Come join us at our “leadership incubator in the Canadian Rockies”! For over 20 years, the Outdoor Leadership Program has cultivated Kingdom leaders prepared for a variety of vocations.

Why Outdoor Leadership?

Bible as the Foundation

As you prepare for intercultural ministry we believe that it is important to know the living word of God.

Adventure

Students will participate in well facilitated and transformational adventures in biking, climbing, canoeing, skiing and more.

Location

The Outdoor leadership students spend 21 weeks at Frontier Lodge in Nordegg, AB. This beautiful location gives students access to the Canadian Rockies while completing their coursework at the same time! 

Do you have questions? Let's chat...

Landon_Dennis

Dennis Landon

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Dennis Landon

Dennis has had the privilege to direct the Outdoor Leadership program since 2011. His educational background includes completing the Bachelor of Arts in Ministry in Outdoor Leadership at Prairie College and also receiving a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from Notre Dame University. What he love about this role is getting to participate in the character formation and discipleship journey of students (and getting to do that in the Canadian Rockies is just a bonus)!

Outdoor Leadership (Bachelor)

All courses are three credits unless shown otherwise.

Bible & Theology (45 credits)

NT 112 Reading the Gospels and Acts

In this course, students are introduced to the story of Jesus Christ and his earliest disciples as told by the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Students will grow in their understanding of who Jesus is as well as in their ability to interpret the bible by attending to its literary, historical, and theological character.

NT 221 Reading Paul’s Letters

This course is an introduction to the life and letters of the apostle Paul. Students will gain a basic understanding of the historical, literary, and theological characteristics of each of Paul’s letters, and in the process will further develop their skills in attentive and critical bible reading.

NT 351 Reading Hebrews to Revelation

In this course, students are introduced to the book of Hebrews, the Catholic epistles (James, 1, 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3, John, Jude), and the book of Revelation. This course will focus on the ways in which the earliest Christians navigated the eschatological tension between the first and second comings of Jesus. In the process, students will gain further understanding of the historical circumstances of Christians living in the late first-century Roman empire, as well as extend interpretive skills development (esp. literary analysis, canonical integration, history of interpretation, and theological appropriation).

OT 112 Reading the Torah

A study of the first five books of the Bible, focusing on the historical, literary and theological features of these books as well as establishing a strong grounding in Torah principles as preparation for interpreting the rest of Scripture.

OT 221 Reading the Historical Books

A study of the books of Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings and Ezra-Nehemiah in their cultural, historical, and literary setting. Brief interaction with Ruth, Esther, and 1-2 Chronicles as they relate to the books associated with them. Focuses on interpretive and contextual issues, historical setting, cultural concerns, and their relevance in developing a strong biblical theology in today’s world.

OT 343 Reading the Psalms and Wisdom Literature

A study of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, focusing on historical, literary, and theological features of these books with special emphases on Hebrew poetry and ancient Near Eastern Wisdom literature.

OT 453 Reading the Prophets

A study of the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve), with Daniel and Lamentations, focusing on developing sensitivity to the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of these books. Class time will include discussion of the relevance of the prophetic books for contemporary critical issues.

ST 105 The Christian Quest

The Christian life is the experience of God drawing us into a relationship that is nothing less than the believer’s participation in the life of God through union with Christ. This is the Good News (i.e. Gospel) that takes root through sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). The transformative participation in Christ and His purposes gives this present life value, direction and hope. The believer is called to the quest of faithful discipleship in this participation and engagement with Christ.

The course is an exploration of and involvement in that quest. You will be challenged toward intentional participation in the life of God through your faithful discipleship response to His person and work. The content will explore a Christian spiritual theology and practice of participation with Christ. The theological approach to this participation is as a transformational relationship with the triune God in which you have both responsibilities and privileges. The course is designed to stretch beyond a cognitive/intellectual exercise and therefore you will be encouraged to actively engage in whole-hearted participation with God, both inside and outside of the classroom. The desired result is that you will know God more deeply, relate to Him as one intimately known by Him, and desire to make Him known to others.

TH 100 Introduction to Christian Theology

This course introduces students to the biblical, doctrinal, philosophical and historical “big picture” outlines of the Christian faith. The course aims to equip students with the skills to develop a Christian mind by assisting them in constructing a theological foundation for thinking and dealing with life’s most important issues. This course will also enable students to begin to think theologically and to construct a Christian worldview for the edification of the community of faith and to the glory of the almighty God whom we serve.

TH 210 The God of the Gospel

A systematic orientation to the center of Christian theology—the life of the Triune God. This course will cover the doctrines of God, Trinity, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Revelation. It will also consider questions of method, including the sources and norms of theology. The discipline of theology will be approached as a practice of the church, both local and global, carried out for the benefit of the church’s life, its proclamation, and its service to the world.

