Reciprocity & Resources:
Resource Management and Leadership for a Changing Climate

March 14-20, 2025
Deadline to apply January 12, 2025

Rockies Explorations 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).

When we learn about a place, we learn about ourselves.

Youth ages 17-35 are invited to this 7-day Exploration through the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park, Canmore, Kananaskis and surrounding areas. Developed specifically with young professionals, students and job seekers in mind, who may be looking for hands-on experience, networking and better understanding of resource development topics like climate change, Truth and Reconciliation, conservation and more, Reciprocity & Resources is focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the most pressing natural resources challenges while actively exploring solutions for the next seven generations.

Experience a variety of hands-on learning opportunities designed to encourage reflection on current pathways and create space for considering next steps as what comes next in your learning and career journeys. Witness first hand the ways that climate change is impacting ecosystems in the Rockies and learn about how individuals and communities are adapting to change and driving resiliency using Indigenous and western perspectives. Come away with an enhanced understanding of reconciliation in the context of a changing environment. Build your network by engaging with groups and organizations involved in the natural resource sector who may both align with or challenge your personal values, community needs, and intended impacts.

Set in the inspiring Rocky Mountains, and led by award-winning educators, and Knowledge Keepers, with contributions from leading scientists, academics, industry leaders,and mental health experts, Reciprocity & Resources will leave you with a deeper understanding of the Two-Eyed Seeing approach to climate issues and solutions, and empower you to see pathways to build more healthy communities

University of Calgary Biogeoscience Institute
Alberta Parks
Parks Canada
Town of Canmore
Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative
Yellowstone to Yukon

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Program Cost:
$1500

This program has been designed for folks who are currently in careers and/or education in the natural resource sector or are considering pursuing pathways in these areas. We encourage applicants to collaborate with their employers to secure professional development funding for this program.

Price includes:

Accommodation
Meals
Education
Activities

This program offers guidance, education, coaching and support 24 hours/day for the duration of the program. Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements to Calgary.

You may be eligible to apply for additional funding of up to $1500 through external partners to cover your program fees and/or travel expenses. Please note that this scholarship program is not administered by Howl and therefore we cannot provide guarantees or timelines about when applicants can expect to find out about this funding opportunity. Program fees will be due before confirmation of this funding is received.

We understand that cost can be a major consideration for participants. We encourage youth to apply regardless of financial means as we do not wish for anyone to be deterred due to financial constraints. Financial assistance may be available.

Earn a Microcredential.

Participants are eligible to earn a Royal Roads University Microcredential in Land-Based Community Leadership for ReconciliACTION. Learn more about the Microcredential here.

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Program highlights.

All of Howl’s programs explore the themes of reconciliation, citizen science, service learning and strategies for personal resilience. These are just a few of the things that you might do as part of your Exploration. Click here for a draft itinerary for the program. Note that the exact details of the itinerary for the program may change.

Afternoon: Participants arrive and are welcomed to the Canadian Rockies by Îyârhe Nakoda Elders in Residence Margaret and Terry Rider.
Morning: Join Îyârhe Nakoda Knowledge Holder Travis Rider for a hike and perspectives on Indigenous histories of the Canadian Rockies.
Afternoon: Workshop with energy and climate policy experts and tour of energy innovations in Canmore.
Morning: Depart for Icefields Parkway with stops at Lake Louise Village, Bow Lake and Saskatchewan River Crossing.
Morning: Forestry workshop with educators from the Biogeoscience Institute.
Afternoon: Exploration of prescribed burning and cultural burning practices in Kananaskis Country.
Morning: Workshop with field ecologists from Alberta Parks. Explore the complex challenges of human wildlife coexistence in one of Canada’s busiest valleys.
Afternoon: Cave and Basin tour with Daryl Kootenay and examination of Parks Canada through Indigenous and western lenses.
Morning: Trauma informed yoga with Chey Johns.
Afternoon: Climate policy and future careers workshop. Post program support and shaping your Howl Experience post program.
Evening: Closing circle with Îyârhe Nakoda Elders in Residence Margaret and Terry Rider.
Morning: Participants depart

Program details.

Participants start in Calgary, AB and travel through the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park and Kananaskis. Participants will be staying at the University of Calgary’s Biogeoscience Institute in Kananaskis.

What our participants are saying

“I am confident in my abilities and power to define my path in life. That is something I never thought I'd say. Howl has given me a sense of encouragement to be the best version of myself. It is so refreshing to be surrounded by amazing people, laughs, many circles, and smudges. Howl brings me tears of joy. I'm so grateful to have the chance to be here.”

“Overall, I felt like the Howl program was an absolutely incredible experience. It has opened up my world in terms of learning more about my own backyard, and it has given me completely new perspective of the land I have lived for many years through a lens that includes reconciliation, the urgency of climate change, the need for personal well-being and the power of community in the inner and outer journeys we are on.”

“After being on three Howl trips, I've noticed a theme, I can't quite identify. There's a certain piece /joy/calm fulfillment/motivation/love/acceptance/ease/comfort that Howl has that money cannot buy and that is hard to find nowadays. Howl feels like connecting with an old friend and having days to catch up.”

“My understanding of Traditional Ways of Knowing has evolved throughout this program. As someone working in the conservation field, I have often struggled with how to protect land that isn't ours (settlers) land to protect. This program has taught me the importance of having Indigenous peoples at the centre of conservation.”

“Although I work in land conservation and am actively working to conserve wildlife corridors in NB, being able to see the impacts of development in Banff and Canmore has emphasized the importance of land conservation to me. Similarly the Columbia Icefields worked as a large visualization of the effects of climate change. Both were moments of clarity and affirmation.”

“Life-changing; environment/conservation-focused program that integrates both Traditional Ways of Knowing with western, scientific knowledge; focused on connecting people to the land and to those who have been on the land the longest; well-organized and planned.”

“It was nothing like I expected, but in a good way. This trip was so much more than I could ever have asked for.”

Program partners