Courses

Date: May 17, 2021

Location: Online via Zoom 

Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Price: $75 plus GST Those individuals who have taken the IGA's Professional Interpreter course and have sent in their PI application package showing they have enough hours of experience and expertise are permitted to take this test.

All individuals taking this test must have a valid membership with the IGA and be in good standing. In order to become certified at the PI level, you must complete and pass both the written and oral exams with a minimum of 70% (Written exam requires 70% overall and 70% per section of the test).

Please read and understand our Refund/Cancellation Policy and know that refunds will not be given for no-shows, last-minute cancellations or poor internet connections.

Date: contact programs@interpretiveguides.org to set a date for this exam.

Please note that we are available in May, June, the first half of July, November, December, and January. If you want to complete your exam in other months, we may be able to accommodate but we cannot guarantee it.

Cost: $125 plus gst

Exam Requirements:

1. An oral exam outline must be sent in prior to filming (outline details will be emailed to you after you have paid).

2. PI application package.

Please send both to Wendy Niven at programs@interpretiveguides.org at least 2 weeks prior to filming your submission.

3. IGA membership in good standing.

4. Have attended the PI course in the last 2 years.

All oral exams are to be submitted by video (YouTube or Vimeo).

In order to become accredited at the PI level, you must complete and pass both the written and oral exams with a minimum of 70%.

Once payment is received you have 6 months to complete this exam. If you have not started the exam process within these 6 months your exam fee will be forfeited and you will need to pay the exam fee again if you choose to do it at a later date. 

There are no refunds given on exam fees.

Program Full!! Contact us to get on the cancellation list.

Birds, birding, and interpretation!

Join experienced interpreter and birder Gareth Thomson for a delightful two hours of birding! Bring your binoculars and suitable outdoor gear, join Gareth as you look and listen to some fabulous birds, and come prepared to learn techniques to better share the wonderful world of birds with your clients.

Date: June 1, 2021

Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM MDT

Location: Canmore, Alberta 

Cost: Member $15 Non-member $25

Cancellation/Refund policy: Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if canceling less than 3 weeks before the program start date.

The Waterton Basic Knowledge course is a 4-hour overview of the region’s natural and cultural heritage and the guide’s role in protecting and presenting that heritage. It is designed to introduce course participants to what makes the region unique, and inspire them to learn more about the area to captivate their guests through the stories they tell.  Date: June 2, 2021 Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM MDT   Cost: Non-members = $94 plus gst; Members = $70.50 This course will be taught virtually, through Zoom To participate in this course, you must have a Zoom account (accounts are free and easy to join). Our courses are optimized for desktops and laptops. You must have a high bandwidth internet connection as you will be required to have your camera on throughout the course - no exceptions! Zoom Requirements

Your wifi connection must be good enough to be able to keep your camera on throughout the course. Attendance and participation are mandatory, so we need to know you are online throughout the session.  You must have a laptop or desktop computer to join the course and participate in the activities. You will need a camera and microphone on your computer for the above.

Please make sure you know and understand our cancellation and refund policy before you register and pay: Cancellation/Refund Policy Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if cancelling less than 3 weeks before your course start date. For more information regarding the refund policy please click here.  

What Happens Down Stream? Special Places & Notes About the Athabasca for Guides

Get the scoop on narratives and the locations to share them along the Athabasca River and beyond.

A joint presentation, putting together science and interpretation, by Sarah MacDonald from the Alberta Watershed Council, and Kevin Gedling of Parks Canada.

Sarah is the Watershed Science Coordinator at the Athabasca Watershed Council. She helps to implement the Athabasca Watershed Integrated Watershed Management Plan by managing the AWC's projects that involve riparian restoration and biomonitoring.

Kevin Gedling is the acting Communications Officer for Wood Buffalo National Park and a long time professional interpreter, having first joined the Interpretive Guides Association in 2003.

Date: June 3, 2021

Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm MDT

Cost: Member Free Non-member $15

Platform: This session will be hosted through Zoom Meetings. You will need the Zoom app, a good internet connection, and a device that supports the app and your internet connection.

Cancellation/Refund policy: Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if canceling less than 3 weeks before the program start date. For more information regarding the refund policy: please click here.

Times:    

• Day 1 - 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
• Day 2 - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Exam from 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Location: This course is online via Zoom Meetings. You must have a stable connection where we can see your video and hear your audio throughout the exam. 

Cost: $399 plus GST  

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

Once you have registered for this course you will receive an email with the course agenda, the pre-reading document and the course handbooks. Pre-reading will help you pass the exam.

If you do not receive this email, please check your junk mail folder or email us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.

