Adults and private / Vancouver Island

The route is open to adults too.

The outdoors matters just as much for adults. WEA runs a community social club for adults, guided tours and courses across Vancouver Island, and private programs built around your family or group.

Adult Outdoor Social Adventures

A community-focused, volunteer-driven outdoor recreation program supported by Western Educational Adventures. It offers community hikes, camping and backpacking trips, outdoor skills courses, navigation workshops, day trips, multi-day expeditions and transportation-supported adventures. Most community hikes and social adventures are free or very low cost; WEA provides the commercial insurance, permits where required, equipment, vehicles, mentorship, administrative support and professional risk management that keep the program running safely.

New to Victoria, or just getting into outdoor adventure? Start with a day trip, a weekend program or an evening course. Longer expeditions include the Juan de Fuca Trail, canoeing trips in Campbell River and kayaking in Desolation Sound. Sign-up instructions, current listings, the newsletter and the Facebook community are all linked from WEA's adult programs page on the live site. Registration for club listings runs through Luma.

Hiking difficulty scale (as published)

WEA hiking difficulty scale
Rating	What it means
Easy	Relatively flat, level gravel trails, no longer than 3 km. If you can walk 5 km on flat ground with the occasional small hill, you can do this hike.
Moderate	4 to 9 km with some steeper sections, loose rock and uneven surfaces.
Challenging	Longer than 10 km, several steep and uneven sections, possible exposed terrain and off-trail travel.
Very Challenging	Longer than 16 km, longer and steeper exposed sections. Significant regular hiking experience expected.

Private and custom programs

Private swimming lesson in a Vancouver Island lake — Evidence / Lake swim lessonWEA photo

Private and Group Swimming Lessons

Lakes and private pools

Life Saving Society lessons for all ages and abilities, in local lakes or your own private pool, scheduled around your day rather than a rec centre timetable. Areas: Greater Victoria, Shawnigan Lake, Duncan, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Comox Valley.

1 to 2 lessons$100 per hour

3 to 5 lessons$80 per hour

5 or more lessons$70 per hour

As published on the live site, swim lessons pause in some seasons due to staffing; send a booking request and WEA will confirm availability.

Guided hiking tour group on a Vancouver Island trail — Evidence / Guided hiking tourWEA photo

South Vancouver Island Hiking Tours

Ages 8 to 65 / 2 to 12 people

Classic west coast rainforest on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, or quieter summits like Peden Lake, Mount Quimper and Mount Empress, with views to the Olympic Mountains and the ocean. Fees are based on 4 people and do not include transportation or meals, both available for an extra fee.

Hiking tour pricing per person, as published by WEA
Tour	Duration	Price	Difficulty
Juan de Fuca Trail Intro Hike	3 hr	$115 + GST	Easy to Moderate
Peden Lake	4 hr	$135 + GST	Moderate
Mount Manuel Quimper	4 to 6 hr	$145 + GST	Moderate to Challenging
Grass Lake	7 hr	$205 + GST	Challenging
Mount Empress	8.5 hr	$225 + GST	Very Challenging
San Juan Ridge Tour	12 to 14 hr	$250 + GST	Moderate
Multi-Day Tours	2 to 9 days	$450 to $2,100 + GST	Moderate to Very Challenging

Courses and custom adventures

Private course pricing, as published by WEA
Program	Who and how long	Price
West Coast Wilderness Navigation Course (Sooke)	Ages 10 to 65, 4 to 12 people, 1 to 3 days	$100 to $600 + GST per person, on demand
Backcountry Camping Skills Course (Sooke)	Ages 6 to 70, 1 to 6 people, 3 days	$1,400 + GST, on demand. Food and some equipment included
SnowVenture Snowshoe Tour	Ages 6 to 65, 3 to 12 people, 6 to 10 hrs	$200 + GST per person, on demand
Sayward Forest Canoe Expedition Course	Ages 10 to 65, 4 to 12 people, 7 days	$1,500 + GST per person, on demand
Birthday Parties and Play Dates	Ages 6+, South Island and Greater Victoria, 4 hr to multi-day	$35 + GST per person and up, $900 minimum fee

Outdoor birthday party with WEA — Evidence / Outdoor birthday partyWEA photo

Birthday parties include a fully staffed 2-hour base program (forest games, fire-building, s'mores, archery, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, geocaching and more) with cakes, meals, overnights and day hikes as add-ons. And if none of this is quite it, WEA can fully customize almost any activity for individuals, families, schools and corporate groups, including Mount Cain ski experiences.