Your Guide to the Training Program
| Site: | LEARNING SPACE |
| Course: | LEARNING SPACE |
| Book: | Your Guide to the Training Program |
| Printed by: | |
| Date: | Sunday, 20 September 2026, 1:58 AM |
Description
Use the Learners Program Guide to find out how the Recreation North Training Program works and to understand your responsibilities as a participant.
Please note that we have two new policies. Effective September 2025,
- Participation in conference calls is required. However, if life gets in the way, ask your trainer for an alternate activity.
- Learners registered in a certificate stream are asked to let us know if they cannot participate for a while. If we don't hear from you for a few months, you will be enrolled to make space for others.
Updated: August 2026
1. Welcome
Welcome to the Recreation North Training Program designed for anyone who works or volunteers in community recreation. If you are (or want to become) a recreation coordinator or programmer, a youth leader, board member, coach, or fitness leaders, or a day camp or after school leader, you will find our training flexible, meaningful and relevant.
Register for one or more of our 19 learning events (mini-courses) or choose to earn a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership or Management. When you participate, you become part of a network of leaders who contribute to individual, community and environmental health and wellbeing across the North.
The Training Program provides accessible, relevant learning for recreation leaders across the North. With generous funding from the Arctic Inspiration Prize, our team developed, piloted and evaluated the training before launching the full Program in the Fall of 2018.
As this video shows, Recreation North is committed to strengthening recreation capacity across the North through meaningful and accessible training. Recreation North is a partnership of the three territorial recreation and parks associations.
2. Recreation Leadership
Recreation contributes to personal and social health, and to economic and environmental wellbeing. Recreation improves the quality of life in our Northern communities. It engages the community, increases interaction between diverse cultures, strengthens families, fosters pride and belonging, enhances tourism, encourages people to stay in the community, and more.
Achieving these outcomes requires leadership and capacity. Capacity means having skills, knowledge, and resources to lead, manage and work (or volunteer) in recreation. Leaders who are competent and confident use recreation to benefit their communities and the people who live there.
The Recreation North Training Program is based on a model of 13 foundational competencies. Developing these competencies builds capacity for recreation. Competent recreation leaders are able to:
- Promote individual, community, and environmental wellbeing through recreation.
- Recognize their ability to have a positive impact on their communities.
- Access resources to support programs and services through the recreation and sport system.
- Plan and deliver quality programs and events.
- Support appropriate promotion and communications.
- Carry out basic budgeting, financial reporting, fundraising, and grant activities.
- Use appropriate risk management strategies.
- Help to maximize the safety, use, and programming of facilities and outdoor spaces.
- Embrace recreation as a vehicle to strengthen community.
- Contribute to meaningful relationships with community groups and partners.
- Support the planning and evaluation of community programs, events, and services.
- Contribute to effective staff and volunteer engagement.
- Support the effective functioning of Boards and Committees.
2.1. Leaders Tool
The Recreation Leaders Self-Assessment Tool can be used to better understand the 13 foundational competencies.
Individual leaders
Use the Self-Assessment Tool to identify your own recreation strengths, knowledge and skills, and to figure out where your areas for growth are.
Organizations
Use the Self-Assessment Tool to review each competency. Reflect on how it applies to your organization, and then use the results to identify training priorities.
3. The Program
The Recreation North Training Program offers a series of learning events (similar to a short or mini course) designed to strengthen competencies for working and volunteering in the field of recreation. Anyone, including youth, can register for:
One or a few learning events for personal interest or professional development,
A series of core learning events leading to a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership, and/or
A series of core learning events leading to a Certificate in Northern Recreation Management.
3.1. Format
The Training Program is delivered remotely (online). The best part about learning this way is that you don't have to leave home and you can balance learning with work and family responsibilities.
The Training Program connects recreation leaders from across the Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut. Occasionally, someone the provinces joins. Training is facilitated by trainers from one of the three territories who understand the realities of working or volunteering in community recreation in the North.
Training can be customized for a region or offered in-person by one of the territorial recreation and parks association.
Online Learning
Since the pandemic, learning remotely or online is familiar to most people. However, it can take time to become comfortable with different types of technology.
Learning remotely develops digital literacy skills. Digital literacy is increasingly important for many types of learning including certificate and degree programs offered by colleges and universities.
In the North, there may be challenges accessing and using the Internet. We know that online learning can be slower and some videos or files may seem impossible to open. Therefore, we developed the training with these challenges in mind.
The platform for our training is Moodle, a Learning Management System (LMS). Once you register, you get a user name that lets you log in to this platform or Learning Space . You'll need a computer connected to the Internet for learning. A phone may be helpful if you have difficulty joining a conference call.
Learning involves logging in, navigating the Learning Space, and engaging with content and other learners. During conference calls, ideas and questions are shared. This helps everyone learn!
For more information about our Learning Space, check out Online Learning; an Introduction or watch one of our videos.
3.2. Learning Events
The Program offers training in small workshops or courses called learning events (LEs). Each learning event is like a mini course. Each one aligns with one of the 13 competencies for recreation leaders.
