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World Bound Outdoor and Climate Change Skills Training Course for Adults
A professional development and educational adventure for outdoor enthusiasts and aspiring change-makers
The Yukon is a special place for Fireside Adventures. It was our earliest teacher, revealing the transformative educational power of nature and the urgent need for climate action. Words can’t quite do the Yukon justice. Larger than life, it boasts thousands of years of Indigenous culture, and an unparalleled environment for outdoor adventures, while also bearing the realities of climate change that are ten times what southern Canada is experiencing. The Yukon is a lens into both our past and our future.
The Yukon is the perfect stage for World Bound Educators: Yukon… a one-of-a-kind professional development course designed for teachers, youth workers, outdoor educators, and adventure leaders who want to deepen their impact through nature-based and climate-focused education!?
DETAILS
Date: July 11–19, 2026 (9 days)
Group Requirement: Minimum 8 participants to run the course; a maximum of 12
Facilitator: Jeff Willis
Locations: Whitehorse, Carmacks, Yukon River and Teslin River
PRICES (CAD)
Early Bird Rate: $2349.00 + GST (ends December 01, 2025)
Regular Rate: $2699.00 + GST (register a friend to get $150 off per friend!)
Deposit: $400.00 CAD + GST
Includes:
– Course instruction and guiding
– Canoes, safety equipment, and group camping gear + all meals.
– 8 days of guided paddling on the Yukon River
– Land transportation shuttle (to and from Whitehorse)
– Coordination support pre- and post-course
– World Bound Educator course instruction by experienced guides, resource booklet, and World Bound Professional Development Certificate
Does not include: Flight to Yukon, hotel stays in Whitehorse and Dawson City, and anything not mentioned above.
More info: office@firesideadventures.ca
What you’ll learn
As part of the expedition, Educators will also provide hands-on instruction in:
Core outdoor and paddling skills for safe, confident canoe travel on the Yukon River.
Outdoor cooking and backcountry expedition planning for school and youth groups.
Outdoor leadership fundamentals, including group dynamics, risk management, and field-based teaching.
Yukon geography, culture, and environmental history, connecting Indigenous knowledge and environmental stewardship.
Our approach is rooted in the belief that nature itself is the ultimate classroom. Through storytelling, field workshops, and guided reflection, participants will leave with practical, transferable strategies to integrate outdoor experiential education and climate action learning into their own classrooms, camps, or community programs. Whether you’re a teacher looking to expand your curriculum, a youth worker aiming to inspire environmental leadership, or an adventurer seeking to turn your passion for the outdoors into purpose-driven teaching—this Yukon educator training is your next step.
Midnight sun paddle during Professional Development and Leadership Course.
Key Course Takeaways
Open to anyone wanting to experience Yukon River Through Pro d Lens
Test yourself on the Yukon River and learn the skills of outdoor education and climate leadership
On the World Bound Educators Yukon course, participants will paddle the majestic Teslin and Yukon Rivers from Johnston Crossing to Carmacks (370km). On this professional development adventure, we will be travelling back in time as we learn about Yukon’s geography, history (pre-colonization to now), modern resource management, and how Yukoners are adapting to the severe impacts of climate change. We provide an inclusive experience for participants with varying skill levels, interests, and agendas to keep the experience informative, safe, and fun for everyone.
Learn core outdoor educator skills
On this epic 370km canoe journey, we’ll teach you what we do best: developing and utilizing outdoor education skills to provide kids with experiential learning opportunities in the great outdoors. We ensure the knowledge you learn is transferable to the classroom, enabling you to share bushcraft techniques and wilderness knowledge with your students and maybe even plan some exciting field trips!
Take Yukon climate change workshops
As with all our professional development adventures, we provide workshops (totalling 10 hours) and education materials (K-12) relating to climate change education. Education materials for this experience will be Yukon-focused, to teach kids about Canada’s most iconic northern territory. Of course, both our expedition and curriculum are also intended to be more broadly transferable to climate change education being taught in the classroom.
The Yukon: a classroom unlike any other
There’s more than one reason that Fireside Adventures keeps coming back to the Yukon year after year. From the people to the vast expanse of nature, here are just a few reasons that the Yukon is one of the world’s greatest classrooms.
A Natural Paradise
With a population of less than 48, 000, it’s impossible to visit the Yukon and not find yourself far from the hustle of civilization. Once you leave Whitehorse, you’ll be immersed in some of the most pristine and thriving wilderness that Canada has to offer. In the Land of the Midnight Sun, you’ll see an abundance of wildlife, the ruins of the Gold Rush, enjoy days of zero darkness, and so much more.
