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World Bound Canada: the Wild Roots Experience
See the best of Canada’s youth outdoor leadership courses and unleash the wild within!
We are excited to offer a unique outdoor 21 day youth leadership course, taking teens to some of our favourite places in British Columbia and Yukon. This is our invitation to Canadian and international youth to sign up for training in backcountry expeditions, urban exploration, paddling rivers and oceans, leadership training, specifically designed climate change, cultural education, outdoor skills, and hiking.
Canada is more than hockey and maple syrup. What defines Canada is its stunning, sweeping landscapes and the dynamic character of the people who call it home. Join World Bound: Wild Roots Canada and embark on a multi-week journey across Canada’s most iconic and untouched wilderness. From the lush, endless rainforests of British Columbia to the expansive, untamed valleys and tundras of the Yukon, this is a life-shaping experience.
The Adventure at a Glance
We begin this adventure surrounded by the glass towers of Vancouver (one overnight/2 full days) before heading to the famous Sunshine Coast, where we’ll build our canoe and outdoor skills while exploring the coastal temperate rainforests. The Sunshine Coast is Fireside’s home base location as it offers incredible paddling, hiking, foraging, and camping.
Then, we head north to Whitehorse as we begin an epic canoe trip down a part of the Yukon River. The river will bring us into contact with the ruins of the Gold Rush, sweep us through landscapes that feel larger than life, allow us to encounter iconic Canadian wildlife, and - most importantly - give us the opportunity to connect with and honour the knowledge and traditions of the local people and their home that we travel through.
THIS IS A BIG, AWESOME DECISION! You are 15 minutes away from having your tough questions answered. Click here to book a quick Zoom or phone chat with Fireside Adventures’ leadership team (Willy & Barnsy).
DATES:
July 03 –Jul 23, 2026 (21-day)
Jul 24–Aug 13, 2026 (21-day)
AGES
13–18 (co-ed)
LOCATIONS
BC Locations: Vancouver • Sechelt
Yukon Locations: Whitehorse • Carmacks • Yukon/Teslin Rivers
STANDARD PRICES
8 to 12 participants per group
21-day: $5,599 + GST (CAD)
Earlybird offering: Save $400 if you book before November 15, 2026.
Non-refundable deposit: $1,000 CAD + GST
Includes:
– 24/7 instruction/support and pre-course check-in
- One night accommodation in Vancouver (2 full days exploring the best of Vancouver)
– Return flight (Vancouver – Whitehorse)
– Accommodation (tent and hostel) and meals
– Canoes, PFDs, and canoe skill training
– Ground transportation
– Climate Change and outdoor leadership training workshop
– Post-course follow-up
Does not include: Transportation costs outside of the above, Vancouver Airport pick-up and drop-off outside of the preferred arrival and departure times, medical insurance, and anything not mentioned above.
More info: office@firesideadventures.ca
Experiences you won’t want to miss:
Follow the wake of history during a back-country canoe journey down the Yukon and Teslin Rivers that have carried Indigenous nations and gold prospectors on their water
Canoe through bioluminescent water in the Sechelt Inlet
Safely encounter wildlife you’ve only seen on TV, like orca whales, moose, seals, bears, and so much more
Become more competent in the outdoors by learning critical outdoor skills like camp set-up, outdoor cooking, plant and animal identification, and Leave-No-Trace principles
Experience endless day and find out why the Yukon is called ‘the Land of the Midnight Sun’
See first-hand the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, river erosion, and the ‘drunken forests’ that mark melting permafrost
Immerse yourselves in Canadian arts and culture through the stories, songs, and artwork of the Yukoners and British Columbians
We are working towards adopting UN Sustainable Development Goals in everything we do and experience.
Our Journey
Episode 1: Vancouver Views
Episode 2: BC Ocean Paddle
Episode 3: Yukon River
The places we’ll go
Sechelt Inlet
Sechelt Inlet, nestled along BC’s Sunshine Coast, is a pristine marine sanctuary celebrated for its unspoiled coastal beauty. This tranquil inlet boasts serene waters, old-growth rainforests, and a thriving marine ecosystem. Canoe through secluded coves, hike along forested shores, and witness the wonders of its untouched water wonderland.
Yukon River
The most majestic and historic watercourse in Canada, the Yukon River winds through remote and truly untamed wilderness. Along its meandering path, you'll encounter sweeping landscapes, abundant wildlife, and some of the most ancient pieces of this land’s history.
Whitehorse and Carmacks
The two defining cities of the Yukon, both Whitehorse and Carmacks are remnants of the Gold Rush that have become synonymous with Canada’s True North. Whitehorse and Dawson City have fascinating histories and thriving cultures that make for a one-of-a-kind wild urban experience.
World Bound Canada Wild Roots: Become a Climate Adventurer
The fight against climate change is a global one, so a climate activist must become comfortable venturing into new environments, integrating with local cultures, and learning the languages and traditions of the people they meet. Both British Columbia and the Yukon are legendary for their natural beauty, being cultural and artistic hotspots, and also a long history of resource extraction.
