**Trial, part-time, full-time and on-call options available.** Share your thoughts and feeback
What Families Can Expect
The Victoria teen outdoor leadership club program is designed to maximize participant learning through experience. This can sometimes cause miscomunication between the teen leadership candidates and their families and therefore requires varying levels of involvement and understanding from the teen's family. Furthermore, the program fee paid at the time of registration is only for the program itself and does not cover most equipment and activity expenses. For more information about the program, please click on each of the below info packages below.
TL BEHAVIOUR POLICY LEADERSHIP AGREEMENT PARENT RESOURCES
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Program Calendar
All meetings and trips are listed here. Please note that while meeting times are accurate, exact times for trips are approximate and may vary
Hi!
I'm
Tamsin!
Classic Camp Camper
Age 9
After moving from Kamloops to Victoria in Spring 2019, we stumbled across WEA in Summer 2020 while searching for summer camp opportunities. Although Tamsin had been hiking and camping with her family her whole childhood, this was the first opportunity where she was given the space to show more independence, allowed to struggle with problems, and come up with her own solutions to try and solve those problems and move forward. And it was a lot of fun for her!
2020
Veteran Camper
Age 10-12
For the next three years, Tamsin was happy to continue going to WEA camps every spring break and summer, as well as some pro-D day hikes. She continued to develop her outdoor skills, and with that came confidence. She made great friends, had unique experiences, stayed fit, and gained an appreciation for physicality, adversity, and the satisfaction of meeting a difficult challenge, whether physical or mental.
2021-2023
Youth Leadership Surf Trip
Age 12
Tamsin was given the opportunity to join the WEA Outdoor Youth Leadership group on one of their trips, and it happened to be surfing in Tofino. Tamsin had never surfed before, and she came back beaming about how great the trip was – not just the surfing, but also the friends and memories she made and the general adventure they had
2023
Youth Leadership
Age 13
After a positive experience with the surf trip and enjoying the challenge of helping to lead the camps, Tamsin took the next step and joined WEA’s Outdoor Youth Leadership group. This is where the level of challenge really stepped up – the kids were planning the trips, planning the meals, and going on challenging multi-day hikes, all the while learning more camping, navigating, and survival skills. This provided another big boost to Tamsin’s confidence and skillset once she got over the challenging hump at the start of the program.
2023-2024
Volunteer and Leadership
Age 13-15
For the next two years, Tamsin continued to be a volunteer leader at WEA spring break and summer camps, gaining skills and confidence to the point where she was leading all of the activities for the kids for a week-long camp while the adult leader oversaw the camp from a safety and logistics standpoint. She attended staff training days for navigation and canoeing, even gaining some certifications. In her second year of the Youth Leadership program, she took a lead role as one of the older returning kids to help the newer kids learn the skills she had the year before
2024-2026
Employment Opportunity
Age 15
Now at the age of 15, Tamsin has the opportunity to become paid staff with WEA for summer camps. This will provide an excellent early opportunity for her in terms of resume writing, job interview exposure, and gaining real work experience, all in a lower stress environment due to her familiarity with WEA. And all through this arc, Tamsin has made friends and memories, had the opportunity to do things that many other people never have, and truly enjoyed herself the entire time
2026
Sooke Hills Hike
Hitting The Trail In:
As part of the WEA Youth Leadership Program, members help plan and execute a memorable hiking experience along a 16-kilometer unpaved trail that winds through the heart of the Sooke Hills. The route traverses remote wilderness areas and diverse wildlife habitats, starting at Humpback Reservoir in Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park and extending to the boundary with Cowichan Valley Regional District. Participants gain hands-on leadership experience while guiding others through stunning landscapes that blend open vistas with shaded woodlands, creating an immersive connection with nature.
Sooke Hills Hike
Saturday, October 3, 2026, 8:30am – 7:00pm
| AGE | GENDER | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| 10-15 | Inclusive | day trip |
Camping Skills Weekend
Camp Side In:
Looking to get outside hiking, backcountry camping, canoeing or kayaking in the wilderness of Vancouver Island BC but don't have the skills or knowledge to do it safely? Learn the basic skills necessary to explore the wilderness safely around Victoria BC or in other communiites on the Island. This outdoor camping skills course teaches students camp site selection, hiking safety, tent set-up, tarp set-up, knot tying, meal planning, outdoor cooking, camp stove lighting/maintenance, proper equipment choices, outdoor navigation & more.