TH 313 Creation to New Creation

The purpose of this course, following TH 210, is to provide a systematic orientation to the second half of the field of Christian theology—God’s creation. This course will cover the doctrines of creation, humanity, sin, salvation, church and last things. The discipline of theology will be approached as a practice of the church, both local and global, carried out for the benefit of the church’s life, its proclamation and its service to the world.

BT 409 Word and World

This course focuses on helping students bring the living Word of God to the world and the church in effective and creative ways. A significant aspect of the course is to address important issues in biblical, historical and theological exegesis. In addition, the course would also help students develop a broad theological and practical framework for the ministry of the Word of God within the modern world and the life of the church.

Bible and Theology Electives (9 credits)

Arts & Sciences (36 credits)

HF 111 Thinking & Writing

This course focuses on a variety of aspects of academic research. The student will critically assess a variety of sources that mostly pertain to the task of apologetics. The primary focus of this course is research and writing, and the secondary focus is apologetics. This means that the student will assess, analyze, summarize, and review source documents that pertain to apologetics. The student will learn how to write academically and how to properly paraphrase source documents in order to enhance their critical thinking skills. Additionally, the student will be familiarized with the library and information literacy. In sum, this course is designed to introduce the student to the task of sound research and proper academic writing.

SS 170 Christianity in the 21st Century World

This course describes and analyzes the range and nature of Christian expression around the world. This will be done in three ways: 1) by briefly describing the four main streams of Christianity evident today; 2) by examining the variety of expressions of indigenous Christianity in the various geographical regions of the globe, and major challenges Christians face in each region; and 3) by getting a brief introduction of how Christianity spread from its Hebrew roots in Palestine to becoming a global faith which is known today as World Christianity (Christianity whose agenda is no longer determined by churches in the nations of the West). The underlying question for Christians living in the West is, ‘What is our place and role in this recently altered global landscape of Christianity?’ This course will offer some possible answers to that question.

SS 210 Introduction to Psychology

In this course students will study the fundamental principles of human behavior and cognitive processes. Students will learn to recognize and interpret various psychological theories and approaches, apply basic psychological principles and strategies to contemporary issues, accomplish a research project involving a major psychological concept and work cooperatively with classmates to begin to formulate an integrative approach to psychology.

SS 261 Leadership Foundations

This introductory course will assist in nurturing leadership character, convictions and competencies. The foundational content will explore a theology and philosophy of leadership, investigate the formation of a Christian leader and survey the primary tasks of leadership. Building on this foundation, you will receive contextualized training for the specific leadership ministry in which you will be serving during the academic year. You will be challenged toward becoming a godly influencer of others.

SC 230 History and Philosophy of Science

This course surveys the historical development of scientific thought, primarily in the western tradition, from its origins in ancient Greece to the twentieth century. While the course does examine major figures and their scientific achievements, it does not do so in the context of “science as the inevitable march from primitivism to progress,” i.e. science as the continuous accumulation of knowledge and mastery of the natural world. Rather these events will be studied in the context of the prevailing worldview or philosophical paradigm which provided the framework for scientific inquiry and discovery in various cultural periods. As such particular attention will be given to the interplay between philosophical-religious and scientific ideas.

HF 231 History of Western Civilization I

This course covers, in survey fashion, the events and themes which make up the early part of the story of the western world. The chronological range extends from the period of the earliest known ancient near eastern civilizations through to the end of the medieval period (mid-15th century) in Europe. While related historical events in other parts of the globe will be used as reference points, the primary geographical stage will be the regions of the Middle East, the Mediterranean basin and the wider European subcontinent. The course focuses on key events, people and ideas which played a formative role in developing this collective entity referred to as Western Civilization.

HF 232 History of Western Civilization II

This course picks up the narrative of western civilization where HF 231 left off. It covers the period from the late Middle Ages to the late 20th century. Two key questions which the course raises and then seeks to answer is: 1) what is modernity? and 2) how has it formed western civilization and then the world beyond the west? Or, to put it another way, ‘how did The West become The West?’ While using political events as the primary reference points in mapping the historical narrative, the course will also explore a variety of other cultural events, people and movements which shaped the modern age. These include: religious/philosophical ideas, especially as they are expressed in art, architecture, music and literature; developments in the fields of science and commerce; and key social institutions/practices. In addition to studying these developments through the writings of academic historians, students will also have an opportunity to practice the craft of producing an historical account of their own.

