Ontario Trails - Our weekly Newsletter "Trailswise" - all about Ontario Outdoors on Ontario Trails

Weekly E-Bulletin of the Ontario Trails Council. The provincial trails association in Ontario. Week of February 14, 2013

• Education • News • Updates • Sharing •  Requests • Meetings • Activity

Ontario Trails Council Program(s)It is difficult to synthesize into one conversation all the work the OTC does, everyday on behalf of trails in Ontario, any OTC Board member would be happy to talk to you further about why they support OTC, and why you would benefit from our work. OTC membership is made up of volunteer groups, departments or staff of planning, economic development, regional tourism, health unit, roads, user federations, trail committees, individuals. Some of our innovative work includes: We have on-line trail education through Algonquin College, and offer 14 other in class education courses, on a rotating schedule. New Courses: Trail Design with Daniel Scott - March 13,14, 2013 - Albion Hills Conservation Trail Risk Management with Direct Bearing - April 9, 10, 2013 - Albion Hills Conservation Weekly Newsletter Trailwise Social Media impressions beyond 6M a year - Facebook Over 1 Million unique visitors to the OTC website and blog in 2012 = 4.41 Million trips planned. Our provincial trails conference - Trailhead Ontario AGM - one member one vote Trailhead Ontario Website Trailhead Ontario Registration - Early Bird Ends April 1, 2013 Our Plan for 2013 – "From Recreation to Tourism" There are a lot of new trails and trail tourism partnerships in RTO8. The Ontario Trails “Trailhead Ontario 2013″ Committee is  is pleased to announce the Holiday Inn Waterfront Peterborough as the location of our conferencing. Site locations for our trail education program are being determined now. Natural/ Historic Sites When you’re entering the region from any direction the noticeable feature that differentiates Peterborough from other Cities or Counties in Ontario is the distinct rolling hills.  These hills, while beautiful when full with fall foliage, have a unique history behind them.  When the last ice age was receding, it left behind large pockets of sediment, which it picked up while proceeding to grow and freeze everything in its path.  These pockets of sediment are what create the rolling hill effect you see now.  The leftover hills are called Drumlins and Peterborough is home to one of the largest Drumlin fields in Canada.  The reason is unknown, however when travelling along the trails or the roads, makes sure you keep an eye out for the next hill and think about how it really was created. Become a Trailhead Ontario Presenter - tell us about yourself! Trail Count Program - trail use and monitoring system Ever wondered who is using your trail and when? Looking for more than just a static count of trail activity? Tell others about what type of person is using your trail, what makes your trail a popular destination...and more Trail Marketing - variety of media Our mobile app voted one of 12 Must Have for Living in Rural Ontario by Ruralist.ca Ontario Trail Projects - this page details our work in 32 areas of Ontario. Ontario Trails Council liaise with the province, and through membership input we conduct a variety of surveys and create reports that guide decision makers at all levels - these include: Trail Priorities Accessibility Land Use Planning Ontario Cycling Route Commentary Use of Maintenance Vehicles on Trails Community Development Event Planning for Trail Groups Safe Trails Manual Regional Tourism Trail Inventory RTO12 And more. We can get you to a significant trails audience. Ontario Trail Council Membership Membership renewals for 2013 started going out December 1st, 2012. Thanks to the 70+ organizations that have renewed so far! We have renewals from - Chatham Kent Trails Committee Brant County Bonnie Simpson Sustainable Trails Backroads Maps Dryden Lanark Tourism Port Hope Ontario Equestrian Federation Lambton County Saugeen Shores Upper Grand Trailway Association Northumberland County Missississauga S. MacCartney Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs Ontario Trail Riders Association Collingwood Toronto Region Conservation Authority Norfolk County Prescott-Russell Chatham Kent County French River Orangeville Algonquin Highlands Fleming College Upper Canada Horsemans Association North Grenville Bruce County Cavan-Monaghan Conservation Halton Petawawa Perterborough Trak Map Concepts Ausauble Bayfield CA Cambridge Trails Committee Elk Lake Eco Centre Hastings County Trail Committee Menesetung Bridge Association Oshawa Waterfront Regeneration Trust Trail Headwaters Community in Action Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance Bruce Trail Network of Bruce County (not Bruce Trail) Ontario Parks Association (not Ontario Parks) Conservation Ontario Timmins Lake Simcoe Regional CA Essex Region CA London East Gwillimbury Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs Hearst Thunder Bay Nordic Club Friends of Second Marsh Eskakwa Eco-Adventure Company Kolapore Trails Ontario Recreational Canoe and Kayak Association Minto Huronia Trails and Greenways Haldimand County Gananoque Kincardine Our Favorite Place (RTO8) Clearview Township Renfrew County Oxford Trails Committee On behalf of OTC we thank you for your support. If there is a group you know that is not a member contact us and we'll send them a note on membership benefits. THANKS! MERCI!  Local Trails NewsAtikokan: Credit Valley Conservation: Guelph: Nastawgan: Norfolk County: Ontario Recreational Canoe and Kayak Association Training: Outdoor Show, Toronto: Prince Edward County: Running: Snowmobiling: Welland: Trail Management Guides Ontario Trails Council - Regional Trail Development Guide: developed in partnership with the Trans Canada Trail, this guide helps communities develop trail stakeholder committees. Once formed these committees help to: Mitigate Trail Use Conflict Seek Funds Encourage Use Work to reduce Trespass Want a copy or a seminar? Contact OTC - 877-668-7245 Ontario Trails Council - Safe Trails Guide:developed with the support of the Ministry of Health Promotion, this guide includes recommended best practices on: Code of Conduct Permits Trail Maintenance/Development Qualifications to Develop Trail Reporting Trail Audits Forms Waivers/Assumption of Risk Want a copy or a seminar? Contact OTC - 877-668-7245  Ontario Trails Council - Event Planning Guide -perfect for the trail group planning to develop trail or hold a fund raising event to support an activity or a trail project. Content includes: Event Ideas Attracting Volunteers Promotion Critical Path to the Event (6 month step by step, from idea to event!) Want a copy or a seminar? Contact OTC - 877-668-7245