Camping Skills Weekend
December 4, 2026, 6:00pm – December 6, 2026, 5:00pm
| AGE | GENDER | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| 6-70 | Inclusive | 3 days |
Snowshoe Day Trip
Snow Shoeing In:
Tired of driving all the way to Courtenay to snowshoe at Mount Washington and experience a white winter? Go for a private SnowVenture, a Vancouver Island snowshoe tour based out of Victoria BC. If you are looking for a snowshoe tour "near me", this is your best bet. Get outside with your friends or family and experience a fun-filled day of snow-shoeing, sledding, amazing views, hot chocolate & great food
Snowshoe Trip
Dates: December 19th, 2026, 8:00am
| AGE | GENDER | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| 3-12 | Inclusive | 6-10 hrs |
Mt. Cain Ski Trip
Hitting The Slopes In:
Are you an adult or family looking for ski "lessons near me"? Want to learn how to ski for the first time on Vancouver Island? Maybe you have taken Mount Washington ski lessonss for years and just want to tweak your technique? You won't get a better quality ski learning experience anywhere else! Give us a call and we will organize a custom Vancouver Island ski lesson program at Mount Cain with top notch ski instructors and excellent food. Transportation is available from Victoria BC and other island communities.
Mt.Cain Ski Trip
February 27, 2027, 12:00pm – March 2, 2027, 8:30pm
| AGE | GENDER | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| 5+ | Inclusive | 3 days |
Weekend Tofino Surf Camp
Surf's Up In
Join us for an unforgettable weekend surf adventure in Tofino, on the wild West Coast of Vancouver Island. This exciting youth program begins Friday evening with group transportation from Victoria, setting the stage for a weekend of waves, wilderness, and connection.
Tofino Surf Trip
April 30, 2027, 2:30pm – May 2, 2027, 5:30pm
| AGE | GENDER | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| 10 - 15 | Inclusive | 3 days |
Year-End Wilderness Trip
Hitting The Trail In:
Each year, our youth leadership program organizes a special year-end expedition that takes the group into British Columbia's wilderness. These trips vary annually—some years the cohort paddles remote lakes on a canoe adventure, while other years they explore coastal waters by kayak or tackle challenging mountain trails. This year, the group has selected the Nootka Trail as their capstone wilderness experience, a choice that promises to test their skills and deepen their connection to the natural world.
The Nootka Trail is a scenic coastal hiking route on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, that winds through old-growth temperate rainforest and along dramatic rocky shorelines. Hikers encounter diverse ecosystems, tidal zones, creek crossings, and opportunities to observe wildlife. A day hike on the Nootka Trail allows youth leadership groups to experience the region's backcountry beauty while developing their outdoor competencies in a challenging but rewarding wilderness setting.
Nootka Trip
May 20, 2027, 9:00am – May 27, 2027, 7:00pm
| AGE | GENDER | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| 10-15 | Inclusive | 1-3 days |
kludahk Hike
We offer 3 distinct trips, which can be done individually, but are designed to work together to prepare the hiker to tackle the full trail at the end.
kludahk Hike Volunteer
This is the first volunteering event of the season for the participants. The goal is to give them a sense of ownership and give back to the community. They will see the true nature of a volunteer-run backcountry trail and cabin system, the Kludahk Trail. We may also get the opportunity to do some hiking and exploring in the area.
October 16, 2026, 2:00pm – October 18, 2026, 6:00pm
kludahk Hike Volunteer Starts In:
kludahk Hike Intro Trip
The plan is to hike to Meadow Cabin for the first night and continue on to Tower Cabin for the second night, leaving the van at the JR Main access to Meadow Cabin Junction in order to complete a full loop. If snow conditions make this access point impractical, we may need to begin from a lower elevation.
November 6, 2026, 2:00pm – November 8, 2026,
kludahk Intro Hike Starts In:
kludahk Hike Full Trip
We are going to snowshoe or hike the full kludahk trail for 5-6 days, each day hiking to a new cabin to spend the night. We will be hiking a total of 42.8km, with each day being between 7 - 11 km where the elevation gain is 1,979m.
February 11, 2027, 9:00am – February 17, 2027, 8:00pm
kludahk Full Hike Starts In:
Participation Options
We know every family’s schedule is different, so the program offers several ways to be involved. Whether you’re ready for the full commitment or just want to try things out, there’s an option that can work for you.
- Full-Time – Weekly meetings plus priority access to all trips. Best for youth who want the full leadership experience and steady growth throughout the year.
- Part-Time – Weekly meeting schedule with access to most trips (after full-time spots are filled). Great for families balancing multiple activities.