You must receive 70% or more on all 5 sections of the exam to become accredited so make sure to read the sections of the course manual that are laid out in the pre-reading.

A one-year IGA membership is included in the cost of this course. Once you have registered, you will have access to the members' section of our website. This section gives you access to:

• your certification(s)
• membership card
• course files
• handbooks
• pro-deal information
• receipts
• and more. 

To Obtain the Hiking Guide Certification: If you plan to work as a hiking guide you will also need to take our Group Management Course. With both courses, you will become certified by us as an apprentice hiking guide.

Cancellation/Refund Policy: Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if canceling less than 3 weeks before your course start date. For more information regarding the refund policy please click here.

3 Season Group Management Course 

Dates: June 8-9, 2021

Cost: $299 plus GST

Times and Locations

• Day 1: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm - Online Zoom Instruction. 
• Day 2: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm – Full Day Hike.

The hiking portion will be in Jasper National Park. Trail location TBD based on weather and trail conditions. 

Zoom Requirements

Your wifi connection must be good enough to be able to keep your camera on throughout the first day of the course. Attendance and participation are mandatory so we need to know you are online throughout the session, which means you must have your camera turned on throughout the course. Please contact us at courses@interpretiveguides.org for more information.

Course pre-requisites

• Valid first aid certificate (Minimum 16-hour Standard First Aid)
• Hiking resume. Details for the hiking resume can be found in the pre-course package that will be sent to you upon registration.

Hiking resumes and 1st aid certificates must be sent to courses@interpretiveguides.org prior to day one of the course.

After you register and pay for the course, an email will be sent to you with the PRE-COURSE DOCUMENT and HOMEWORK. If you do not receive this right away, please check your JUNK MAIL and/or get in touch with us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if cancelling less than 3 weeks before your course start date. For more information regarding the refund policy please click here.

3 Season Group Management Course 

Dates: June 8-9, 2021

Cost: $299 plus GST

Times and Locations

• Day 1: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm - Online Zoom Instruction. 
• Day 2: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm – Full Day Hike.

The hiking portion of this course will be in Banff National Park. Trail location TBD based on weather and trail conditions. 

Zoom Requirements

Your wifi connection must be good enough to be able to keep your camera on throughout the first day of the course. Attendance and participation are mandatory so we need to know you are online throughout the session, which means you must have your camera turned on throughout the course.

Please contact us at courses@interpretiveguides.org for more information.

Course pre-requisites

• Valid first aid certificate (Minimum 16-hour Standard First Aid)
• Hiking resume.

Details for the hiking resume can be found in the pre-course package that will be sent to you upon registration. Hiking resumes and 1st aid certificates must be sent to courses@interpretiveguides.org prior to day one of the course.

After you register and pay for the course, an email will be sent to you with the PRE-COURSE DOCUMENT and HOMEWORK. If you do not receive this right away, please check your JUNK MAIL and/or get in touch with us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if cancelling less than 3 weeks before your course start date. For more information regarding the refund policy please click here.

Mountain Lions. Tracks & Sign - Trailing and “finding" the Animal.

During this virtual session, Martyn LeNoble will share his knowledge and passion for the wildlife around his home in the Santa Monica mountains. It is amazing to learn about the species that exist amongst this large population of people. The area is hemmed in by highways, cities and urban development making these animals victims of traffic, habitat loss, and rodenticide poisoning and yet Martyn's wildlife cameras show how a wide variety of wild creates (from insects to birds, Mule Deer to Cougars) are living amongst all these people. 

Date: June 16, 2021 Time: 7 - 8 pm MDT

Price: Members - FREE; Non-Members - $14.95 plus GST

Where: This is a virtual session that will take place over Zoom and the Zoom link will be sent to you after you register - please watch for this email and check your junk folder or email us at courses@interpretiveguides.org if you don't see it right away.

Who is Martyn LeNobel: Martyn is a professional musician with a deep love for nature.  Born in the Netherlands, he moved to the USA in 1989 and frequently visits the Canadian Rockies. Martyn's interest in the wildlife around his home grew into a passion to set up cameras and track the wildlife that lives around him and he now uses that passion and the knowledge he has gained over the years for conservation purposes.  Martyn has completed his Canadian Survival and Woodstravel Instructor Levels 1, 2 and 3 as well as his Cybertracker Tracks & Sign certificate Level 3 Cybertracker Trailing Certificate Level 2 and Cybertracker Tracker Certificate Level 2 and on top of all of this, Martyn has also recently taken the IGA's Apprentice Interpreter Certification.  

This session is worth 1.5 hours of professional development. Don't forget to enter these hours into your profile after the session to ensure you are maintaining the 10 hours you need yearly to keep your certification active.

