Adventure Leadership Education

The Haskayne Leadership Expedition is a five-day backpacking expedition that will take participants into spectacular high mountain terrain in the Rockies. Recalling the old adage that “there are no passengers, only crew” on a true expedition, students will quickly find themselves engaged in learning to lead every aspect of the journey. Alongside the fun, camaraderie and adventure, course elements will include training in a range of technical skills for travelling safely and efficiently in the mountains (e.g. trip planning, navigation & route-finding, risk assessment, camp craft, wilderness skills, ecological awareness), problem-solving challenges, leadership assignments, structured personal reflection, small group work and both the structured discipline and adaptive creativity required to achieve expedition goals while travelling in challenging wilderness terrain under unpredictable conditions.

The course is intense and challenging and is designed for undergraduate students committed to both developing themselves as leaders and playing a leadership role within the Haskayne School of Business. No previous outdoor or expedition experience is required. Yet, you must be fit enough to participate in a week-long wilderness backpacking expedition in the mountains carrying a pack and sleeping in a tent.

There are only 24 places on the course, and priority will be given to Haskayne undergraduate students who are committed to developing themselves as leaders and to giving back through acts of leadership and service. Students must have achieved a C- or higher in OBHR 317 to participate in the Leadership Expedition.

The Leadership Expedition will run from August 28 - September 1, 2023. A pre-trip meeting will be held for all registered students in August before the course. 

To get a sense of the expedition, check out this video about the 2015 program and this video about the 2019 program. Here's a message from Dr. Julian Norris, in which he describes the Leadership Expedition and speaks about the value of spending time in the mountains. For detailed information about the program, please read the course letter.

In addition to tuition, there is a supplemental fee for this course to cover the additional costs associated with running an expedition.

Applications for Fall 2023 are closed.

Students must apply to participate in this course and must have achieved a C- or higher in OBHR 317. All applications are reviewed, and the top 24 will be offered a place in the course. Those not selected will be offered a place on the waitlist.