As part of each learning event, you will explore new ideas (discover), join in conversations (discuss), and use what you learn (demonstrate). This type of learning is sometimes called ‘learner-centred.’ Our goal is to help you create new knowledge and understanding to use in your work or volunteer role.
Learning events don't take a lot of time to complete.
Learning events begin on Mondays and follow a schedule from October to May.
Core learning events lead to a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership and take place over two weeks. Credit is earned when you participate in a 2-hour conference call and complete one required learning activity. This may take 5 to 7 hours of your time.
Advanced learning events lead to a Certificate in Northern Recreation Management. Advanced learning events take place over 2 or 4 weeks. Credit is earned when you participate in all 1-hour conference calls and complete all required learning activities. Plan to spend between 7 and 15 hours on each advanced learning event.
We know that "life happens" so allow an extra two weeks for each learning event. If someone can't finish a learning event within the time allowed, they can register for the next time it is scheduled.
The 12 core learning events include:
- RF101 Recreation Foundations
- RL101 Identify Your Leadership Strengths
- RS101 The Recreation and Sport System
- RS102 Get to Know Your Community
- CB101 Community Building
- RS103 Value Recreation, Arts, Culture and Sport
- PE101 Deliver Programs and Events
- BF101 Basic Recreation Finances
- RM101 Manage Risk
- RP101 Plan for Success
- PE102 Create Positive Program Experiences
- FS101 Use Spaces and Places Creatively
The 7 advanced learning events include:
-
PM101 Promote Recreation
-
RM102 Document to Manage Risk
-
RM103 Understand Legal Risk
-
BF102 Proposal Writing
-
RP102 Evaluation in Recreation
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BF103 Reporting in Recreation
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SV101 Find and Keep Volunteers
Find the current schedule of learning events at: https://recnorth.ca/schedule.
3.3. Pathways
Start anytime - Learn anywhere
Explore or expand a career in community recreation. Gain the knowledge and skills for working or volunteering in Northern, Indigenous, rural or remote communities.
Build your confidence through learning events that are relevant and interactive. Become part of a network of other recreation leaders.
Learn remotely from work or home. Do your training online and through video calls on our Fall to Spring cycle.
Learn at your own pace. We build extra time and flexibility into our training to help you balance work, family and learning.
We know our training will fit your schedule and interests. Best of all, there are no prerequisites.
Start working towards one of our certificates this Fall.
- Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership
- Certificate in Northern Recreation Management
4. Sharing Responsibilities
When you participate in our Program, we provide the training and support you need for a quality learning experience.
Your motivation and attitudes will impact your learning and the learning of others. Practice the characteristics of a successful learner.
- Be self-motivated
- Learn independently
- Become familiar with technology
- Manage your time
- Use positive communication skills
- Actively strengthen your reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities
- Make a personal commitment to learning
- Set aside time to learn
- Balance learning with life, family, and work demands
- Ask for help when you need it
As a responsible learner, you will:
- Log into the Learning Space regularly.
- Read and reply to messages.
- Ask questions, share your ideas, and describe your experiences.
- Join conference calls.
- Complete the Required Learning Activity by the due date.
- Provide feedback on your learning experiences.
- Let us know if you need to step away for a bit. If we don't hear from you, we get worried. If we don't hear from you for a few months, you will be unenrolled to make space for others.
5. Program FAQs
Below are answers to some of the questions you may have about the Training Program.
Who can participate in the training?
Our training is designed for anyone who works or volunteers in recreation in rural, remote, Northern or Indigenous communities. Our participants are recreation coordinators, recreation managers, after-school leaders, youth, volunteers, coaches, people working for non-profit organizations and more.
What are the prerequisites?
We don’t have prerequisites. However, there is a progression in our schedule. If you want to take several learning events or a certificate, consider beginning in the Fall and working through core learning events before the advanced ones.
Are all learning events delivered online?
Our training is delivered remotely using our online Learning Space and video calls. Custom training can be delivered in-person.
Who delivers the training?
Our trainers live in North, work in recreation, and know how to facilitate learning online. Our trainers understand the realities of Northern and Indigenous communities and take a learner-centered approach making training useful and relevant.
How much does the training cost?
How do I become a member of my territorial recreation and parks association?
Becoming a member is easy. Find the link to your territorial recreation and parks association on our website.
Are there other costs?
Apart from the fees, there may be other costs such as Internet, use of a computer and smart phone, or a membership with your territorial recreation and parks association.
Is there funding to help with the fees?
If cost is a barrier, please contact your territorial recreation and parks association.
Is there a deadline to complete learning events?
Learning Events are scheduled over two weeks with one conference call and one required learning activity (RLA). Some advanced learning events have more conference calls and may take place over four weeks with up to four RLAs. We know that "life happens" so we allow an extra two weeks to complete each learning event.
How much time should I put into my training?
Plan to spend about 5 to 7 hours on core learning events and 7 to 15 hours on advanced learning events. Certificates can be completed in a year from the Fall to late Spring or over two years.
Does the training transfer to post-secondary?
How do I find my learning event(s)?
To find your Learning Event, click on 'Dashboard' or 'My Courses' at the top of your screen.