Friday, May 17, 2013

Trailwise - Ontario Trails News for week of May 16, 2013

Trail Questions1) Question: Road Trail Intersection Improvements. OTC was contacted by Saugeen Rail Trail. They have been invited to present at more Ministry of Transportation meetings. They want to know - when two lane highways are re-developed, have any of you been able to secure trailhead improvements at the crossings, by way of the re-development? If so, what did you get? Please e-mail Jeff Hemming at jaycee@bmts.com

2) Deadline Extended! to May 31st, 2013 - Support a Great Lakes Guardian Fund Grant. Great Lakes Guardian Fund applications due tomorrow. Last year OTC supported a Town of Deseronto CIAF Grant Application and the town got an $80,000 grant to re-develop their waterfront park and the Waterfront trail. As an OTC Member, Regional partner, or trail stakeholder would you consider writing a letter in support. E-mail me for our letter template you can use! Also please consider putting our OTC logo or OTC website as a link on your website!

3) Capital Funding for Trails - Please take a minute to complete the capital funding section of our survey. A s many communities head into the budget cycle other communities want to get an idea of the relative and comparative amounts communities of similar size are investing in their trails. Please go to:


Trailhead Ontario - Updatestrailhead ontario
  • Holiday Inn discounted rooms!

  • Northern Members - Dial in to One or Both Internet Media Panels - 35.00 per person
trailhead ontario northern members
Join trail advocates, organizations, speakers, builders, use groups, volunteers, planners and regulators as we discuss, learn and improve Ontario's Trails!

The Ontario Trails Council, and the Trailhead Ontario 2013 planning committee wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and sport in making this conference happen. We could not have a conference and sustain OTC without their assistance. For this we are grateful. Please attend Trailhead Ontario and hear all the latest developments on tourism and recreation from the MTCS!

Tourism development includes trails. Trail packages, trail experiences, trail destinations. One such trip is hiking. Hear about "A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK"
great lakes walk
Please join Trailhead Ontario as we present Author Loreen Niewenhuis as she talks about her experience circumnavigating, on foot - the waterfront trails of the Great Lakes! In 2009, Loreen Niewenhuis walked the perimeter of Lake Michigan and wrote the bestselling book, "A 1000-MILE WALK ON THE BEACH".

In 2012, she took another long journey, covering 1000 miles of shoreline touching all five Great Lakes. The book about this latest adventure, "A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK",explores the entire Great Lakes system.

In this presentation, she will take you along the shores of all five Great Lakes and many of the waterways connecting them. In words, photos, and video, you’ll explore the geology, hydrology, and natural history of the largest system of fresh water lakes in the world. She will also illuminate the threats to this massive ecosystem: invasive species, pollution, destruction of wetlands, and the gradual warming of the lakes.

Niewenhuis speaks with the authority of an expert as she has a M.S. degree in the biological sciences. She raises important questions about preserving our wild places and protecting the fragile ecosystems on which we all depend.
International Trail development panel - hear trail association professionals from the states of Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and New York as we convene a panel on cross border trails tourism, promoting the Great Lakes Basin. Hear how trails are developed, managed and promoted by our counterparts just across the Ontario/USA Border.
kawarthas northumberland tourism
Local Initiatives - Kawarthas Northumberland are promoting trails and trails activity in new and exciting ways. Working with trail groups is the cornerstone of the RTO8 trails development agenda. Come and hear how Kawarthas Northumberland is working with Trent University, Fleming and the Trans Canada Trail on the development of regional initiatives such as, heritage trails, provincial trails day (June 1st) and a variety of other seasonal marketing initiatives for trails and trail towns.
We would welcome your support, rates are reasonable and it would be great to have a few provincial trail organization booths at the conference.
General Membership AGM!

Time Limited?Select 1, 2, 3 or 4 Day Participation options

TICKET TYPE PRICE FEE
Conference and Education Package - Paypal (Monday-Tues-Weds) CA$315.88* CA$9.12
Conference and Education Session Package - Pay by cheque (Monday-Tues) CA$357.50* CA$9.95
Conference Registration - Paypal (Mon-Tues) CA$169.63* CA$5.37
Training - Risk Management - (Tues-Weds) CA$203.76* CA$6.24
One Day Registration - Conference Only (Mon or Tues) CA$96.51* CA$3.49
Display Booth CA$257.86* CA$7.63
Display Booth - discount CA$171.58* CA$5.42
Display Booth - Non-Profit - Provincial CA$171.58* CA$5.42
Display Booth - Provincial Non-profit - discount CA$128.20* CA$4.30
Display Booth - Local, small non-profit CA$42.15* CA$2.10
Display table - literature only CA$20.59* CA$1.54
Ordered Ticket at door - Conference CA$169.63* CA$5.37
Ordered Ticket at Door - Education CA$194.01* CA$5.99
Ordered Ticket at Door - Conference and Education CA$365.55* CA$9.95
Ordered Ticket at Door - One Day Only - Conference Only CA$100.00 CA$3.49
Coffee Break Support CA$194.01* CA$5.99

kawartha's northumberland

More information? Go to - Trailhead Ontario  Call Patrick at 1-877-668-7245 or Vanessa Twiddy at 905-373-8752www.rto8.com