Room to Breathe
Alongside your trusty guides and the best fellow educators, there’s no better way to recharge and refocus so you can return in September ready to take on the challenge of being one of your school’s most competent climate leaders. Get ready to free yourself from the demands and distractions of modern life, and find the space to breathe deeply. Fresh air and peaceful days await on the Yukon River!
Our Yukon Canoe Journey
Meet your educators: Over 100 years of combined experience in the Outdoor Classroom
Jeff “Willy” Willis, Founder, CEO & Adventure Architect of Fireside Adventures and Vancouver Outdoor School
Meet Willy, your Lead Educator on this adventure. With over 30 years of experience leading outdoor education, youth leadership, and climate change learning programs across Canada and around the world, Willy brings an inspiring mix of passion, expertise, and adventure. His deep roots in the Yukon—Fireside Adventures’ original classroom—inform his immersive teaching style, which blends climate science, experiential learning, and hands-on adventure training to help educators bring real-world relevance into their teaching. During this 9-day Yukon River journey from Whitehorse to Carmacks, participants will experience a powerful mix of professional development and outdoor exploration. Jeff’s workshops focus on helping educators and youth professionals:
Understand the complexity of climate systems through land-based learning.
Explore the human and ecological narratives of Canada’s North.
Build interdisciplinary connections between climate science, social studies, and outdoor education.
Gain practical tools to teach climate change education in both K–12 and post-secondary settings.
Mike Kent, experiential educator, facilitator, consultant, outdoor leader, and trainer.
For nearly 30 years, Mike has been designing and delivering programs focused on leadership, outdoor training, mentorship, wilderness experiences, youth engagement, conflict resolution, personal development, inclusivity, climate action, experiential education, active living, health, and community capacity building.
Passionate about the outdoors, Mike believes deeply in the transformative power of expedition travel and is committed to helping others discover growth, connection, and confidence through meaningful outdoor experiences.
As a certified instructor with the Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) and the Recreational Canoe Association of BC (RCABC), Mike offers a range of nationally recognized certification opportunities, including OCC Hiking, Canoeing, and Overnight Field Leader certifications, as well as RCABC Flatwater and Canoe Tripping Paddler or Tripping Leader qualifications, depending on participants’ experience.
Mike brings extensive experience in facilitating experiential education programs and is dedicated to supporting participants as they build strong facilitation and leadership skills. His work emphasizes thoughtful group process—communication, decision-making, and peer support—while helping facilitators create safe, inclusive, and engaging experiences across a variety of settings. He is especially passionate about providing hands-on practice in a supportive, fun environment, allowing participants to step into facilitation roles with confidence and clarity.
Brian Brandt, Experiential Education Consultant, Educator & International Presenter
Growing up camping and serving as a camp counsellor in northern Wisconsin, Brian developed a deep and lasting connection to the outdoors. His passion for teaching through hands-on learning was sparked early at camp, where a moment with a young camper named Jayden would define his philosophy. After repeated attempts at a feet-first dive, Jayden finally succeeded in his own creative way—hands full of dirt, proudly showing he had done it. When Brian asked what he learned, Jayden’s eyes lit up: “If I keep trying, I can do it, I can do anything.” In that moment, Brian realized that teachers can be found at any age and in unexpected places; Jayden, just ten years old, became his first experiential education mentor. Experiences like this shaped Brian’s belief that guided, hands-on learning builds not only task mastery but also problem-solving, perseverance, collaboration, and confidence—skills that carry far beyond the activity itself.
Brian is an experiential education consultant, educator, and international presenter with nearly three decades of experience designing and leading transformative programs for youth and adults. He has devoted his career to creating immersive experiences that foster leadership, civic engagement, social-emotional growth, and positive community connections across education, outdoor learning, civics, recreation, environmental education, and youth justice. His international work has taken him to places such as the country of Georgia, Russia, and the Pacific Islands, including the CNMI, among others, where he has collaborated with local organizations and global partners to expand opportunities for young people and foster cross-cultural understanding. Through these efforts, Brian uses experiential learning to bridge local and global perspectives and strengthen communities worldwide.
Brian’s expertise will bring to your experience on the river:
Adventure-Based Learning – turning every paddle stroke, ripple, and challenge into an opportunity to learn about teamwork, problem-solving, and self-discovery.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) – blending reflection and fun to help participants build communication, empathy, and resilience in real time.
Supportive Group Culture – creating a space where everyone feels safe to take risks, laugh, learn, and support one another—on the water and beyond.
Designing for Transfer – helping you connect lessons from the river to your own world—whether that’s a classroom, youth program, or professional team.
You’ll leave the river with a boatload of tools, activities, and techniques to use in your own programs—from extended wilderness trips to short classroom adventures.
