Meet Your Guides

Katarina has been working in the field of experiential education for a number of 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, I receive life 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 others, and I am grateful to embark on this journey with you.

It is my hope and desire to help women, men and their families to 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 travel includes:

North American classics

  • 3 months of solo exploration, Baffin Island
  • Multiple wilderness backcountry travels – California – Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks – 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
  • Canoe/kayak multi-day trips: Killarney, Algonquin, French River, Georgian Bay, Lake Superior…

Favourite world classics

  • High Tatra Mountain Range traverse, Slovakia
  • Poloniny National Park (Slovakia) – the last of European wilderness with a healthy population of wild wolf, bison and bear
  • Andean 4000m – 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 in the backcountry – day or multi-day adventures
  • youth ages 15-18 years of age (accompanied by a guardian)
  • children’s via connecting to their natural environment and teaching outdoor skills such as making shelters, knots, short-hike exploration, match-less fire building (accompanied by a guardian)

Also available:

  • program design (experiential outdoor education for youth at risk) – 1 day, muliti-day,
  • program implementation (logistics, organization)
  • guiding for those interested in wilderness and cultural exploration in Canada

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.

Mission

Skala Adventures is committed to providing unique opportunities of growth, transformation and adventure by engaging in wilderness travel and personal experiential learning.

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.