Trails Education - Select a Program!We have updated the program and our 14 module program is here for the using, as well as on-line learning through Algonquin College!
algonquin college trails education

If you have staff to train, trails to manage or want a session in your area on a particular topic let us know. We'll coordinate a session or series on your behalf.
  DESCRIPTION
COURSE TITLE
Volunteer Management View PDF
Business Planning and Budgetting View PDF
Regulation and Legislation View PDF
Ecosystem and Natural Heritage View PDF
Wilderness First Aid View PDF
Food and Nutrition View PDF
Marketing and Promotion View PDF
Health and Safety View PDF
Technology for Trails - Level 1 View PDF
Trail Design (2 days) View PDF
Trail Risk Management View PDF
Trail Committee Development Manual
Trail Steward- On Line Learning Program
Trail Planning - On Line Program

Trail MappingBACKROADS MAPBOOKS
trak maps
Trails Insurance Program AvailableOnce again, members of the trails community find themselves seeking alternative trails insurance. The volatility and unpredictability of your insurance plan keeping you hopping? Wondering what you are getting, curious if your agent or the underwriter understands trails? If you want:
  • cost stability
  • product assurance
  • insurance perseverance
  • a broker that understands trails
At OTC our mission is "trail preservation." See the note from Intercity Insurance, Mike King, below.

intercity insurance

As for what trail insurance products we have "in the box” right now:
a)       Commercial General Liability coverage —premium costs start at $1,000.00 for $2,000,000 coverage.
b)      Directors and Officers liability coverage — premium costs start at $200.00 for $I,000,000 coverage. We find that even the smallest community group is seeing the importance of acquiring D and O coverage.
c)       Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage - premiums start at $250. 00 to cover the Officers, Directors, employees, members. The limit of coverage is $100,000.

In the near future OTC will be bundling these products as a part of membership services and products.

Performance Measures - Trail Counts!

ontario trails counts
Low maintenance - Using weatherproof decals our methods allow users to quickly and easily provide you with information you need to assess, improve, direct, re-direct, or provide information to the user - while on the trail. Our proprietary method has been developed by over 140 trail users and with the input of The City of Thunder Bay and Norfolk County Trail Managers.

Packages - OTC Member? - Take $25.00 off each package!
  • Blue - 4-10 trails:  $300.00 plus HST and registration fees
    • Maximum 20 sheets of decals
  • Green - 10-20 trails: $500.00 plus HST and registration fees
    • Maximum 40 sheets of decals
  • Gold - 20 or more trails: Starting at $1,000 plus HST and registration fees
    • TBD
Go to Trail Counts! to purchase. Thanks

Ontario Trails - Your Data Wanted

land information ontario
Since 2007 the Ontario Trails Council has collected trails data, and turned that data into our award winning website, as mandated by the desires of the trails community reflected in the Ontario Trails Strategy. Nearly 1,000,000 people a year turn to this information in order to find you and your trails. The characteristics we are looking for are:

1.       Measurements
  1. Trailhead Longitude
  2. Trailhead Latitude
  3. Completion Time (hours)
  4. Elevation Change (m)
  5. Trailhead Elevation (m)
  6. Maximum Elevation (m)
  7. Cross Slope Average (%)
  8. Cross Slope Maximum (%)
  9. Minimum Trail Width (m)
  10. Average Trail Width (m)
  11. Maximum Grade (%)
  12. Average Grade (%)
  13. Trail Surface
  14. Trail Classification (Trail Group/Local Classification/Difficulty/ Rating eg: OFSC Trail Classes)
4.    Prohibited Trail Uses
5.    Trail Hazards (Poison Ivy, Steep Slopes)
6.    Trail Fees (Day Pass, Donation, Parking etc.)
7.    Seasons/Dates of Operation
8.    Trail Amenities (Visitor Centre, Beach, Boat Launch etc.)
9.    Trail Enforcement
10.  Trail Permits
11.  Trail Speed Limit
12.  Trail Signage
13.  Trail Environmental Concerns
14.  Trail Permitted Use (Dogs on Leash)
  1. Date of Collection
  2. Data Collector
  3. Trail sensitivity (high /low) 
So let us know if you are willing to support us by sharing data you already have. execdir@ontariotrails.ca Thanks

Ontario Trails MembershipOn 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. This past week we received a renewal from the County of Frontenac. Thank you very much for your support!

THANKS! MERCI! join otc
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