Athabasca Glacier Icewalk Athabasca Glacier Icewalk Deluxe, 

Wednesday - June 23, 2021, @ 09:00 Meet at the Athabasca Glacier Parking Lot (nearest the glacier)  

This interpretive hike onto the Athabasca will help you discover the world of glacier ice. Peter Lemieux has been walking the glacier since the ice formed there at the start of the Holocene. He'd love to share a few secrets (about the ice, that is) with you on this five-hour hike to the lower icefalls. Easy walking.

Bring a lunch, warm clothes and chocolate.

Times:    

• Day 1 - 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
• Day 2 - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Exam from 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Location: This course is online via Zoom Meetings. You must have a stable connection where we can see your video and hear your audio throughout the exam. 

Cost: $399 plus GST  

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

Once you have registered for this course you will receive an email with the course agenda, the pre-reading document and the course handbooks. Pre-reading will help you pass the exam.

If you do not receive this email, please check your junk mail folder or email us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.

You must receive 70% or more on all 5 sections of the exam to become accredited so make sure to read the sections of the course manual that are laid out in the pre-reading.

A one-year IGA membership is included in the cost of this course. Once you have registered, you will have access to the members' section of our website. This section gives you access to:

• your certification(s)
• membership card
• course files
• handbooks
• pro-deal information
• receipt
• and more. 

To Obtain the Hiking Guide Certification: If you plan to work as a hiking guide you will also need to take our Group Management Course. With both courses, you will become certified by us as an apprentice hiking guide.

Cancellation/Refund Policy: Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if canceling less than 3 weeks before your course start date. For more information regarding the refund policy please click here.

3 Season Group Management Course 

Dates: June 29-30, 2021

Cost: $299 plus GST

Times and Locations

• Day 1: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm - Online Zoom Instruction. 
• Day 2: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm – Full Day Hike.

The hiking portion of this course will be in Banff National Park. Trail location TBD based on weather and trail conditions. 

Zoom Requirements

Your wifi connection must be good enough to be able to keep your camera on throughout the first day of the course. Attendance and participation are mandatory so we need to know you are online throughout the session, which means you must have your camera turned on throughout the course.

Please contact us at courses@interpretiveguides.org for more information.

Course pre-requisites

• Valid first aid certificate (Minimum 16-hour Standard First Aid)
• Hiking resume.

Details for the hiking resume can be found in the pre-course package that will be sent to you upon registration. Hiking resumes and 1st aid certificates must be sent to courses@interpretiveguides.org prior to day one of the course.

After you register and pay for the course, an email will be sent to you with the PRE-COURSE DOCUMENT and HOMEWORK. If you do not receive this right away, please check your JUNK MAIL and/or get in touch with us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if cancelling less than 3 weeks before your course start date. For more information regarding the refund policy please click here.

Purchase a PDF of the Canadian Rockies Natural/Cultural History Handbook

$40 for members

$55 for non-members

Purchase our pdf Group Management Handbook

$40 for members

$55 for non-members

Achetez une version PDF du manuel d'interprétation

$55 pour les membres

$75 for non-members

Purchase a PDF version of the Interpretation Handbook

$55 for members

$40 for non-members

Course Cost: $94 plus GST

Course Details: This course covers the geology, ecology, parks management and history of Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks. It will help to give you a basic understanding of these 3 Canadian Rockies regions and is a great place to start building your knowledge of this area.

Course Requirements: This is an online course so you will need a computer or device with internet access. The course contains videos, images, content and test questions that must be viewed and answered as you proceed through the sections.

You do not have to finish the course in one sitting. You can stop at any point and join back in at your convenience.

You have to complete all test questions and receive 85% or higher to pass the course and become certified at this basic knowledge level. You can take the course as many times as you need, to achieve the 85% requirement. 

Cancellation/Refund Policy: Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) after purchase. You will be given access to the course for two full months so you have lots of time to complete the material and test.  For more information regarding the refund policy please click here.  

Course Cost: $94 plus GST

Course Details: This course covers the geology, ecology, parks management and history of Jasper National Park. It will help to give you a basic understanding of this Canadian Rockies region and is a great place to start building your knowledge of this area.

Course Requirements: This is an online course so you will need a computer or device with internet access. The course contains videos, images, content and test questions that must be viewed and answered as you proceed through the sections. You do not have to finish the course in one sitting. You can stop at any point and join back in at your convenience.   You have to complete all test questions and receive 90% or higher to pass the course and become certified at this basic knowledge level. You can take the course as many times as you need, to achieve the 90% requirement.