AS 400 Integrative Seminar

The purpose of this seminar is to aid students in the process of bringing faith, learning, vocation, and ministry into a coherent way of life. Any understanding of such a life is always worked out in reference to the vital questions and concerns of our cultural moment, as well as the enduring, universal questions faced by each successive generation. Students will study a range of cultural theologies from a variety of vocational perspectives and then present their own theological findings on a topic pertinent to their vocational future.

Arts and Sciences Electives (9 credits)

Arts and Sciences Elective 300 Level or Higher

Outdoor Leadership (33 credits)

OL Technical/Certification

This course is an introduction to the Sports Management & Leadership degree, exploring how its different components and courses fit together to produce the desired outcomes. The primary focus is on the sports industry, including professional sports entertainment, amateur, for-profit and nonprofit sport participation, sporting goods, and sports services. It offers an overview of the broad spectrum of sport management, introducing principles of management, marketing, financial and economic, legal and ethical, as they are applied to the field. Analysis of its sociological aspects, contemporary issues, industry trends, and best practices are infused in the class discussions.

OL 104 Introduction to Experiential Education (1.5 credits)

This class introduces the skills, knowledge and principles necessary to understand and use the experiential education method effectively at a basic level. Students will experience the model throughout their time in the Explore Program, but concentrated time is set aside to learn about how the student can facilitate experiences towards the learner’s growth and development. A four day course paired with a practicum opportunity will form the means of curriculum delivery and application. The experience and practice of the concepts from this class, however, are found throughout the entirety of the Explore Program.

OL 116 Wilderness Advanced First Aid (1.5 credits)
Wilderness Advanced First Aid training is the entry level certification for outdoor professionals, guides and instructors who work in a wilderness setting. Course content extends beyond urban-based first aid programs to include elements inherent in leading groups in the outdoors and guiding wilderness adventures. Special emphasis is placed on prevention of injuries, accident scene management, leadership, leader responsibility and liability, advanced first aid kits, wound management and managing the trauma victim.
OL 134 Outdoor Leadership (1.5 credits)

This class serves to provide students, both in theory and practice, with a framework for understanding leadership. In particular, this class hopes to provide students the knowledge necessary to successfully lead or follow well in the Outdoor context. This class will present the transactional and transformational model of leadership to students as a framework for understanding how leadership works from the perspective of leader, follower or from an undefined role. The class addresses but moves past leader/follower functions to examine how “leadership” can come from anywhere, given a proper understanding and application of power, authority and influence.

OL 151 Applied Group Leadership (1.5 credits)

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles, skills and knowledge necessary to plan and execute successful programming in a wilderness context. The course utilizes the Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) curriculum for Field Leader Hiking. In addition to the content provided through the OCC course, students will participate in a 5-day backpacking trip that will give opportunity for the students to apply principles, receive feedback and deepen their skillset. A practicum that takes place near the end of the semester will provide an additional opportunity to utilize the skills taught in this class.

OL 231 Recreation and Business Management

This course examines how business (for profit or not for profit) can be used to contribute to human flourishing and furthering the Kingdom of God. The course will examine the principles of biblical organizational management. It will encompass overarching principles of organizational life such as organizational development, philosophy, leadership, human resources, culture, strategy, marketing and finance. It explores the design, delivery, and evaluation of organizational and business realities. The emphasis of this course is placed on the minister (being) defining the nature and structure of the ministry/organization (doing).

OL 248 Teaching Through Adventure

An examination of theory, practice and skills necessary for teaching in adventure and various other settings. This course will use in-class practice, lecture, homework, practicums, feedback and reflection in order to develop student skills in leadership, communication, planning and educational methods, as well as introduce students to the skills assessment methods necessary to correctly evaluate adventure participant learning and manage participant risk and adventure. This course will be taught integrating principles of the Bible and a Christian worldview.

OL 332 Philosophy of Group Facilitation

This course is a detailed look into the nature of groups and teams. In particular, the course investigates the role of the leader in developing healthy and functional groups that are able to perform effectively (in whatever sense the group exists for) and contribute to the development and well being of the individuals that compose it. This course will examine the ethics and principles of group facilitation to increase the students ability, both conceptually and in practice, to effectively lead and participate in teams so that the Kingdom of God is furthered.

CM 370-373 Outdoor Leadership Internship (3 credits each)

Effective ministry necessitates both a foundation of biblical and theological knowledge, and development of certain sets of ministry-related skills. The Explore Internship creates an opportunity to expand knowledge of the Bible and theology, simultaneous with the development of necessary ministry skills. The Explore Internship spans two years and fulfills the internship requirements for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Ministry with the Outdoor Leadership Major. The Director(s) of the Explore Program will coach, advise, and supervise the Intern while providing formal evaluations of the Intern’s performance. The Intern will also complete regular self-evaluations and projects related to the Intern’s administrative tasks, program development, and experiential education within the Explore Program.

