Snowshoeing & Storytelling with Master Interpreter Joel Hagen

Date: February 26th, 2026

Time: 10:00 am - 2:30 pm (Mountain Time)

Location: TBD, in the Lake Louise Area. Meet at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre.

PD Hours: 4.5 hours

Professional Interpreter Elective: Not eligible

Instructor: Joel Hagen

Member Price: $50.00 Non-member Price: $70.00

Waiver Requirement: All participants will be required to read and agree to the IGA Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement in order to participate in this course, as well as Joel Hagen's Waiver. If both waivers are not completed, the individual will not be permitted to participate. 

• A copy of both Waivers are available for review below. A paper copy of each Waiver will be available on the morning of the event prior to participating. 
• Each adult must sign their own Waiver.
• If you are booking for others, it is your responsibility to make them aware of this Waiver requirement and provide them a link to the Waiver so they can review it. 
• By signing the Waiver, you will waive or give up certain legal rights, including the right to sue for negligence, breach of contract, or breach of the Occupier’s Liability Act or claim compensation following an accident. PLEASE READ THE WAIVER CAREFULLY prior to registering and paying for this course!
• If you are not in agreement with having to sign the Waivers as a condition of participating in this IGA Course, do not sign up for the course. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns about the Waiver or these waiver requirements.
• By proceeding with registering for the course you will be deemed to agree to these waiver requirements and to agree that you have had the opportunity to read the Waivers prior to registering.

Course Waiver 1 (IGA)
Course Waiver 2 (Joel Hagen)

About This Workshop: 

Join Master Interpreter and owner of Great Divide Nature Interpretation, Joel Hagen, for a half-day of snowshoeing and storytelling. Joel will lead you on one of his favourite trails, and will be sharing his knowledge on what makes great storytelling and interpretation along the way. Treats, including warm beverages (hot chocolate and tea), will be provided and enjoyed!

Some of the techniques Joel will model include theme building for winter events, connecting vignettes that are part of a longer outing, and using wildlife tracks and signs to help anchor your storytelling.

All of your equipment, including snowshoes and poles, is included.

By the end of this field day, participants will be able to:

1. Develop interpretive skills required to lead engaging, enjoyable winter trips.
2. Include themes and interpretive vignettes on tours.
3. Better understand story-telling principals.

About Joel:

Joel was raised on the British Columbia coast, became an amateur naturalist at the age of eight, and eventually studied biology at Simon Fraser University. He moved to the Rockies in 1991 after finishing university, eventually landing in Lake Louise after a year in Waterton Lakes National Park. Joel worked for Parks Canada for over 25 years, mostly as a naturalist, and co-founded Great Divide Nature Interpretation, a guiding company, in 1997. Through his company, Joel leads guided hikes, birding tours, and snowshoeing trips, and has created a repertoire of engaging presentations for hotel guests and conference groups. He's also an instructor with the IGA.

Cancellation/Refund policy:
Joel reserves the right to cancel up to the day before this field trip in the event of extreme cold. However, please understand that unless the IGA officially cancels this event due to our instructor's decision, no refund will be provided, and we cannot transfer funds paid for this event to another program. Please ensure you are prepared to attend this event for any reason, including cold weather, before signing up.