Mission
Skala Adventures is committed to providing unique opportunities of growth, transformation and adventure by engaging in wilderness travel and personal experiential learning.
Your Guides
Katarina has been working in the field of experiential education for over 15 years, instructing at adventure programs and wilderness expeditions across Canada, Alaska and Europe. Her experience as a wilderness guide and a youth worker for addiction programs in the Canadian Rockies has allowed her to implement and share her knowledge in various youth at risk re-integration centres across various parts of the world.
“I value having an opportunity to just be still, in the wilderness – breathing fresh air, enjoying the warming sun on my face or feeling the wind in my hair. In an open space or by the fire, I express myself differently; I share my emotions naturally, without judgment.
I am excited to grow and walk together, as we recognize who we are and what our purpose is on this earth. Exploring God’s pursuit of our hearts has been a passion of mine to share with other women, and I am grateful to embark on this journey with you.
It is my hope and desire to help women and men become free – physically, emotionally and spiritually…
So seize the day, lighten your load, and take care of yourself while immersing yourself in a beautiful creation made for us to enjoy!”
Certifications and Experience
Lakehead University – BA Outdoor Recreation Parks and Tourism
NOLS Instructor- National Outdoor Leadership School, Alaska
Outward Bound Instructor – British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario
ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) Top Rope Climbing Instructor
Wilderness First Responder, 80hr
High Ropes Instructor, Level 2
AST 1 – Avalanche Safety Training, Alberta
Summer Amateur Leadership Course, Alpine Club of Canada, Alberta
Youth at Risk training and work experience
Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation for various Outdoor Schools and Camps
Master’s Degree in Counselling (in progress)
Personal wilderness experience includes:
North American classics
3 months of solo exploration on Baffin Island
Multiple wilderness backcountry travels from: California – Waterton National Park – Kananaskis country – Yukon – Alaska
30 consecutive days in the wilderness of Alaska – yep, that’s most days spent in the wilderness without taking a shower (thankful for rivers, lakes and glaciers!)
Eastern Canada classics
LaCloche 100 km Trail, Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario
Favourite world classics
High Tatra Mountain Range traverse, Slovakia
Poloniny National Park (Slovakia) – the last of European wilderness with a healthy wild wolf, bison and bear population
Andean 6000m mountains, Bolivia
Highest volcano in North America – Pico de Orizaba (5636m), Mexico
Attempt of highest active volcano in the world – Ojos del Salado (6893m), Chile
Huemul Circuit, Patagonia, Argentina
A 2 week ski traverse in Greenland
We believe that wilderness is a wild place around us or within us. Here, we are invited to be still, to shout out, to explore…perhaps explore that we ever thought was impossible. We are drawn to wild places for solitude, wisdom or connection, this connection re-aligns us to our Creator, to ourselves, to others …
As we desire to connect to ourselves, to get back to basics, to live simply…we are joined together on a heart-changing journey.
Skala wilderness programs are focused on personal development for:
- women’s backcountry or lodge based retreats
- youth ages 15-19 years of age
Also available:
- program design (experiential outdoor education for youth at risk) – 1 day, muliti-day, or long-term
- program implementation (logistics, organization)
- guiding for those interested in wilderness and cultural exploration in Canada and Slovakia
Join us on a personal growth journey as we learn outdoor skills, environmental ethics, as well as safe backcountry travel on multi-day wilderness trips.
The Skala community
Team of guides, participants and partners believe in a common goal of cultivating a positive and safe experience through challenging and life-changing journeys.