General Electives (6 credits)

Outdoor Leadership (Diploma)

All courses are three credits unless shown otherwise.

Bible & Theology (21 credits)

NT 112 Reading the Gospels and Acts

In this course, students are introduced to the story of Jesus Christ and his earliest disciples as told by the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Students will grow in their understanding of who Jesus is as well as in their ability to interpret the bible by attending to its literary, historical, and theological character.

NT 221 Reading Paul’s Letters

This course is an introduction to the life and letters of the apostle Paul. Students will gain a basic understanding of the historical, literary, and theological characteristics of each of Paul’s letters, and in the process will further develop their skills in attentive and critical bible reading.

OT 112 Reading the Torah

A study of the first five books of the Bible, focusing on the historical, literary and theological features of these books as well as establishing a strong grounding in Torah principles as preparation for interpreting the rest of Scripture.

OT 343 Reading the Psalms and Wisdom Literature

A study of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, focusing on historical, literary, and theological features of these books with special emphases on Hebrew poetry and ancient Near Eastern Wisdom literature.

ST 105 The Christian Quest

The Christian life is the experience of God drawing us into a relationship that is nothing less than the believer’s participation in the life of God through union with Christ. This is the Good News (i.e. Gospel) that takes root through sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). The transformative participation in Christ and His purposes gives this present life value, direction and hope. The believer is called to the quest of faithful discipleship in this participation and engagement with Christ.

The course is an exploration of and involvement in that quest. You will be challenged toward intentional participation in the life of God through your faithful discipleship response to His person and work. The content will explore a Christian spiritual theology and practice of participation with Christ. The theological approach to this participation is as a transformational relationship with the triune God in which you have both responsibilities and privileges. The course is designed to stretch beyond a cognitive/intellectual exercise and therefore you will be encouraged to actively engage in whole-hearted participation with God, both inside and outside of the classroom. The desired result is that you will know God more deeply, relate to Him as one intimately known by Him, and desire to make Him known to others.

TH 100 Introduction to Christian Theology

This course introduces students to the biblical, doctrinal, philosophical and historical “big picture” outlines of the Christian faith. The course aims to equip students with the skills to develop a Christian mind by assisting them in constructing a theological foundation for thinking and dealing with life’s most important issues. This course will also enable students to begin to think theologically and to construct a Christian worldview for the edification of the community of faith and to the glory of the almighty God whom we serve.

TH 210 The God of the Gospel

A systematic orientation to the center of Christian theology—the life of the Triune God. This course will cover the doctrines of God, Trinity, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Revelation. It will also consider questions of method, including the sources and norms of theology. The discipline of theology will be approached as a practice of the church, both local and global, carried out for the benefit of the church’s life, its proclamation, and its service to the world.

Arts & Sciences (12 credits)

HF 111 Thinking & Writing

This course focuses on a variety of aspects of academic research. The student will critically assess a variety of sources that mostly pertain to the task of apologetics. The primary focus of this course is research and writing, and the secondary focus is apologetics. This means that the student will assess, analyze, summarize, and review source documents that pertain to apologetics. The student will learn how to write academically and how to properly paraphrase source documents in order to enhance their critical thinking skills. Additionally, the student will be familiarized with the library and information literacy. In sum, this course is designed to introduce the student to the task of sound research and proper academic writing.

SS 170 Christianity in the 21st Century World

This course describes and analyzes the range and nature of Christian expression around the world. This will be done in three ways: 1) by briefly describing the four main streams of Christianity evident today; 2) by examining the variety of expressions of indigenous Christianity in the various geographical regions of the globe, and major challenges Christians face in each region; and 3) by getting a brief introduction of how Christianity spread from its Hebrew roots in Palestine to becoming a global faith which is known today as World Christianity (Christianity whose agenda is no longer determined by churches in the nations of the West). The underlying question for Christians living in the West is, ‘What is our place and role in this recently altered global landscape of Christianity?’ This course will offer some possible answers to that question.

SS 210 Introduction to Psychology

In this course students will study the fundamental principles of human behavior and cognitive processes. Students will learn to recognize and interpret various psychological theories and approaches, apply basic psychological principles and strategies to contemporary issues, accomplish a research project involving a major psychological concept and work cooperatively with classmates to begin to formulate an integrative approach to psychology.