- On-Call – No weekly meetings. Families receive invitations to select trips when space is available. A flexible, pay-per-trip option for those who live farther away or can’t commit regularly. (Note: the on-call list is tied to your family account; unsubscribing removes your whole family, including your child, from future invites.)
Junior vs. Senior Leadership Programs
The two programs are very similar and are designed to increase responsibility and independence as youth age. The main difference is that older teens are expected to take on more of a planning role and are exposed to more career-based training such as resume building, while the younger juniors are being introduced to skills like planning, leadership etc. Some junior events also carry higher costs as more experienced staff are necessary. For the older teens, we can rely on parent volunteers to keep some costs down. Youth in both programs have the potential opportunity to volunteer or work for WEA during the summer and other programs.
Planning
One of the pillars of our teen leadership program is to teach teens in Victoria how to effectively communicate and plan both logistically and financially. Supproted by our staff, the teens are responsible for planning and executing most of their activities and outings, including managning their personal calendars. Participants make both long-term and short-term plans for their programs. Event planning responsibilities are split between the group members. For example, if the group decides to plan a ski trip, one participant is assigned to determine lift ticket costs, another is responsible for determining accommodation costs, another for planning a fundraising campaign, etc. The final phase is running and attending the event.
In a Rush or Have Questions Before You Register for The Teen Outdoor Program?
Call us now at 250-888-1622 and talk to a real person!! or, if you can't talk now, please click on the following button to take you to the contact information survey (takes 1 to 2 minutes to complete) and we will get back to you within 2-5 business days. If you are inquiring about financial assistance, Click here.
CONTACT USFinancial Assistance
We believe all youth should have access to our programs, as such we offer a variety of financial assistance programs.
For our leadership program, financial assistance is available to cover all, one or part of program fees, activity costs and gear rentals. For more information, click the button below.
The Experience
It is often a struggle for parents to find activities for teens in Victoria. There are municipally run teen centers but many teens do not find these programs engaging. Our outdoor leadership club for teenagers focuses on fun and providing teens with responsibility and independance! Teenagers in the program get together weekly, participate in fun activities and plan outings and expeditions. Surrounded by the wonders of Vancouver Island, the only limiting factor is their imagination.
SHARE FEEDBACK"Landon has provided me with multiple amazing trips around Vancouver Island. He never fails to deliver a memorable experience. Landon provides professional and accommodating attitude that Let's you know clients and teach them about natural history and local wildlife. I highly recommend Western Educational Adventures to anyone in search of an unforgettable experience in the outdoors."
-Graeme Broe
Fitness Training
As part of our program, we offer weekly fitness training to keep kids active and prepare them for trips. Mondays has the training as part of the meeting time. There is also an additional training session on Thursday evenings.
Outdoor & Life Skills
Teen participants learn most of the skills required to run successful backcountry and frontcountry trips for single and multi-days. Everything from making a meal plan to planning a route to cleaning up after it's all done. All of our participants come away from this experience with a serious outdoor, leadership and planning skill set.
Leadership and Personal Growth
Modern youth do not get very many opportunities to learn life skills including how to lead others, manage conflict and think for themselves. Western Educational Adventure’s Teen Leadership Club Program focuses specifically on these skills. Each activity or event will be led by a different club member, from the planning phase through to the completion of the activity. Teens will debrief after every activity they planned and executed, talking about what they learned and how it can be applied in the future. In short, participants learn what it means to be an adult!
Some skills you may learn
- Budgeting
- Logistics Planning
- Time Management
- Communication
- Interpersonal
- Leadership
- Decision Making
- Conflict Management
- Group Management
- Navigation
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Skiing
- Snow Shoeing
- Camping Practices
- Food Packing
- Cooking
- Fire Building
- Knife and Stove Safety
- Debriefing
What to bring
Western Educational Adventures!
Applying
Candidates must submit an application consisting of this form and letters. Youth will then need to complete an interview in order to be considered for the program. The purpose of the application process is to make sure youth actually want to be in our program and it is the right fit for them.
**All personal information provided will not be shared with third parties unless it is relevant to the participants well being or quality of experience**
Fall day hike
Taking lead in the summer
On the water...
Guidin the youngins'
Learning wilderness navigation skills
Ski expedition - Mount Cain, Vancouver Island
Surf expedition - Tofino, BC
Assisting with a wilderness overnight
Newbe lessons from WEA's inhouse ski instructors
Advanced lessons from WEA's inhouse ski instructors
Prepping for canoe lessons