A group of students from Thompson Rivers University's Adventure Guide diploma program are headed to Nepal to run rivers, help Nepali guides get trained, and graduate college.

Every year, students in the graduating year of TRU's two-year Adventure Guide program plan and execute a multi-week expedition in their chosen sport. The trip is a requirement for graduation, and also gives the aspiring young guides an opportunity to interact with different cultures and gain valuable trip leading experience.

This year's group leaves for Nepal in May, and is still actively fundraising for their trip. They are also helping 13 Nepalese guides become certified mountain and trekking guides. This training, which is financially unfeasible for many, will be made possible through the students' fundraising efforts.

Read more about the Adventure Guide program and the trip—and how you can help—in the report from Paige Parsons below:

Nepal is the destination for 12 lucky university students in Thompson Rivers University’s Adventure Guide program. The Adventure students have been planning and fundraising for months for the May expedition during which they plan to push their boundaries as whitewater paddlers on four of Nepal’s most exciting rivers.

The rivers the group will be paddling include the Bhote Kosi, the Upper Sun Kosi, the Sun Kosi and the Tamur. After warming up with several day trips the team will head down the Sun Kosi on a nine-day expedition and then finish off their experience with a few more day trips. Adventure student Lars Hartling says he is looking forward to the diverse challenges each river has to offer.

“We’re all excited to run some big waves and build our skills on the water. I’m hoping to be paddling class III rapids comfortably, and completing class IV rapids” says Hartling.

The group includes the 12 students and two TRU staff members, and will be led by Chris Jones of Griffon Expeditions. Jones is a former TRU student and will be facilitating the expedition, as well as offering his international paddling experience to teach and assist the young guides.

Besides offering the students a once-in-a lifetime experience, the expedition will earn them credits towards their diplomas. The Adventure Guide program, offered through Thompson Rivers University’s Adventure Studies department, gives students the chance to develop in the various disciplines of guiding and adventure tourism.

One of the major challenges that the team has already met with is funding their trip. The students have spent the last few months hard at work on various fundraising projects. The Adventure Guide Diploma students have hosted benefits and presentations, made t-shirts, ran multiples bottle drives and organized a silent auction and raffle.

Hartling believes the fundraising efforts are more than worth it because besides the incredible natural environment of Nepal, the students are going to experience the rich and fascinating culture.

“It will be really cool to learn about Nepal’s culture because of its unique traditions, history and religion . . . and to understand the role culture plays in tourism” said Hartling.

In addition to learning about the culture, the students will be getting directly involved with the Nepal guiding community. A major aspect of their project has been collecting donations that will go towards funding adventure industry training for 13 Nepalese sherpas. If the students meet their fundraising goal of $4,682 US dollars, the sherpas will be able to further their careers by receiving training in the area of their choice. Some of the courses the sherpas have elected to pursue include English language studies, culinary training, first aid training and trekking guide certification.

To learn about the group’s sponsors and fundraising efforts, visit their website at http://nepal2010.com and to find out more about TRU’s Adventure Studies Department, check out www.tru.ca/tourism/adventure.html. —Paige Parsons

Photo Gabriel Côté-Valiquette