The Adventure Model

Enjoying the ice bubbles on Abraham Lake

These are the elements we bring together to create the adventure. This is our framework to determine which options will best work together.

JP Fortin

Owner + CEO

May 25, 2020

Filed Under

Experience Development

Update – April 2021: We’ve done a lot of work defining what makes an adventure ours over the past few years. These were some of our thoughts along the way. You can find an updated version of this content here.

What makes an adventure? Unfortunately, the answer is “it depends”. Each adventure is unique, coming from within each of the participants. That means that there isn’t a list of elements that when combined together guarantees you’ll have a successful experience to offer.

We prefer to work with a framework, a series of questions we ask ourselves as we build a new adventure for our guests. It gives us both a starting point when we build new tours and a checklist to make sure we’ve considered all aspects of the adventure.

Here’s an overview of the blocks we combine together to create memorable activities that create connections between our guests and our region.

These are the elements we bring together to create the adventure. This is not about a list of things that must be included, but rather about asking ourselves a series of questions to determine which options will best work together.

Our Purpose

Before we can build an adventure, we first need to know who we are. This goes beyond answering what it is we do. It’s about understanding why we do it and the principles that define how we deliver those experiences, in other words, our purpose as an organization. Being clear on our purpose helps us attract the guests who will most appreciate what we offer.

This gives us the foundation to then define the adventure we want to create, starting with the guest as the hero of their own adventure.

The Hero & The Journey

Understanding our guests’ needs, combined with our knowledge of the destination allows us to set the theme for the adventure. That theme is part of the journey, connecting each stage as one adventure.

Defining the journey requires empathy. We need to look at the adventure from the guests’ perspective, considering what they want rather than what we want them to do.

The Building Blocks

At its core, adventure is about sharing moments. For this to happen, we need to ensure that we have the right activity, challenge level and setting for our adventure. Once this is in place we can focus on the type of moments we want to create, whether they are goosebump, aha, pride or connection moments.

The stories we share help give those moments meaning and create stronger connections. We use the word story loosely, referring to communication that is designed to interest, entertain or teach. Stories have the power to draw us in, creating an emotional connection with the facts presented.

This requires us to set up a safe environment, physically and emotionally. Physical safety is usually top of mind when talking about outdoor adventure and it is widely covered through risk management plans as well as under occupational health and safety legislation.

Going outside of our daily lives is mentally demanding and requires a level of trust between the guest and the guide. Creating a safe environment allows the guests to focus on the task at hand and to enter a state of flow that is conducive to enjoying the moments.

Creating a safe environment means a number of things, from showing inclusivity and diversity early on in the journey to ensuring that the guests have the information needed to be comfortable with their decision. This will vary from person to person.

It doesn’t mean removing all elements of challenge, risk or uncertainty. These are essential elements of an adventure. It is about setting expectations that are achievable, and as guides, it is our responsibility to be there for the guests to help them recover if they fail.

Reinforcing Memories

Finally, we need to consider the best ways to reinforce the memories. This can be done through a more in-depth debrief or simply through a conversation over hot chocolate at the end of the tour, sharing the highlights and surprises of the day. This is the step that makes a collection of activities into an experience.