World Class Kayak Academy | Program

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

2025-2026 Destinations

Eastern Canada / New Zealand / Northern Chile / Europe

Fall 2025: Eastern Canada / New Zealand

August 24, 2025 - December 13, 2025

  • CANADA

    Q1 Eastern Canada

  • Flag_of_New_Zealand_(3-2).svg

    Q2 New Zealand

Spring 2026: Northern Chile / Europe

January 18, 2026- May 9, 2026

  • Flag of Chile

    Q3 Chile

  • European Union Flag

    Q4 Europe (Slovenia, Italy and Austria)

2026-2027 Destinations

Eastern Canada / Northern Chile / Colombia / Europe

Fall 2026: Eastern Canada / Northern Chile

August 23, 2026 - December 12, 2026 

  • CANADA

    Q1 Eastern Canada

  • Flag of Chile

    Q2 Northern Chile

Spring 2027: Chile / Europe

January 17, 2027 - May 8, 2027 

  • Colombia_flag

    Q3 Colombia

  • European Union Flag

    Q4 European Alps

2025 - 2026 Schedule

Fall Semester 2025: Eastern Canada / New Zealand

August 24, 2025 - December 13, 2025 

  • August 24

    Students and staff meet in Ottawa

  • August 25

    Semester 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 

  • October 27 - December 12

    Quarter 2: New Zealand

  • December 13

    Students and staff depart for winter break

Spring Semester 2026: Northern Chile / Europe

January 24, 2026 - May 16, 2026
  • January 18

    Students and staff depart 

  • January 19 - March 6

    Quarter 3

  • March 7

    Students and staff depart for spring break

  • March 8 - March 28

    Spring break

  • March 29

    Students and staff arrive

  • March 30 - May 8

    Quarter 4: Europe (Germany, Slovenia, Italy, and Austria)

  • May 9

    Graduation in Oetz, Austria

2026 - 2027 Schedule

Fall Semester 2026: Eastern Canada / Northern Chile

August 23, 2026 - December 12, 2026 

  • August 23

    Students and staff meet in Ottawa

  • August 24

    Student Orientation

  • August 25 - October 3

    Quarter 1: Rivers of Ontario and Quebec

  • October 3

    Students and staff depart for fall break

  • October 4 - October 24

    Fall break

  • October 25

    Students and staff arrive in Chile

  • October 26 - December 11

    Quarter 2: New Zealand 

  • December 12

    Students and staff depart for winter break

Spring Semester 2027: Colombia / European Alps

January 17, 2027 - May 8, 2027 

  • January 24

    Students and staff arrive in Colombia

  • January 25 - March 12

    Quarter 3: Colombia

  • March 13

    Students and staff depart for spring break

  • March 14 - April 3

    Spring break

  • April 4

    Students and staff arrive Europe

  • April 5 - May 14

    Quarter 4: European Alps

  • May 15

    Graduation 

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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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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Heidi Walsh

Teacher
Algebra II, Geometry, History of the Americas, and The College Experience

B.S. – Sport and Exercise Science – Loughborough University
Diploma in International Studies – University of Colorado

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Santiago Sandoval

Teacher
Media Productions and Spanish
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Libby Clifton

Teacher
AP Human Geography, Literature of the Americas, and The College Experience

B.A. in Physical Education and Health – Otago University 2017

Diploma in Outdoor Adventure Education – Hillary Outdoors 2020

Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning – Massey University 2022

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Ayden Dermenjian

Teacher
Environmental Science and World Literature

B.S.N Nursing – McMaster University

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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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