It is with mixed feelings that we announce that Outward Bound Canada’s Training Academy for Outdoor Professionals will not be offering new programs in its current format beyond February 2025, as we have reached the end of our current grant and unfortunately were not able to secure continued sources of funding.
Though we are sad that the Training Academy will be ending, we are immensely proud of all of our accomplishments from the program since launching in 2022. Here are a few of the highlights from this initiative over the last 3 years:
- we created a more welcoming and inclusive space for equity-deserving groups, with more than half of our participants coming from these groups
- we have built awareness around Trauma-informed leadership; Indigenous Perspectives and Justice; and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion tools and practices
- we have welcomed over 1,200+ individuals into our program, far exceeding our initial goal of 600
- 90% of our program participants reported being employed in the outdoor sector within 6-months after the program
- we have awarded over 3,100+ certificates/certifications through our program, further building competencies within our graduates
To see even more of our impact, please check out our 2022 Impact Report and our 2023 Impact Report.
We want to thank the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives program for funding this initiative to help outdoor leaders like yourself gain the skills, knowledge, experience and expertise that are needed in order to further grow our vibrant outdoor sector. It is our hope that if similar funding is secured in the future, we will be able to again offer fully-funded training to existing and aspiring outdoor leaders.
We would also like to thank all of our partners for helping us to make this initiative such a huge success. It has been an incredible honour and privilege for our team to be able to work on this project, which has had such a positive impact on so many people’s lives.
Last, but not least, we want to thank all of our participants for their interest, commitment and/or participation in the Training Academy, its programs and community. Without them, we would not be able to achieve our goal of upskilling and diversifying the outdoor sector.
Thank you to everyone for believing in and going on this journey with us. We are now connected to each other as a larger community through the experiences the Training Academy has provided.
Please know that Outward Bound Canada is deeply committed to offering more programs like this one to participants in the future, and we will continue to strive towards changing the face of the outdoor sector for the betterment of all. We truly believe in the transformative power of nature and its ability to help enrich one’s life.
This is not the end for us and the amazing work that we have started at the Training Academy, and we hope that you will continue to stay connected with Outward Bound Canada as we continue in our work to encourage access and a connection to nature for everyone.
With gratitude,
The Training Academy Team
