Trinity Western University is delighted to announce new facilities and expanded services at the Trinity Western Outdoor Centre.
Adventures in nature
Imagine walking across a metal cable, 70 feet above the ground, belayed by your instructor or a fellow student, while your teammates cheer you on from below.
Or picture gliding along the water in a canoe, paddling in unison with peers to navigate the crew along the Fraser River by the strength of every stroke.
These are the kinds of adventures participants enjoy at TWU’s Outdoor Centre, part of the School of Human Kinetics. Through Outdoor Centre programming, students form deep social connections, strengthen their problem-solving and communication skills, and discover new levels of perseverance and courage.
Most excitingly, this fall, the Outdoor Centre unveils new facilities and expanded services.
“The outdoors is one of the best classrooms we have—it humbles us, connects us, and reminds us how much we can accomplish together."
Newly expanded Trinity Western Outdoor Centre
“We’re delighted to welcome everyone to the newly expanded Trinity Western Outdoor Centre,” said José Larochelle, director of the Outdoor Centre. “The outdoors is one of the best classrooms we have—it humbles us, connects us, and reminds us how much we can accomplish together. This expansion marks a new chapter for outdoor learning at TWU—one that invites every student to step outside their comfort zone and discover what they’re truly capable of.”
Connect with the outdoors
Dr. Blair Whitmarsh, dean of the School of Human Kinetics, remarked, “The TWU Outdoor Centre will be a place where students can meet in an integrated way with each other and with the outdoors. The seminars, training, and available equipment will enhance the student experience and allow them to enjoy the amazing outdoors that British Columbia has to offer. “
The Outdoor Centre celebrated its launch on Sept. 24 by inviting TWU students to test their balance with slacklining, climb the high ropes course under staff facilitation, and learn more about the variety of workshops, adventure trips, and outdoor classes TWU offers.
“The TWU Outdoor Centre will be a place where students can meet in an integrated way with each other and with the outdoors. The seminars, training, and available equipment will enhance the student experience and allow them to enjoy the amazing outdoors that British Columbia has to offer. “
Continuing the Omada Teambuilding legacy
Experiential learning activities like the high ropes course and canoe trips have been part of TWU’s education for over 30 years, originally offered under the name TWU Challenge Course and Omada Teambuilding.
The vision began with University leaders and faculty members Dr. Don and Dr. Daryl Page. Don Page served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at TWU and was instrumental in the development of the Master’s in Leadership program. Although Don passed away in 2024, his legacy lives on in the servant leadership values that are embedded within TWU’s education, and in innovative courses like the experiential learning offered through the Outdoor Centre.
Hands-on leadership education
With a vision to provide highly engaging, hands-on leadership education, Don and his son Daryl Page invested in building the first ropes course at Trinity Western in 1996. This challenge course became a way to facilitate learning among graduate students studying leadership as they encountered real-time opportunities to develop trust within teams and solve problems through communication and collaboration.
The first ropes course, named Trinity Western Challenge Course, grew in popularity. Soon, it was not only TWU graduate students developing leadership skills in the context of outdoor adventure, but also many schools, corporate groups, non-profit organizations, and other community partners who wanted to take advantage of this form of leadership education.
"The wilderness isn’t just awe-inspiring—it’s healing. Sharing adventure with others deepens your connection with yourself, creation, and God. The perseverance it builds shapes how you face life physically and spiritually beyond the trip."
Spurred on by this growth, in 2008 the program rebranded as Omada Teambuilding, based on the Greek word for “team,” Omada.
Since that time, hundreds of teams, church groups, youth groups, businesses and school classes have experienced TWU-led adventures in nature—climbing among the tall fir branches, hiking through the woods, or gliding across a sparkling lake—each yielding unforgettable learning experiences.
"...Getting outside is crucial for mental and spiritual health. Stepping away from technology helps you slow down and see what really matters in life."
Expert-guided activities
Today, the Outdoor Centre offers expert-guided activities including cave exploration, canoeing, paddling, hiking, rock climbing, and multi-day excursions. Activity locations bring students to some of the most scenic sites that B.C. has to offer, ranging from Vancouver Island to the lakes and mountains of the North Shore and Fraser Valley.
“My favourite trip we offer is Journey—a 10-day canoe expedition in Wells Gray Provincial Park,” said Katie Vermeulen, who led the course this summer. “It reveals parts of yourself you might never meet outside this context. The wilderness isn’t just awe-inspiring—it’s healing. Sharing adventure with others deepens your connection with yourself, creation, and God. The perseverance it builds shapes how you face life physically and spiritually beyond the trip."
"It creates space to learn without feeling overwhelmed, to release stress while building confidence. That’s what we need as students."
Skill building and renewal
Students and leaders alike echo this sense of skill building and renewal through the Outdoor Centre’s programs.
“It’s an excellent course,” said Mauricio Martinez, a student leader. “There aren’t a lot of people who’ve done this kind of thing, and getting outside is crucial for mental and spiritual health. Stepping away from technology helps you slow down and see what really matters in life.”
That same balance of challenge and reflection is what draws students and staff like Kate Roxburgh to other courses such as Climbing Pursuits.
Challenging the mind and body
“I’d recommend Climbing Pursuits because it’s a chance to be active and try something new,” said Roxbourgh, a student in HKIN 235. “Climbing challenges both your brain and your body—it’s an opportunity to grow in problem-solving and figure out your next move. It creates space to learn without feeling overwhelmed, to release stress while building confidence. That’s what we need as students. It’s a great course to take alongside academics, offering a new perspective on learning and challenging your mind in ways other classes don’t. You connect with others, gain a sense of adventure, and discover that learning can be both physical and fun.”
Serving the community
Over 4,000 people benefit from the Outdoor Centre annually. Local elementary and high schools, organizations serving vulnerable and at-risk youth, churches, corporations and businesses partner with the Outdoor Centre to provide training for students, employees, and clients.
The Outdoor Centre also partners with the Stó:lō and Kwantlen First Nations, honouring their ancestral land and Indigenous knowledge. Through these relationships, the Outdoor Centre has been privileged to take groups canoeing in the Kwantlen Spirit Canoe and to listen to Stó:lō stories while paddling during TWU’s Day of Learning for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
The Trinity Western Outdoor Centre invites students, staff, faculty, and community members to learn more about student leadership and learning opportunities with the Outdoor Centre by visiting their webpage or by connecting with the team through outdoorcentre@twu.ca.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.