World Class Kayak Academy | Program

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

2022-2023 Destinations

Eastern Canada / Zambia / Ecuador / West Coast USA

Fall 2022: Eastern Canada / Zambia

September 4, 2022 - December 17, 2022

  • ca-flag

    Q1 Eastern Canada

  • 220px-Flag_of_Zambia_(Pantone).svg

    Q2 Zambia - Zambezi

Spring 2023: Ecuador / Europe

January 22, 2023- May 13, 2023

  • 1280px-Flag_of_Ecuador.svg

    Q3 Ecuador

  • European Union Flag

    Q4 Europe (Slovenia, Italy and Austria)

2022 - 2023 Schedule

Fall Semester 2022: Canada / Zambia

September 4, 2022 - December 17, 2022

  • September 4

    Students and staff meet in Ottawa

  • September 5

    Semester Orientation

  • September 6 - October 15

    Quarter 1: Rivers of the Andes

  • October 16

    Students and staff depart for fall break

  • October 16 - October 29

    Fall break

  • October 30

    Students and staff arrive in Zambia

  • October 31 - December 16

    Quarter 2: Zambezi

  • December 17

    Students and staff depart for winter break

Spring Semester 2023: Ecuador / Europe (Slovenia, Italy and Austria)

January 22, 2023 - May 15, 2023

  • January 22

    Students and staff depart for Ecuador

  • January 23 - March 10

    Quarter 3

  • March 11

    Students and staff depart for spring break

  • March 12 - April 1

    Spring break

  • April 2

    Students and staff meet in Slovenia

  • April 3 - May 12

    Quarter 4: Slovenia and Austria

  • May 13

    Graduation at Oetz, Austria

Food and Lodging

Food

World Class eats a variety of foods dependent primarily on the current destination.  While abroad, the program will eat food prepared for us either in restaurants or by hired chefs. We will eat cazuela in Chile, Lomo Saltado y Ceviche in Peru, Talapia in Uganda, Gallo Pinto in Costa Rica..... wherever in the World we are at, eating is an extension of the cultural experience. While in the United States and Canada, students and staff rotate between cooking responsibilities using our own cooking equipment. World Class Academy caters to any dietary needs and promotes healthy food choices. We always offer vegetarian options to meals and can cater to vegan diets as well. It is important while training that students eat well-rounded, healthy meal. Students and staff alternate between shopping trips, clean-up crew, and cook crew when preparing meals for the group. This is often one of the most important life lessons students take home: kitchen skills!

Lodging

While traveling both internationally and within the United States, the program looks for the most comfortable accommodations as close to quality whitewater as possible. During our time abroad, accommodations usually include cabins, lodges, hostels, and whitewater centers with sleeping facilities. On tour in the U.S. the program will typically pitch tents at campgrounds offering hot showers, cooking facilities and sheltered common areas. Lodging varies significantly depending on what destination we are at. At our headquarters in Trout Lake, we stay in our "Kayakero Camp", complete with a cook house, common area, and individual camp sites for tents.

Our Faculty

The World Class team begins with a core of dedicated teachers; professionals in the art of teaching, kayaking, and outdoor leadership. In any given semester, there is typically over a decade of combined leadership experience within the faculty, providing a level of expertise, leadership, and education no other program can offer.

Kalob Grady

Head of School

In Progress: B.S. in Aviation and Geography – University of Waterloo

Read More...

Kiah Schaepe

Teacher
Economics, Environmental Science, Government, History of the Americas, Literature of the Americas, World History, and World Literature

BS in Biology and minor in Environmental Studies – University of Victoria

Read More...

Sam Steele

Teacher
Physics and Pre Calculus

B.A. Environmental Engineering – Montana State University
M.S. Civil Engineering (Eco-hydraulics) – Montana State University

Read More...

Domingo Sandoval

Teacher
AP Calculus, Physics, Pre Calculus, and Spanish

B.A. Physics – Universidad Católica

Read More...

Mitch Lamb

Program Director
Algebra II, Pre Calculus, and Spanish
Read More...

Alec Voorhees

Head Coach
Economics, Government, and Media Productions
Read More...

Laura Macchiavello

Teacher
Comparative Literature, Economics, Government, Junior Seminar, Spanish, and The College Experience

B.A. Psychology – Chico State University

Read More...

Michelle Fortier

Teacher
AP Statistics, Environmental Studies, and Geometry

B.A. Environmental Studies
B.A. Theatre

Read More...

Mentor Groups

Mentor Groups

Each student enrolled in World Class Academy will be assigned to a teacher who will act as a mentor during the semester. With their mentors, students are encouraged to reflect regularly on their growth as athletes, students, and human beings. With their mentor group, students collaborate to provide meals for their peers, maintain living areas, and provide general support to each other.

Mentoring and the development of life skills happen on many levels at WCA. Through these processes, students develop an understanding of themselves, their place in the community, and their capacity to continue growing and learning.

Throughout the semester, mentors send weekly updates to individual parents on the progress of their son/daughter in the program. These updates lay the foundation for regular communication between parents, students, staff, and admin. Updates include specific details on progress in academics, athletics, and character building.

Supervision

World Class often fills the role of a family, and students are with staff 24 hours a day. From morning till night, teachers guide students through daily activities and help them adjust to the World Class lifestyle. Students and parents should be fully aware World Class has a zero-tolerance policy with respect to drug and alcohol use. Any student believed to be using or in possession of prohibited substances will be held to the stipulations of the Honor Contract, which students must sign before being accepted to the program.

Teachers will maintain the highest level of supervision possible as well as entrust students to make good decisions. Trust is a big part of the World Class lifestyle whether on the water or in the towns and villages where we stay throughout the semester.

Scroll to Top