Bring Meaning to Your Work. Â
Adventure travel can be a powerful force for conservation. Guides like us are uniquely positioned to share stories that move travelers from awe to action.
In this 65-minute online class, you’ll learn how to:
- Deepen your impact and help protect the places you work in
- Promote conservation awareness and literacy
- "Influence the influencers" and create networks of supporters who can drive change and stewardship
You’ll leave this class equipped to create richer guest experiences and inspire support of real conservation initiatives in the places you guide.
How You'll Benefit
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Inspire guest action using the "Transformational Travel Framework"
- Increase trust and credibility with clear & accurate conservation language
- Confidently introduce sensitive topics without sounding preachy or political
- De-escalate tense moments with simple, field-tested techniques
- Empower guests with realistic ways to take action beyond the trip
Who This Class Is For
This class is for you if you want to:
- Strengthen conservation efforts in the places you guide
- Integrate conservation awareness into guided experiences without sounding preachy or political
- Inspire travelers to take real conservation action
Rebecca G.
"I’m glad to have taken this course! It has given structure and understanding on how to go about bringing up these conversations."
Class Syllabus
Lesson 1: Welcome & 3 Aspects of Inspiring Conservation Action
Lesson 2: Importance & Outcomes of Conservation Communication
Lesson 3: Your Role in Conservation Messaging
Lesson 4: Conservation Terminology
Lesson 5: Practical Communication Methods
Lesson 6: How to Make Conservation Discussions Accessible
Lesson 7: Navigating Sensitive Topics and Challenging People
Lesson 8: Empowering Your Guests
Lesson 9: Case Study – Tomorrow's Air
Lesson 10: Next Steps & Content Development Tips
Lesson 11: Class Conclusion & Challenge
Your Instructors
Hi, I’m Colby, founder of Waypoint. I’ve been working in conservation travel since 2006. Alongside leading expeditions, I teach conservation communication skills to guides, non-profits, and travel companies around the world.
Conservation communication matters to me because many times I’ve witnessed the right story catalyze a guest’s travel experience into impactful stewardship. I want more of us to have these skills, and the conservation work you inspire will add richness and meaning to your own work.
Court Whelan earned a Ph.D. in ecotourism and works as an expedition leader and the Chief Sustainability Officer at Natural Habitat Adventures, where he helps shape some of the most conservation-forward wildlife travel on the planet.  He’s spent his career guiding small groups to wild corners of the world—pairing deep ecological knowledge with real-world storytelling that makes conservation feel personal, urgent, and doable.  When he’s not in the field, Court teaches and shares tools for impactful nature photography, using images as a force for protecting the places and species we love.
Start the Class with Colby & CourtFrequently Asked Questions
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Try Before You Buy
Still not sure if this is for you? Watch the first two lessons on us.
No credit card required. Start learning in seconds.
Start My Free LessonsWhy Conservation Communication Matters
In the evolving landscape of sustainable travel, being a "subject matter expert" is no longer enough. Today’s travelers seek meaning and ways to reconcile their love for travel with global environmental challenges. To stand out as a leader in ecotourism and sustainable guiding, you must master the art of conservation communication (re: environmental interpretation) for guides.Â
Do You Communicate Conservation Effectively?
Inspiring conservation storytelling is the bridge between a standard sightseeing trip and a life-changing expedition. Yet, many guides struggle to effectively address challenges like
- habitat loss
- wildlife protection
- natural resource management
- climate change
Without the right training and skill, these moments can feel preachy or political, potentially dampening the guest experience or leading to conflict.
Professional Guide Training
By implementing the Transformational Travel Framework and the Conservation Superpower blueprint found in this course, you’ll inspire your guests and help them discover their own unique path to supporting conservation. Professionalizing your voice is the most powerful way to protect the places you love. For just $65—the price of a headlamp—you gain access to the communication strategies used by the world’s elite conservation travel guides and tour leaders.
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