Calgary Academy

Outdoor education (OE) offers learners the unique opportunity to build skills through day and overnight excursions and classroom lessons. As students prepare throughout the semester, they collaborate and problem-solve to ensure a smooth, safe, and fun trail experience.

Trips into Alberta’s (and other provinces’) surrounding nature follow REACH and Leave No Trace principles, ensuring we treat our outdoor classrooms with respect.

Students can participate in several outdoor (and indoor) activities, including:

Climbing
Paddling
Bushcraft
Backpacking
Canoeing
Stand-up paddle boarding
Cross-country skiing
Trail hiking
Snowshoeing

Where Nature and the Classroom Combine

Students in OE learn a wide range of hard (lighting fires, setting up tents, etc.) and soft (communication, organization, etc.) skills that can benefit the rest of their lives. This program helps students safely step out of their comfort zone. Whether they’re outdoor enthusiasts or novices, OE meets students where they are to provide an unforgettable experience.

While students don’t need to seek a career in the outdoor industry, this program helps develop an appreciation for the wild and create and execute a plan from step one to completion.

Skills

Outdoor education helps students develop unique skill sets. While plenty of outdoor skills come into play, executive functioning skills are at the program’s core. Learners will leave OE with transformative skills like long-term planning, communication, self-reliance, and self-advocacy.

Relationships

Relationships are fundamental in OE—from planning for overnight trips with peers, supporting others on the trail, or learning more about their surrounding world. Bonds are created through cooperation and hard work. Students enhance their relationships with each other and their connection to nature.

Discovery

Inquisitiveness is a core pillar of OE, and learners are encouraged to ask questions and dive into their relationship with the natural world. With focuses on climbing, cross-country skiing, and hiking, there is something new for each student to learn. Many students develop a greater sense of what they appreciate, value, and understand about themselves.

Meet the Outdoor Education Program Lead

Jason Lindsay is a dedicated educator and professional hiking guide passionate about outdoor learning. He has taught since 2000 and has specialized in outdoor education since 2006. He has inspired students to develop environmental awareness, leadership, and technical outdoor skills. As a Hiking Guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and a licensed instructor for the Outdoor Council of Canada, Jason brings knowledge and hands-on experience to his teaching.

Certified in wilderness first aid, avalanche safety, and interpretive guiding, he creates dynamic, immersive programs that connect students with nature through hiking, climbing, paddling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and backcountry exploration, fostering confidence and stewardship.

Take a Sneak Peek at Outdoor Education in Action

Many students can’t describe the value of outdoor-ed until they step onto the trail of their first overnight trip. View some of our program videos to see what outdoor education is like!

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