SS 261 Leadership Foundations

This introductory course will assist in nurturing leadership character, convictions and competencies. The foundational content will explore a theology and philosophy of leadership, investigate the formation of a Christian leader and survey the primary tasks of leadership. Building on this foundation, you will receive contextualized training for the specific leadership ministry in which you will be serving during the academic year. You will be challenged toward becoming a godly influencer of others.

Outdoor Leadership (27 credits)

SC 140 Health and Wellness

This class is comprised of a number of experiences designed to introduce students to different activities that promote holistic health and wellness. These activities, in the Explore program, primarily consist of wilderness disciplines such as canoeing, rock climbing, backpacking and mountain biking. These activities will be used to help develop the learner in not only physical health but also emotional, relational and spiritual health through guided facilitation of the experience. Instruction and experience in traditional workout methods, such as running and weight lifting, will also be provided. A large portion of this class will be helping the learner develop the skills necessary to safely enjoy and learn from the experiences in the wilderness disciplines they will encounter.

SC 143 Outdoor Winter Pursuits

This class is highly experiential and introduces students to different forms of backcountry travel and recreation. Students will also be introduced to both the concepts and the practice of winter survival. Preparation, personal responsibility, agency, judgment, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making are all central themes to the outdoor pursuits of ice climbing, backcountry skiing, winter camping and survival and will be central aspects of focus throughout the course activities.

OL 104 Introduction to Experiential Education (1.5 credits)

This class introduces the skills, knowledge and principles necessary to understand and use the experiential education method effectively at a basic level. Students will experience the model throughout their time in the Explore Program, but concentrated time is set aside to learn about how the student can facilitate experiences towards the learner’s growth and development. A four day course paired with a practicum opportunity will form the means of curriculum delivery and application. The experience and practice of the concepts from this class, however, are found throughout the entirety of the Explore Program.

OL 116 Wilderness Advanced First Aid (1.5 credits)
Wilderness Advanced First Aid training is the entry level certification for outdoor professionals, guides and instructors who work in a wilderness setting. Course content extends beyond urban-based first aid programs to include elements inherent in leading groups in the outdoors and guiding wilderness adventures. Special emphasis is placed on prevention of injuries, accident scene management, leadership, leader responsibility and liability, advanced first aid kits, wound management and managing the trauma victim.
OL 134 Outdoor Leadership (1.5 credits)

This class serves to provide students, both in theory and practice, with a framework for understanding leadership. In particular, this class hopes to provide students the knowledge necessary to successfully lead or follow well in the Outdoor context. This class will present the transactional and transformational model of leadership to students as a framework for understanding how leadership works from the perspective of leader, follower or from an undefined role. The class addresses but moves past leader/follower functions to examine how “leadership” can come from anywhere, given a proper understanding and application of power, authority and influence.

OL 151 Applied Group Leadership (1.5 credits)

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles, skills and knowledge necessary to plan and execute successful programming in a wilderness context. The course utilizes the Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) curriculum for Field Leader Hiking. In addition to the content provided through the OCC course, students will participate in a 5-day backpacking trip that will give opportunity for the students to apply principles, receive feedback and deepen their skillset. A practicum that takes place near the end of the semester will provide an additional opportunity to utilize the skills taught in this class.

OL 215 Wilderness Competencies

This course is designed to help students become effective leaders and instructors in the outdoor context. This is accomplished through team based adventures meant to challenge and develop students in character, leadership and as disciples of Christ. This course focuses on the discipline of mountain biking as a means for team based adventures leading to individual growth. Mountain biking also serves as a marketable skill and platform to develop as an outdoor instructor. Students will also complete their Wilderness First Responder certification (bridge course) in order to be better prepared to serve in outdoor learning environments.

OL 224 Expedition and Outdoor Leadership (6 credits)

This course is designed to prepare second-year students with the necessary skills to responsibly lead in outdoor and expedition situations, and to prepare students to enrol in an ACMG Assistant Hiking Guide course. This course will involve a combination of both practical and theoretical knowledge, and will contain a high level of experiential education. By planning and executing an extended backpacking trip, participants will develop sound and defensible judgment practices and skills that are in accordance with professional wilderness industry standards. We also incorporate Explore program philosophy emphasizing spiritual leadership and ministry preparation. At the end of the course students will be prepared to fully plan and execute multi-day backpacking trips.

OL 248 Teaching Through Adventure

An examination of theory, practice and skills necessary for teaching in adventure and various other settings. This course will use in-class practice, lecture, homework, practicums, feedback and reflection in order to develop student skills in leadership, communication, planning and educational methods, as well as introduce students to the skills assessment methods necessary to correctly evaluate adventure participant learning and manage participant risk and adventure. This course will be taught integrating principles of the Bible and a Christian worldview.

