Industry Partnerships

The Interpretive Guides Association is a member-based, not-for-profit organization that provides interpretive guide training, certification, and professional development programs in Canada and beyond. It has been one of our partners since the early days of the OCC. Today, our organizations work together to address barriers hindering the growth of the outdoor tourism industry and showcase the importance of our sector for the future of our country.

Take Me Outside raises awareness and facilitates action on nature connection and outdoor learning in schools across Canada. It provides a key repository of resources for outdoor learning. With the Take Me Outside Day and its associated yearly challenge, TMO is hosting the most effective outdoor learning awareness campaign in the country. We work with TMO to address barriers hindering the delivery of outdoor learning in schools.

The Outdoor Learning Store provides easy access to excellent outdoor learning equipment and resources to schools and organizations. The Outdoor Learning Store brings together one of Canada’s biggest community of outdoor learning positive educators and school administrators. We work with them to address barriers hindering the delivery of outdoor learning in schools.

Paddle Canada promotes, educates, and supports the recreational paddling community, paddling instructors, and partners. It is the Canadian body with a national scope for developing and implementing accepted practices for outdoor paddling activities. We work with Paddle Canada to support the growth of the outdoor sector and the recognition of competency found within the community.

Leave No Trace Canada promotes and inspires responsible outdoor recreation through science-based education and partnerships throughout Canada. We collaborate with LNT in joint course delivery, furthering the sustainable use of outdoor spaces and growing the amount of ecologically healthy natural spaces where people can have transformational experiences.

Aventure Écotourisme Québec is a sectorial adventure tourism association. They bring together providers of all season outdoor activities going from sea-kayaking to hiking, to snowshoeing and many others. They establish standards for operators in the province of Québec. We work with AEQ to promote the development of outdoor tourism in the country and promote alignment in practices from province to province.

Outdoor Play Canada is a growing network of leaders and organizations working together to galvanize an outdoor play movement across Canada. It is the Canadian reference in reference to outdoor play for all ages. We work with OPC to further the growth of outdoor play in the country and ensure that outdoor play is well integrated within the multiple methodologies found within the outdoor sector.

Rando-Québec promotes hiking and snowshoeing recreation in the province of Québec. They do this by providing resources and training to all hikers in the province. Rando-Québec plays an important role in the provincial outdoor community and has long been acting as a connecting and structuring point. The OCC works with Rando-Québec to align our certified training programs, reinforce Québec-Rest of Canada knowledge exchange and help two of the nations of our country learn from each other.

Mount Royal University integrates the Field Leader Courses in their Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership Degree Program.

Capilano University integrates the Field Leader Courses in their Outdoor Recreation Management Diploma.

Canadian Wildlife Federation integrates the Field Leader Courses in their hiring process as well as with the Canadian Conservation Corps.

Hike Nova Scotia delivers Field Leader Courses to the general public as well as in private courses.

The Outdoor Centre at the University of Calgary delivers Field Leader Courses to the general public as well as in private courses.

The Outward Bound Canada Training Academy provided fully-funded outdoor leadership training through immersive workshops, outdoor journeys, virtual learning, mentorship, and certifications.

The Coalition for a better future brings together organizations from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors with the aim of developing a sustainable and equitable economic growth plan for Canada. By being a member of this coalition, the OCC is able to increase the awareness of decision-makers that the outdoor industry is a key asset for sustainable economic development in Canada. As a member of the coalition, we benefit from the coalition’s success, and network, and are better positioned to represent the interests of the outdoor community.

The Canadian Healthy Schools Alliance is a Canada-wide network of organizations promoting health and well-being in school communities to improve learning and set students up for lifelong success. By being a member of the alliance’s advisory committee, the OCC is able to present the benefit of outdoor learning directly to associations of school administrators, and other key players in the education sector in Canada. In this position, we can showcase the educational value outdoor programs bring and the professionalism behind the delivery of quality and safe experiences outside.