and send in the following documents, along with the admission application (you will find these forms on the SRACQ site):

  • Medical assessment certificate;
  • Experience and aptitude form
    with a letter of motivation;
  • School file of excellence.

Studying in this program involves exposition to certain risks inherent to the outdoors activities included in the curriculum.

Students must complete an outdoor and a pool fitness test at each semester. Students with results below average will receive individual support to improve their fitness level.

An additional cost of $465 per semester is required for certifications and program expeditions. This cost is subject to change. If a student withdraws within 10 working days of the start of the semester, a refund may be given if the student has not participated in any activities. CEGEP registration related fees are not refundable.

Required equipment

Here is the list of equipment provided by the CEGEP, the mandatory equipment to acquire and the equipment strongly recommended by the Adventure Tourism program. Equipment list 

For more information

Communications and International Activities Department
418-368-2201, ext. 1381
1-888-368-2201, ext. 1381
information@cegepgim.ca

* « La relance au collégial en formation technique », Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, 2020, education.gouv.qc.ca

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