During this course, youths will learn to navigate canoes through vast Canadian wilderness, lead wilderness expeditions, and encounter Canada’s complex relationship with the natural world. Along the way, they’ll spend time meeting British Columbian and Northern Indigenous communities, learning wilderness skills, and how to navigate an increasingly complex world, all while unplugging in some of the greatest outdoor spaces the world has to offer. Our Climate Adventurers will return home with the tools they need for their journey as leaders of the future
Our World Bound Climate Change Curriculum
World Bound approaches climate change through experience, skills and the realities of everyday life. Rather than treating climate change as a separate classroom topic, participants explore how a changing climate connects to the way we travel, eat, consume, lead, work together and make decisions.
What does that actually look like?
Learn from the land. Rivers, forests, coastlines, farms and communities become the classroom. Youth see environmental change firsthand and learn from local and Indigenous people, outdoor educators and others connected to these places.
Build practical outdoor skills. Paddling, navigation, campcraft, cooking, food planning, water management, risk assessment and expedition travel teach self-reliance while opening conversations about resources, energy and our impact on the environment.
Rethink convenience. What happens when you carry what you need, cook your own food, travel under your own power and live with less? Youth explore the difference between what we need and what we have simply become accustomed to.
Connect climate skills with life skills. Adapting a route, managing limited resources, responding to changing weather or working through a difficult day develops the same skills needed in a changing world: adaptability, problem-solving, communication, resilience and good judgement.
Explore food and consumption. From meal planning and food waste to local food systems and packaging, participants look at how everyday choices can reduce impact without turning sustainability into an unrealistic pursuit of perfection.
Explore how we move. Walking, paddling, cycling, public transportation and shared travel create practical conversations about transportation, energy use and realistic ways of reducing our individual footprint.
Understand the human side of climate change. Climate change isn't only about temperature and carbon. We explore its connections to communities, culture, livelihoods, food security, health, economics and the choices young people may face in their own futures.
Separate fact from fear. Youth are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions and examine credible information. Our role isn't to tell them what to think, but to help them better understand what is happening and develop the skills to make informed decisions.
Practise leadership, not just talk about it. Participants take increasing responsibility for navigation, meals, camp systems, group decisions and supporting one another. Climate leadership begins with learning how to lead yourself and contribute to a community.
Bring it home. The goal isn't to create a perfect environmentalist. It is for each participant to leave with greater confidence, practical skills and a few realistic changes they can apply at home, at school and within their community.
Every outdoor skill has a life skill behind it—and many of those same skills will help young people navigate a changing climate.
Pillar 1: Integrating Climate Change Principles and Perspectives
Two-eyed Seeing: Combine Western science and local climate science to create a holistic understanding of climate change
Local/Regional: Compare southern British Columbian and northern Yukon experiences of climate change
Rural-urban: Learn what both urban and rural communities are doing to adapt to climat
Pillar 2: Exploring Real-world Environments
Ocean and coastal environments: The Sunshine Coast/Sechelt Inlet of BC
River environments: Yukon River
Urban environments: Whitehorse and Vancouver
Pillar 3: Volunteering and Connecting within Communities
Connect with BC’s coastal Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and the Yukon’s Northern Indigenous communities
Meet local activists, artisans, and entrepreneurs in Vancouver, Whitehorse and along the journey
Help preserve nature through low impact travel and Leave-No-Trace practices
Pillar 4: Strengthening Life, Social, and Leadership Skills
Wilderness survival skills (ie. camp set-up, fire-building, plant and animal identification, navigation)
Leave-No-Trace principles
Outdoor leadership and teamwork skills through canoeing, camp maintenance, and outdoor meal preparation
Canoe paddle and safety skills
Expressive arts development
Social-emotional learning and reflection through journalling and an intensive 24-hour solo experience
Pillar 5: Sustaining Climate Action through Solution-focused Approaches
Membership in the World Bound Adventures: Climate Ambassador community
Year-round participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (which supports climate action)
Membership in the Vancouver Outdoor School Youth Network
Internships as a climate ambassador and mentor in local sustainable businesses and future expeditions
Discover Vancouver: 3-Day Urban & Cultural Experience
vancouver, canada
University of british columbia (UBC) in vancouver
Discover Vancouver is a dynamic two-day immersion designed for international youth to experience the natural beauty, cultural depth, and creative energy of one of Canada’s most iconic cities. Based in private, dorm-style accommodations, participants enjoy a safe, social home base while exploring Vancouver’s neighbourhoods, campuses, and coastlines. The journey includes:
University of British Columbia: explore and learn about student life at the world’s most scenic campus and learn about student life here
Indigenous cultural museum tour (Museum of Anthropology)
Stanley Park bike tour along the iconic Sea Wall
Sample flavours, street culture, and creativity at Granville Island and explore the vibrant, community-driven energy of Commercial Drive.
Balanced, inspiring, and unforgettable, Discover Vancouver offers a perfect blend of city exploration, cultural learning, and west-coast adventure.
Museum of anthropology
stanley park bike tour
