Our Programs
International Students
Diversity is a strength - we are happy to welcome both foreign and domestic students to Banff. We have been fortunate enough to have had students from 28 countries take part in our programs since 2014. Student visas are available for select programs.
Accommodation
All of our students live in fully furnished apartments in the town of Banff. It is important to us that all of our students are able to cook and live independent, healthy lifestyles. No hostels, no hotels.
Who We Are
Timberline Canadian Alpine Academy is an outdoor adventure college based in Banff National Park, Alberta. We strive to deliver educational programming that will prepare our students to be both leaders and educators in the adventure tourism industry. Timberline operates on three core teaching principles.
Team-based technical skills training to give our students the physical skills and certifications required for meaningful employment in the adventure tourism industry.
Theory courses taught to unlock an understanding of the ecology & human history of the Canadian Rockies, contemporary and historical knowledge of Canada's Indigenous peoples and effective risk management & leadership techniques. The best guides are also great teachers.
Finally, all of our programming ultimately revolves around our incredible community here in Banff and the Canadian Rockies. It is essential that our students be engaged in the community through our many team events and excursions. The arts also play a large role in our programming through our Self-Directed Learning program and Wilderness Film & Photography programs.
Timberline Academy graduates are the highly skilled, confident, thoughtful and well rounded leaders of the Adventure Tourism Industry of tomorrow
Administrative Staff

James McCutcheon
Director

Minh-Tâm Thompson
Program Coordinator

Tai Lloyd-Evans
Program Coordinator & CSIA Lead

Michelle Backhouse
Program Coordinator & Community Engagement Lead

Mark Rauseo
Program Coordinator
Department Leaders

Mike Trehearne
Mountaineering Operations & Director of Cloud 9 Guides

Thomas Snow
Indigenous Studies

Naia Noyes-West
Conservation Management

Phillip Forsey
Wilderness Film & Photography

Travis Finlayson
Risk Management & Guiding Leadership + Wilderness First Aid