World Class Kayak Academy | Program

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

2024-2025 Destinations

Eastern Canada / Zambia / Ecuador / Europe

Fall 2024: Eastern Canada / Zambia

August 25, 2024 - December 14, 2024

  • Flag of Canada

    Q1 Eastern Canada

  • 220px-Flag_of_Zambia_(Pantone).svg

    Q2 Zambia - Zambezi

Spring 2025: Ecuador / Europe

January 19, 2025- May 10, 2025

  • 1280px-Flag_of_Ecuador.svg

    Q3 Ecuador

  • European Union Flag

    Q4 Europe (Austria and Slovenia)

2025-2026 Destinations

Eastern Canada / New Zealand / Chile / Europe

Fall 2025: Eastern Canada / New Zealand

August 24, 2025 - December 13, 2025

  • Flag of Canada

    Q1 Eastern Canada

  • Flag_of_New_Zealand_(3-2).svg

    Q2 New Zealand

Spring 2024: Chile / Europe

January 18, 2026- May 9, 2026

  • Flag of Chile

    Q3 Chile

  • European Union Flag

    Q4 Europe (Slovenia, Italy and Austria)

2024 - 2025 Schedule

Fall Semester 2024: Canada / Zambia

August 25, 2024 - December 14, 2024

  • August 25

    Students and staff meet in Ottawa

  • August 26

    Semester Orientation

  • August 27 - October 5

    Quarter 1: Rivers of the Andes

  • October 5

    Students and staff depart for fall break

  • October 6 - October 26

    Fall break

  • October 27

    Students and staff arrive in Zambia

  • October 28 - December 13

    Quarter 2: Zambezi

  • December 14

    Students and staff depart for winter break

Spring Semester 2025: Ecuador / Europe

January 19, 2025 - May 10, 2025

  • January 19

    Students and staff depart for Ecuador

  • January 20 - March 7

    Quarter 3

  • March 8

    Students and staff depart for spring break

  • March 9 - March 29

    Spring break

  • March 30

    Students and staff meet in Munich, Germany

  • March 31 - May 9

    Quarter 4: Europe (Austria and Slovenia)

  • May 10

    Graduation in Oetz, Austria

2025 - 2026 Schedule

Fall Semester 2025: Canada / New Zealand

August 24, 2025 - December 13, 2025

  • August 24

    Students and staff meet in Ottawa

  • August 25

    Student Orientation

  • August 25 - October 4

    Quarter 1: Rivers of Ontario and Quebec

  • October 4

    Students and staff depart for fall break

  • October 5 - October 25

    Fall break

  • October 26

    Students and staff arrive in New Zealand

  • October 27 - December 12

    Quarter 2: New Zealand 

  • December 13

    Students and staff depart for winter break

Spring Semester 2026: Chile / Europe (Germany, Slovenia, Italy and Austria)

January 18, 2026 - May 9, 2026

  • January 18

    Students and staff arrive in Chile

  • January 19 - March 6

    Quarter 3: Chile and Patagonia

  • March 7

    Students and staff depart for spring break

  • March 8 - March 28

    Spring break

  • March 29

    Students and staff arrive in Germany 

  • March 30 - May 8

    Quarter 4: Germany, Slovenia, Italy and Austria

  • May 9

    Graduation in 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.

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

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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

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Sam Steele

Teacher
Physics and Pre Calculus

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

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Domingo Sandoval

Teacher
AP Calculus, Physics, Pre Calculus, and Spanish

B.A. Physics – Universidad Católica

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Mitch Lamb

Program Director
Algebra II, Pre Calculus, and Spanish
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Alec Voorhees

Head Coach
Economics, Government, and Media Productions
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Laura Macchiavello

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

B.A. Psychology – Chico State University

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Michelle Fortier

Teacher
AP Statistics, Environmental Studies, and Geometry

B.A. Environmental Studies
B.A. Theatre

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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.

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