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World Bound Outdoor and Climate Change Skills Training Course for Adults
A professional development and educational adventure for outdoor enthusiasts and aspiring change-makers
The Yukon is a special place for Fireside Adventures. It was our earliest teacher, revealing the transformative educational power of nature and the urgent need for climate action. Words can’t quite do the Yukon justice. Larger than life, it boasts thousands of years of Indigenous culture, and an unparalleled environment for outdoor adventures, while also bearing the realities of climate change that are ten times what southern Canada is experiencing. The Yukon is lens into both our past and our future.
DETAILS
Date: July 11–19, 2026 (9 days)
Group Requirement: Minimum 8 participants to run the course; a maximum of 12
Facilitator: Jeff Willis
Locations: Whitehorse, Carmacks, Yukon River and Teslin River
PRICES (CAD)
Early Bird Rate: $2349.00 + GST (ends December 01, 2025
Regular Rate: $2699.00 + GST (register a friend to get $150 off per friend!)
Deposit: $400.00 CAD + GST
Includes:
– Course instruction and guiding
– Canoes, safety equipment, and group camping gear + all meals.
– 8 days of guided paddling on the Yukon River
– Land transportation shuttle (to and from Whitehorse)
– Coordination support pre- and post-course
– World Bound Educator course instruction by experienced guides, resource booklet, and World Bound Professional Development Certificate
Does not include: Flight to Yukon, hotel stays in Whitehorse and Dawson City, and anything not mentioned above.
More info: office@firesideadventures.ca
Your Lead Educator: Jeff “Willy” Willis
Founder, CEO & Adventure Architect of Fireside Adventures
Meet Jeff “Willy” Willis, your Lead Educator for the World Bound Outdoor Experiential Educator Training for Educators: Yukon — a one-of-a-kind professional development course designed for teachers, youth workers, outdoor educators, and adventure leaders who want to deepen their impact through nature-based and climate-focused education. With over 30 years of experience leading outdoor education, youth leadership, and climate change learning programs across Canada and around the world, Jeff brings an inspiring mix of passion, expertise, and adventure. His deep roots in the Yukon—Fireside Adventures’ original classroom—inform his immersive teaching style, which blends climate science, experiential learning, and hands-on adventure training to help educators bring real-world relevance into their teaching. During this 9-day Yukon River journey from Whitehorse to Carmacks, participants will experience a powerful mix of professional development and outdoor exploration.
Jeff’s workshops focus on helping educators and youth professionals:
Understand the complexity of climate systems through land-based learning.
Explore the human and ecological narratives of Canada’s North.
Build interdisciplinary connections between climate science, social studies, and outdoor education.
Gain practical tools to teach climate change education in both K–12 and post-secondary settings.
As part of the expedition, Jeff will also provide hands-on instruction in:
Core outdoor and paddling skills for safe, confident canoe travel on the Yukon River.
Outdoor cooking and backcountry expedition planning for school and youth groups.
Outdoor leadership fundamentals, including group dynamics, risk management, and field-based teaching.
Yukon geography, culture, and environmental history, connecting Indigenous knowledge and environmental stewardship.
Jeff’s approach is rooted in the belief that nature itself is the ultimate classroom. Through storytelling, field workshops, and guided reflection, participants will leave with practical, transferable strategies to integrate outdoor experiential education and climate action learning into their own classrooms, camps, or community programs. Whether you’re a teacher looking to expand your curriculum, a youth worker aiming to inspire environmental leadership, or an adventurer seeking to turn your passion for the outdoors into purpose-driven teaching—this Yukon educator training is your next step.
Jeff Willis - Lead Instructor and Founder of Fireside adventures
Midnight sun paddle during Professional Development and Leadership Course.
Key Course Takeaways
Open to anyone wanting to experience Yukon River Through Pro d Lens
Test yourself on the Yukon River and learn the skills of outdoor education and climate leadership
On the World Bound Educators Yukon course, participants will paddle the majestic Teslin and Yukon Rivers from Johnston Crossing to Carmacks (370km). On this professional development adventure, we will be travelling back in time as we learn about Yukon’s geography, history (pre-colonization to now), modern resource management, and how Yukoners are adapting to the severe impacts of climate change. We provide an inclusive experience for participants with varying skill levels, interests, and agendas to keep the experience informative, safe, and fun for everyone.
Learn core outdoor educator skills
On this epic 370km canoe journey, we’ll teach you what we do best: developing and utilizing outdoor education skills to provide kids with experiential learning opportunities in the great outdoors. We ensure the knowledge you learn is transferable to the classroom, enabling you to share bushcraft techniques and wilderness knowledge with your students and maybe even plan some exciting field trips!
Take Yukon climate change workshops
As with all our professional development adventures, we provide workshops (totalling 10 hours) and education materials (K-12) relating to climate change education. Education materials for this experience will be Yukon-focused, to teach kids about Canada’s most iconic northern territory. Of course, both our expedition and curriculum are also intended to be more broadly transferable to climate change education being taught in the classroom.
The Yukon: a classroom unlike any other
There’s more than one reason that Fireside Adventures keeps coming back to the Yukon year after year. From the people to the vast expanse of nature, here are just a few reasons that the Yukon is one of the world’s greatest classrooms.
A Natural Paradise
With a population of less than 48, 000, it’s impossible to visit the Yukon and not find yourself far from the hustle of civilization. Once you leave Whitehorse, you’ll be immersed in some of the most pristine and thriving wilderness that Canada has to offer. In the Land of the Midnight Sun, you’ll see an abundance of wildlife, the ruins of the Gold Rush, enjoy days of zero darkness, and so much more.
Room to Breathe
Alongside your trusty guides and the best fellow educators, there’s no better way to recharge and refocus so you can return in September ready to take on the challenge of being one of your school’s most competent climate leaders. Get ready to free yourself from the demands and distractions of modern life, and find the space to breathe deeply. Fresh air and peaceful days await on the Yukon River!
