Our teachers threw us in canoes and made a classroom of kids paddle to the middle of nowhere, to sleep in tents and poop in holes we dug ourselves and it was probably one of the most beneficial life experiences I’ve ever had.
Graduating Travel, Tourism & Eco-Adventure has not only paved my way to the most incredible career opportunities; it gave me the tools to step out of my comfort zone, have unforgettable experiences, meet some of the most interesting people, and see the most breathtaking places in Canada. Some may say that being put in a tent, on an island in the middle of nowhere might do that to you- push you out of your comfort zone.
Travel and Tourism wasn’t your average classroom. I don’t think many other programs taught you how to dogsled, to snowshoe up a mountain, or how to dig a cat-hole either (that’s a hole you poop in). These not-so-average classes showed me that I wanted a not-so-average career either, in not so average places.
I took with me the tools that T&T taught me, including stepping out of your comfort zone, and drove myself halfway across the country to take on a job of being a whale watching assistant on the tip of Nova Scotia. Travel & Tourism showed me that there’s always more adventure, and it gave me a thirst to keep exploring. So soon after I drove myself completely across the country to work in Fernie, British Columbia in the most breathtaking mountain town where I would meet people from all over the world. I was able to wake up to the snow covered mountains and take on a new adventure every day.
Today I’m writing this from my office, as the supervisor of one of the oldest lodges in the beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. I know I made the best decision taking this program when I can look out my window and see the glacier fed lake and rocky shores, and the incredible mountain range surrounding my village.
Soon I’ll be looking for the next place to discover. Confederation College, my teachers, my peers, and this program has opened so many doors for me all across the country that I can’t just stop exploring here.
My adventure started with Travel, Tourism & Eco-Adventure and it hasn’t stopped since.
Caitlin Woof-Graduate 2016
