Test Your Skills in Real Wilderness Challenges with Field Practice
Field Practice with our partner, Wilderness Trails, is where your learning meets real wilderness experience. Over 5-7 day trips and 1-2 week training programs, you apply the Six Principles in back‑country situations, face nature’s challenges and discover how you respond away from your familiar routines. With experienced guides and a supportive community, you will discover if this lifestyle resonates with you and if you are ready for deeper immersion in the Chilcotin Ark.
Who Field Practice Is For
Field Practice is designed for people who have started their journey through Self Study or Online Courses and now want to experience the same principles in action. It is also ideal for those looking for an educational wilderness holiday with purpose, something more meaningful than a standard sightseeing trip. If you are curious about the wilderness lifestyle, guide training or conservation work, but are not yet ready to commit for months, this level lets you try it out in a focused, time‑bound way.
This is for you if…
- You want to see how you handle challenge, discomfort and unfamiliar situations in nature
- You learn best by doing and reflecting, not just by reading or watching
- You are considering Immersion with guide training or long‑term volunteering and want to test your fit
- You want a wilderness experience that combines adventure, learning and personal growth
What You Can Experience
Guest Trips:
Field Practice offers a range of guided trips and themed experiences that blend adventure, skills development and conservation. All programs take place in the Chilcotin Ark, a unique wilderness ecosystem where your presence and actions make a real difference.
Horseback Wildlife Tracking and Conservation Trips
Ride into the backcountry on multi‑day horse pack trips that combine wildlife tracking, conservation projects and the responsibilities of caring for horses and camp, or stay at our ranch and explore the terrain with day rides. You learn about navigation, safety, teamwork and the relationship between humans, horses and landscape.
Hiking Wildlife Tracking and Conservation Trips
Join hut‑ and ranch‑based hiking trips that focus on wildlife tracking, habitat monitoring and conservation tasks. You hike through diverse terrain, collect data, support fieldwork and experience what it means to contribute to the long‑term stewardship of the area.
Fishing Experiences
Participate in wilderness fishing experiences where you learn about aquatic ecosystems, ethical harvesting and food self‑sufficiency. These trips combine practical skills with reflection on your impact as part of the food chain.
Mountain Biking
Explore the landscape by mountain bike on guided or self‑guided routes, learning route planning, safety and low‑impact travel. These experiences emphasize personal responsibility, physical challenge and connection to the terrain.
Winter Adventures
Discover the Chilcotin Ark under snow with winter trips such as snowshoeing, tracking, winter skills and learning how animals and humans adapt to cold conditions. Winter conditions highlight resilience, preparation and teamwork.
Photography Tours
Deepen your observation skills through photography‑focused trips. You learn to notice details in the landscape and wildlife, while reflecting on how you choose to represent and share the wilderness with others.
Short Training Programs:
Alongside guest trips, Field Practice also includes focused one‑ and two‑week training programs. These programs combine intensive skill development with guided reflection, so you understand not only what to do, but why it matters for your personal growth and for the greater good.
1 or 2-Week Horseback Guide School
Introduction to the skills, responsibilities and mindset of a wilderness horseback guide or deeper, more comprehensive guide foundations with additional practice and feedback.
1-Week Horse Logging School
Learn about horse‑powered logging, sustainable forestry practices and working closely with animals.
1-Week Log Cabin Building School
Gain hands‑on experience in traditional building methods, tools and self‑sufficient infrastructure.
1-Week Hiking Guide School
Develop hiking guide basics, group management and safety in mountainous terrain.
Advanced Horseback Guide School
For those with prior experience from our one or two week guide training, focused on advanced skills and leadership in the field.
Self-Sufficiency Training
Explore practical skills for living more independently, such as food production, repairs and basic homesteading tasks.
Angling Guide Training
Combine fishing skills with guiding, ethics and conservation knowledge.
Wilderness Photography Training
Use photography to document conservation, tell stories and sharpen your observation abilities.
Where You Stay
During your Field Practice program you experience both comfort and simplicity. Your accommodation supports your learning by keeping you close to nature while giving you space to rest, reflect and integrate each day.
Ranch House Rooms – Shared or private rooms at the ranch, with access to common areas and daily ranch life.
Honeymoon Cabin – A secluded, cozy cabin ideal for individuals or couples wanting more privacy while staying on‑site.
Ranger Cabin – A simple, functional cabin that keeps you close to the daily rhythm of the ranch and surrounding wilderness.
Campground – Tent or basic camping options for those wanting a more minimal, back‑to‑basics experience.
Backcountry Cabins – Remote cabins used on pack trips, expeditions or independent stays, immersing you fully in the backcountry environment.
What You Learn and How You Change
Learning Focus:
The focus of Field Practice is application. You take the ideas, frameworks and self‑knowledge gained from Self Study and Online Courses and put them to the test in real situations. Nature provides immediate feedback: weather, terrain, animals, group dynamics and your own reactions all show you where you are strong, where you struggle and how you can grow.
Core Elements:
Core elements of this level include guided experiences, practical skill practice and structured reflection. Guides introduce you to essential skills and safety practices, then give you space to practice and take responsibility within a supportive framework. Evenings and transition times are used for debriefing the day—what happened, how you felt, what you chose, and how this relates to the Six Principles and Is vs Choice.
Outcomes:
After a Field Practice program, you leave with first‑hand experience of living the Six Principles in the wilderness. You have stepped outside your comfort zone, developed resilience and discovered new strengths—and perhaps new limits—to work with. Most importantly, you gain a clearer sense of whether you want to progress into Immersion, guide training or long‑term community and conservation pathways, or whether your next step is to integrate these insights into your life at home.
Visa Requirements
To join us for these training programs from outside Canada you will only need an eTA Visa. Take a look at the Government of Canada’s website to see if you are eligible for this visa.
How Field Practice Leads to Immersion
Field Practice lets you try out the wilderness lifestyle and see how you respond to challenge, group living and conservation work over one or two weeks. You experience the rewards and demands of this path without needing to commit for months. Those who discover that this way of living resonates with them—and who want deeper learning, more responsibility and greater impact—are then ready to move into Mid Term Immersion, where they stay longer, take on ongoing roles and shift from guest to active contributor.
Choose Your Field Practice Experience
Explore our trips and short training programs that match your skills, interests and timeframe.
If you know which trip or training program you want to join, secure your spot by taking Trails to Empowerment’s Wilderness Readiness Survey
See how Field Practice fits within the full graduated pathway and take a look at our other training options.