Have you ever found yourself wondering what direction you are heading in?
The Howl Semester is an eleven-week semester for youth spent exploring the lands and people of the Rockies with other youth from across Canada. By enrolling in a Howl Semester, you will gain skills for a sustainable life, gain volunteer experience, receive entrepreneurship training and get immersed into the Bow Valley community.
Rockies Semesters are based in Canmore, Alberta, traditionally known as Châ Ûpchîchîyen Kudebi by the Îyârhe Nakoda. Throughout the program we will travel through the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta, the traditional territories of the Îyârhe Nakoda Nations, Niitsitapi Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, and the Métis Nation (Region 3).
What does community mean to you?
Howl's Semester provides a deep exploration of the natural world, the communities that Howl is based in, and ultimately a better understanding of yourself.
Our participants explore a variety of life paths, play with real world challenges, and become engaged and connected community members creating meaningful connections to support you in finding your path forward.
Check back for future Howl Semester dates.
Spending a Howl Semester in the Rockies with us will give you 4 things:
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Some of the most incredible experiences of your life in some of the most beautiful places. Add whatever action verb you like to this description – building, growing, designing, exploring, discovering, networking, climbing, hiking, listening, harvesting. You’ll not only see and do amazing things, you’ll gain vital experiences that will help guide your future – personally and in terms of your career or education pathways. You’re seriously going to do some amazing things every single day and it’s through these experiences that you’ll discover your next pathway in life.
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The most welcoming community environment and the tools to make you a powerful community member wherever you land after this in whatever direction you decide to go. You’ll be working with some amazing educators, industry leaders, community leaders, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, entrepreneurs and organizations. You will be part of a cohort of up to 20 youth from across Canada and the world who are all converging in this space for the same reasons at the same time of their lives.
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You will learn the intersections of personal and environmental sustainability. This is a program that will teach you how to live more sustainably and create change around you with global objectives in mind. It will also teach you to be more resilient as the climate changes and society makes significant shifts. Part of this self-sustainability is learning to manage your own finances; learning to grow your own food; learning to fix your own things; learning to become part of a community; and learning to help yourself and others with mental health challenges.
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You will build the knowledge, skills, and relationships to be an active community leader on the path to reconciliation. From connecting with the Nakoda Youth Council to learning teachings from Elders, this is a program that will allow you to explore the real history of the land it is based on and to co-create a better future through reconciliation.
“Howl is an excellent opportunity to experience so many things, and allow you to find ways forward academically, professionally, and personally. The chance to see and do so many things with so many outstanding people can seem intimidating but is undeniably worth it. You have independence where it’s needed, and guidance where you want it. The best way to learn is through experience, and doing those things through Howl makes it much easier and helps get you out of your comfort zone so that you can get out and try.”
Victor, Yukon Exploration (2022)
Overview of a Semester.
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Explore the Bow Valley (Stoney Nakoda Reserve, Kananaskis, Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise) and surrounding National Parks (Jasper, Yoho, Waterton) through:
Field studies – geology, water quality
Hiking, snowshoeing, climbing
Outdoor survival skills
Canoeing, paddle boarding, hot spring soaking
Harvesting food on the land
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Gain a better understanding of community through volunteer opportunities in the Bow Valley (Stoney Nakoda Reserve, Kananaskis, Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise)
Wildlife conservation
Education programs
Community arts development
Food security & public health
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Meeting and learning from Elders
Working with the Nakoda Youth Council & Daryl Kootenay
Land-based learning alongside Indigenous knowledge keepers
Learning Traditional Practices of Treaty 7 Territory
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Gain skills for a self-reliant life
Access to training in personal financial management
Personal wellness training for physical and mental wellness from accredited experts
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Social entrepreneurship training
Support to design and initiate community-based projects
Collaboration with various organizations
Funding & training provided for supporting entrepreneurship ideas
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Dance parties, open-mic nights, games and murder-mysteries
Communal meals
Participation in local festivals and markets
Camping trips, road trips
Overview of a week.
The activities listed here offer an example of the types of activities that participants can expect during a typical week.
Specific activities will vary from week to week and as participants make their way through the program.
Regularly scheduled programming occurs from Monday to Friday, with optional programming, work, and volunteer experience on the weekends.
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Drive up the Icefields Parkway, stopping for hike at a glacier, waterfalls and fire scarred forests.
Group dinner
Gather for a nighttime campfire or take some personal time under the stars
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Presentation from local grizzly bear research ecologists
Workshop on food security and sovereignty in the Bow Valley
Stoney Nakoda language lessons with Elders in Residence
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Scraping deer hides with a Stoney Nakoda hunter
Storytelling & Reflecting
Learn about climate change & solutions through an Indigenous lens from a guest speaker
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Morning walk along the Bow River
Landscape art and eco-anxiety workshop
Crafternoon: beading, painting, drum making, knitting
Free evening for personal wellness practices
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Social innovation 101 workshop
Group project development supported by community partners
Eventing spent together cooking and enjoying dinner
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Spring/summer/fall – hiking, biking, canoeing, rafting, gathering food and medicines
Winter – snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice-canyon walking
Group night out in Canmore
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Volunteering for local initiatives and events
Exploring Banff
Optional group hike
Open mic night (music and dancing)
“The Howl Experience allowed me to reconnect with the part of me that needs to actively get engaged in advocacy work related to climate and conservation. This was a big revelation to me, as it had been a while since I had been involved in those fields. It also made me realize that getting involved in advocacy work is a huge source of positivity in my life, and reigniting my engagement will increase my personal well-being.”
Rockies Exploration participant (2022)
Your tuition includes:
Program Costs
Education
Activities
Living expenses
Accommodation
Meals
Transportation during the program
As a non-profit, we actively strive to make the Howl Semester as cost-effective and accessible to the people who will most benefit from it, regardless of their financial circumstances. We have adopted a pay-what-you-can approach to tuition based on participant ability and need.
Whatever level of tuition a participant can afford, it covers all activities, education, accommodation, and food. This program offers guidance, education, coaching, and support 24 hours/day for the duration of the program.
If cost is the only thing preventing you from participating in a Howl Semester, we encourage you to let us know as part of the application process. We will work with you to overcome whatever barriers you face.
We are grateful to be able to offer this inclusive approach to tuition thanks to our many generous funders and partners.
Program partners.