OL 231 Recreation and Business Management or OL 332 Philosophy of Group Facilitation

(OL 231) This course examines how business (for profit or not for profit) can be used to contribute to human flourishing and furthering the Kingdom of God. The course will examine the principles of biblical organizational management. It will encompass overarching principles of organizational life such as organizational development, philosophy, leadership, human resources, culture, strategy, marketing and finance. It explores the design, delivery, and evaluation of organizational and business realities. The emphasis of this course is placed on the minister (being) defining the nature and structure of the ministry/organization (doing).

(OL 332) This course is a detailed look into the nature of groups and teams. In particular, the course investigates the role of the leader in developing healthy and functional groups that are able to perform effectively (in whatever sense the group exists for) and contribute to the development and well being of the individuals that compose it. This course will examine the ethics and principles of group facilitation to increase the students ability, both conceptually and in practice, to effectively lead and participate in teams so that the Kingdom of God is furthered.

CM 370-373 Outdoor Leadership Internship (3 credits each)

Effective ministry necessitates both a foundation of biblical and theological knowledge, and development of certain sets of ministry-related skills. The Explore Internship creates an opportunity to expand knowledge of the Bible and theology, simultaneous with the development of necessary ministry skills. The Explore Internship spans two years and fulfills the internship requirements for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Ministry with the Outdoor Leadership Major. The Director(s) of the Explore Program will coach, advise, and supervise the Intern while providing formal evaluations of the Intern’s performance. The Intern will also complete regular self-evaluations and projects related to the Intern’s administrative tasks, program development, and experiential education within the Explore Program.

Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Explore)

All courses are three credits unless shown otherwise.

Bible & Theology (12 credits)

NT 112 Reading the Gospels and Acts

In this course, students are introduced to the story of Jesus Christ and his earliest disciples as told by the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Students will grow in their understanding of who Jesus is as well as in their ability to interpret the bible by attending to its literary, historical, and theological character.

OT 112 Reading the Torah

A study of the first five books of the Bible, focusing on the historical, literary and theological features of these books as well as establishing a strong grounding in Torah principles as preparation for interpreting the rest of Scripture.

ST 105 The Christian Quest

The Christian life is the experience of God drawing us into a relationship that is nothing less than the believer’s participation in the life of God through union with Christ. This is the Good News (i.e. Gospel) that takes root through sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). The transformative participation in Christ and His purposes gives this present life value, direction and hope. The believer is called to the quest of faithful discipleship in this participation and engagement with Christ.

The course is an exploration of and involvement in that quest. You will be challenged toward intentional participation in the life of God through your faithful discipleship response to His person and work. The content will explore a Christian spiritual theology and practice of participation with Christ. The theological approach to this participation is as a transformational relationship with the triune God in which you have both responsibilities and privileges. The course is designed to stretch beyond a cognitive/intellectual exercise and therefore you will be encouraged to actively engage in whole-hearted participation with God, both inside and outside of the classroom. The desired result is that you will know God more deeply, relate to Him as one intimately known by Him, and desire to make Him known to others.

TH 100 Introduction to Christian Theology

This course introduces students to the biblical, doctrinal, philosophical and historical “big picture” outlines of the Christian faith. The course aims to equip students with the skills to develop a Christian mind by assisting them in constructing a theological foundation for thinking and dealing with life’s most important issues. This course will also enable students to begin to think theologically and to construct a Christian worldview for the edification of the community of faith and to the glory of the almighty God whom we serve.

Arts & Sciences (6 credits)

HF 111 Thinking & Writing

This course focuses on a variety of aspects of academic research. The student will critically assess a variety of sources that mostly pertain to the task of apologetics. The primary focus of this course is research and writing, and the secondary focus is apologetics. This means that the student will assess, analyze, summarize, and review source documents that pertain to apologetics. The student will learn how to write academically and how to properly paraphrase source documents in order to enhance their critical thinking skills. Additionally, the student will be familiarized with the library and information literacy. In sum, this course is designed to introduce the student to the task of sound research and proper academic writing.

SS 170 Christianity in the 21st Century World

This course describes and analyzes the range and nature of Christian expression around the world. This will be done in three ways: 1) by briefly describing the four main streams of Christianity evident today; 2) by examining the variety of expressions of indigenous Christianity in the various geographical regions of the globe, and major challenges Christians face in each region; and 3) by getting a brief introduction of how Christianity spread from its Hebrew roots in Palestine to becoming a global faith which is known today as World Christianity (Christianity whose agenda is no longer determined by churches in the nations of the West). The underlying question for Christians living in the West is, ‘What is our place and role in this recently altered global landscape of Christianity?’ This course will offer some possible answers to that question.

