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outdoor leadership testimonies
Being a part of CBC's Outdoor Leadership program has been worth everything. I say this
because nothing can compare with the friendships built, the self discipline developed and the depth of respect that grew in me for my Creator God. My
first year was challenging in so many ways, and being in OL was far from the normal, everyday College experience (if College can ever be normal!)
Over two years I learned what it meant to be a guide; it was not all about me, but about those under my care. After graduating from
Columbia with a Diploma in Outdoor Leadership, I was off to Alberta to (as OL put it), “let experience be my teacher.” That summer I
was an intern for a new Out Trip program where we were doing everything from canoeing and kayaking, to white-water rafting and hiking. I was
responsible for organizing and prepping meals, gear maintenance and administration, as well as mentoring, teaching and guiding teens ages 12-17 on
multi-day trips. There is no way I could have done all of this without the prior training and experience I had at Columbia. ~Lori Kuepfer, Diploma, Alumni,
Aquatic track
The Outdoor Leadership program at Columbia Bible
College has grounded my dreams. A passion for outdoor ministry resonated in my heart throughout high school. Having researched schools that offer
outdoor programs, I found that most agencies that train outdoor leaders match industry standards, but lack the ministry component. Like wise, I found
that Christian agencies that train leaders lack the skills necessary to meet industry standards. The Outdoor Leadership program at Columbia Bible
College effectively does both. Ministry skills are taught along with the tools necessary to safely lead groups in a wilderness setting. The passion
for this ministry is based on its incredible effectiveness. I personally have learned much about God, creation, and people by spending time outside
the confines of urban life. Consistently, strong relational bonds are built along with huge personal growth when people take part in
outdoor adventure ministry. Finishing up my Bachelor's degree, I have been taught the skills necessary to follow my dreams-to lead and teach people
about God and the wonderful world He has placed us in.
~Neil Zandbergen, BA, Alumni, Alpine track
I remember the first time I flipped through pictures of the Olympic Peninsula, Hotham sound, and Needle peak. I paused on a picture of an
enormous, powerful waterfall cascading over a 1,400 foot cliff-face, rushing between sunny patches of Coastal Western Hemlock as the water collided
with the rocky pool below, the spray creating an explosion of colourful, translucent mist. A friend asked me where the picture came from. “Oh… that’s
just my classroom,” I responded, beaming as I realized that my college experience was, and would continue to be, a unique and life-altering one. The Outdoor Leadership program takes place in some of the most beautiful places Western
Canada has to offer and is unlike any educational encounter I have ever had. The teachers are gifted and relational outdoor
professionals, striving not only to form a student into a proficient outdoor guide, but also to pass on the qualities of a person who truly
understands their faith and is prepared to lead in the world around them. ~ John Sugrue, first year (far right)
The Outdoor Leadership program at Columbia is
more than a place to hone your technical skills - it is a place to develop a sense of physical purpose in your community and work. Just as I
did, most OL students join with the desire to climb hard, paddle hard, and push every limit. But while the training we receive does equip us to
be professional members of our field, we are asked deeper questions throughout our four years - what is the place of Creation in Christianity?
How does guiding in the outdoor industry fulfill a higher noble purpose? What makes a guide authentically excellent? It is my hope that
you will explore Columbia's OL program thoroughly. Currently, I am the OL student ambassador which means I work with the admissions department
to help you decide if our program is the right place for your studies. Feel free to get in touch with me through the links to "Email a Student"
on the admissions pages to explore the impressive opportunities that Columbia's OL program has to
offer.
~Andrea Ykema, Third Year, Alpine track
Wanna hear more? Check out our Facebook page under "CBC Outdoor Leadership" type:
Organizations-Academic Organizations
http://www.facebook.com/
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