A typical schedule
At a 28 day West Coast Outdoor Leadership Training Course

What can you expect when you sign up for Hooksum's West Coast Outdoor Leadership Training?

Every session of West Coast Outdoor Leadership Training is different.

Just as we cannot predict the exact weather conditions that your session will experience, we cannot predict exactly what your group will look like, where the participants will come from, and what their interests will be. This is one of the great things about West Coast Outdoor Leadership Training! Every session brings something new. You might be working alongside a participant from northern BC, a surfer from Tofino, and someone from downtown Vancouver. Our participants come in all shapes and sizes from all different backgrounds!

And the west coast weather? There are skills to be learned and fun to be had in all different west coast weather conditions.

West Coast Outdoor Leadership Training is 28 days outdoors. In some programs, you learn about the outdoors from inside a classroom; you talk about kayaking and surfing from the comforts of a heated room. Not at Hooksum! At Hooksum, outdoor school means outdoor school.

Each session of West Coast Outdoor
Leadership Training includes:

• 7 days (50 hours) of Wilderness First Responder

The Red Cross Wilderness First Responder course is designed to teach First Responders advanced first aid techniques for sustaining life, preventing further injuries, and caring for illnesses and injuries until the next level of medical personnel arrives. The course is taught by a certified Red Cross First Responder Instructor or Emergency Medical Responder Instructor.

Certification is good for 3 years (First Responder) and includes CPR Level HCP and AED.

• 6 days of sea kayak courses

Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Skills Introduction to Kayaking, Level I and Level II courses teach the skills and knowledge for proficient kayaking in calm and moderate seas in sheltered and moderately exposed coastline.

Learn rescue skills such as wet exits, Eskimo rolls, t-rescues, tows and much more; paddling skills like high and low braces, draw strokes, forward and reverse sweep strokes; and gain knowledge of navigation, weather conditions, seamanship and much more.

The Paddle Canada Introduction to Kayaking – Instructor’s Course is for those wanting professional development with the goal of working in the industry. The Instructor’s Course provides participants with the opportunity to lead, organize and teach basic sea kayaking skills. This is a national instructors certification that allows one to legally run one’s own sea kayaking courses.

WCOLT participants have the option of taking the PC Level I and Level II courses or the PC Level I and the Instructor’s Course.

Please note that participation in the Level II course requires prior certification and/or sea kayaking experience. Contact us with your details if you are interested in the PC Level II course.

• 6 days of lifesaving courses

Earn Lifesaving Society certified Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross certifications while learning and practicing your swimming and rescue skills in the waters of Hesquiaht Harbour. Gain confidence and refine your abilities in real life water activities like surfing.

• An overnight hike/paddle
  

• Opportunity to go on a 24-hour solo

• An 8 hour BOAT course and exam

This course is accredited by the Canadian Coast Guard. Successful completion of the BOAT course and test earns you your Pleasure Craft Operator Card – now required by law for the operation of small craft.

• Maritime Radio Course

At the end of this Canadian Power & Sail Squadron course, participants will be permitted to write the examination for their Restricted Operator's Certificate (Maritime). Successful completion of the course and exam certifies you to operate VHF, MF and HF Marine Band radios. Certification is required by law for those who operate marine radios.