Apply to COLT

Admission Requirements

• You must be 19 years old at the start of the program. Students turning 19 during the program may be granted admission on a case-by-case basis.
• BC high school graduation or equivalent. Mature students who have not graduated high school may have the graduation requirement waived, but they must meet all the other admission requirements.
• Participate in a 30-minute interview and provide at least one personal and one professional reference.
• You must agree to the COLT Program Policies and Code of Conduct.
• Agree to the COLT Program Policies and Code of Conduct.
• You must have English language proficiency as determined through the written application and interview.
• You must meet the program suitability criteria.
• Students must have a current tetanus shot.

Program Suitability

COLT trains outdoor educators and guides, not athletes, so physical fitness is not the only determining factor for suitability for the program. Most aspects of the course can be physically demanding and good endurance and strength will make the experience more enjoyable. We suggest that COLT students should be able to comfortably hike 10km with a 25kg backpack before arriving for the course. Previous camping experience is a strong advantage but not mandatory. Students must also be mentally and emotionally prepared to spend 100 days living closely with others, putting the needs of the group before their own, managing stressful situations, enduring challenging weather conditions, and knowing how to pace themselves for day-after-day of moderate physical exertion. We know COLT participants will experience different levels of emotional, mental and physical stress and our instructors are skilled facilitators to help the group work through these challenges together. However, COLT is not a wilderness therapy program and our instructors are not trained therapists or counselors. If you have questions about your physical or mental health suitability we recommend speaking with your health care provider.

How to Apply

STEP 1: Complete the online application form. We will email telling you we received the application.

STEP 2: You will be contacted by the COLT Director to set up a time for a phone interview. The goal of the interview is to make sure you meet the requirements of the COLT program and that the COLT program meets your needs and expectations.

STEP 3: Upon acceptance into the program, you will receive an e-mail asking you to fill out the COLT acceptance forms and provide a $2,000 deposit. Once we receive your deposit, we will send a letter of acceptance and a receipt. We don’t enrol students or hold spots until we receive the deposit. We only cash the deposit if you are accepted into the program.

Note: In the rare occasion of limited student sign up, we may refer you to a future semester.