Outdoor Leadership (12 credits)

SC 140 Health and Wellness

This class is comprised of a number of experiences designed to introduce students to different activities that promote holistic health and wellness. These activities, in the Explore program, primarily consist of wilderness disciplines such as canoeing, rock climbing, backpacking and mountain biking. These activities will be used to help develop the learner in not only physical health but also emotional, relational and spiritual health through guided facilitation of the experience. Instruction and experience in traditional workout methods, such as running and weight lifting, will also be provided. A large portion of this class will be helping the learner develop the skills necessary to safely enjoy and learn from the experiences in the wilderness disciplines they will encounter.

SC 143 Outdoor Winter Pursuits

This class is highly experiential and introduces students to different forms of backcountry travel and recreation. Students will also be introduced to both the concepts and the practice of winter survival. Preparation, personal responsibility, agency, judgment, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making are all central themes to the outdoor pursuits of ice climbing, backcountry skiing, winter camping and survival and will be central aspects of focus throughout the course activities.

OL 104 Introduction to Experiential Education (1.5 credits)

This class introduces the skills, knowledge and principles necessary to understand and use the experiential education method effectively at a basic level. Students will experience the model throughout their time in the Explore Program, but concentrated time is set aside to learn about how the student can facilitate experiences towards the learner’s growth and development. A four day course paired with a practicum opportunity will form the means of curriculum delivery and application. The experience and practice of the concepts from this class, however, are found throughout the entirety of the Explore Program.

OL 116 Wilderness Advanced First Aid (1.5 credits)
Wilderness Advanced First Aid training is the entry level certification for outdoor professionals, guides and instructors who work in a wilderness setting. Course content extends beyond urban-based first aid programs to include elements inherent in leading groups in the outdoors and guiding wilderness adventures. Special emphasis is placed on prevention of injuries, accident scene management, leadership, leader responsibility and liability, advanced first aid kits, wound management and managing the trauma victim.
OL 134 Outdoor Leadership (1.5 credits)

This class serves to provide students, both in theory and practice, with a framework for understanding leadership. In particular, this class hopes to provide students the knowledge necessary to successfully lead or follow well in the Outdoor context. This class will present the transactional and transformational model of leadership to students as a framework for understanding how leadership works from the perspective of leader, follower or from an undefined role. The class addresses but moves past leader/follower functions to examine how “leadership” can come from anywhere, given a proper understanding and application of power, authority and influence.

OL 151 Applied Group Leadership (1.5 credits)

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles, skills and knowledge necessary to plan and execute successful programming in a wilderness context. The course utilizes the Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) curriculum for Field Leader Hiking. In addition to the content provided through the OCC course, students will participate in a 5-day backpacking trip that will give opportunity for the students to apply principles, receive feedback and deepen their skillset. A practicum that takes place near the end of the semester will provide an additional opportunity to utilize the skills taught in this class.

Certificate

  1. Explain basic positional and non-positional leadership theory and practice its application.
  2. Express principles of experiential education and practice in controlled applications.
  3. Describe basic method and principles of facilitation and practice their applications with a group.
  4. Reproduce proper backcountry skills necessary for participation in a successful and safe backcountry trip.
  5. Employ the skills necessary to effectively participate in a wide range of basic outdoor adventure skills at a basic competency level with intermediate abilities in at least one skill.

Diploma

  1. Formulate and apply his/her own theory of both positional and non-positional leadership and are able to duplicate themselves as leaders.
  2. Plan, lead and teach experiential education programs.
  3. Appraise methods and principles of facilitation and utilize principles to carry out effective facilitation of a group.
  4. Utilize and teach proper backcountry skills for leading a successful and safe trip for a less experienced group.
  5. Demonstrate instructional competence in a minimum of one outdoor adventure activity in addition to year one and two competencies.

Bachelor

  1. Explain basic positional and non-positional leadership theory and practice its application.
  2. Express principles of experiential education and practice in controlled applications.
  3. Describe basic method and principles of facilitation and practice their applications with a group.
  4. Reproduce proper backcountry skills necessary for participation in a successful and safe backcountry trip.
  5. Employ the skills necessary to effectively participate in a wide range of basic outdoor adventure skills at a basic competency level with intermediate abilities in at least one skill.

Further Education

The Diploma in Outdoor Leadership sets students up to complete either the Bachelor of  Ministry in Outdoor Leadership or the Bachelor of Divinity in Business Administration with a minor in Outdoor Leadership.

Additionally, students can easily go on to complete other degrees at Prairie such as the Intercultural Studies degree or other Bachelor of Ministry degrees.


CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Our Bachelor graduates have applied their educations in a wide variety of fields ranging from real-estate to summer camps, and identify their leadership training in Explore as a significant professional asset.

Recent successful positions include:

  • Disaster Relief Staff for Samaritan’s Purse
  • Activities Coordinator for community outreach centres focused on vulnerable populations such as the homeless
  • Executive Directors at camps and outdoor centres
  • Recreation managers for large city recreation centres
  • Activities Coordinators for charter schools
  • Summer camp program director and manager positions
  • Guiding positions Mountain Adventures
  • Pastoral and Youth Pastor positions
  • Small group facilitator in mental health facilities

Many students and graduates also volunteer at community fire departments and search and rescue agencies in rural Alberta.

Interested in Outdoor Leadership and Business? Students can major in Business and minor in Outdoor Leadership!

Admissions Requirements

Academic Admissions Requirement:

  • A minimum average of 60% in five grade 12 courses.
  • A minimum of 60% in English 30-1 or 30-2.

For Homeschool students and applicants outside of Alberta please visit our Steps to Apply page.

Christian Life & Testimony:
Prairie College requires that students demonstrate a Christian life and testimony in order to effectively participate in our Christ-centered community. Applicants show evidence of meeting this requirement in the following application items:

  • Personal Testimony
  • Spiritual Reference
  • Declaration for Admission

English Language Proficiency:
Applicants whose first language is not English must show proof of English Proficiency. See International Admissions Procedures for more information.

  • The Outdoor Leadership program is offered through a partnership between Prairie College and Frontier Lodge and is available as a 1 Year (Explore), 2 Year (Explore 2) and 4 Year Degree Program.

 

  • 50 Days of outdoor adventure experience and training each year including: backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, ice climbing, whitewater canoeing, winter survival, backcountry skiing, Search and Rescue, and more.

 

  • A 21-day Backpacking Expedition to Death Valley National Park, California, USA is included in the 2nd year in which students participate in logistics and planning for outdoor expeditions.

 

  • Guest lectures from professionals ranging from airline pilots to ministry leaders to corporate leaders.
  • Intercultural Application: Asia has a rapidly growing interest in outdoor adventure. Our optional course “Adventure Tourism in a Cross Cultural Context” is offered every 2 years and introduces students to Tibetan China, the Himalayas, and unique applications for outdoor leadership training.

 

  • Application of learning in student practicums where students use their skills and run adventure sport programming for outside groups at Frontier Lodge.

 

  • Customized internship placements with international options.

 

  • Students can also major in Business and minor in Outdoor Leadership!

For our Tuition & Fee rates as well as Room and Board please see Fees & Financial Aid

Program Specific Costs:

Outdoor Leadership students are charged a $2000 program fee ($1000 charged each semester).

Canada & United States Application

Winter 2025 (January start), Fall 2025 (September start) and Online Education (start anytime) applications are open. 

International Student Application

Prairie welcomes applications from individuals all around the world! To begin the International Student Application please click the link below. 

Master's Application

If you are applying for the Master of Christian Ministry Leadership or the Master of Global Christian Educational Leadership please click the link below. 

Information Request

Tell us a bit about yourself and an admissions representative will be in touch shortly!

Here are key opportunities you can partner with Prairie

We have launched our Campaign for Greater Impact to provide students with the very best learning opportunities and campus facilities for the decades ahead. 

In Phase One of this Campaign, we plan to invest in much-needed campus renewal, including: upgraded Infrastructure, a new Student Residence, Cafeteria, Worship Auditorium, and expanded Aviation Training Centre. A modern campus requires an investment that is bold, and even expensive, but each Campaign Project is strategic, and designed to enhance Prairie’s campus and student life experience.

Expansion of Prairie Aviation Training Centre

This expansion of PATC’s facility is a key project of Prairie’s Campaign for Greater Impact. It will increase the College’s capacity to train a new generation of Christian aviators to serve God in missions, and also address the growing need for trained pilots in the commercial aviation sector.

Scholarships & Education Fund

Invest in the next generation of missional professionals. Each year Prairie College distributes over $500,000 in scholarships and bursaries to students. We are grateful for each gift that reduces the burden of students’ tuition and allows students to fulfill their God-given professions.

Prison Bible Encounter Program

Encourage inmates in five institutions across Alberta to discover or reconnect with Jesus Christ. This fund assists the students studying the Certificate in Bible program with scholarships, resources for classes, and instruction. 

General Ministries

Prairie College is educating students to pursue a Biblical foundation for life and career.  Your contribution to this fund assists in minimizing the College’s general operating expenses.  

To allocate your gift, please select one of the donation buttons below.

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