Showing posts with label Algonquin College. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Algonquin College. Show all posts

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Ontario Trails News - Trailwise - January 26, 2017

ontario highlands tourism organization
• Trail Management • Trailhead Events • Membership Drive 
  • Donate to Trails Today • Member News • Activity Updates 

Updates from Around Ontario Trails!

Nickel City's largest natural playground, Kivi Park open for fun

Snowshoeing, hiking and dog walking all available
Beautiful Kivi Park, located at 4472 Long Lake Rd., is now open for snowshoeing, hiking, walking, fatbiking and dog walking. Image: KiviPark.com
 Kivi Park is now open for snowshoeing, hiking, walking, fatbiking and dog walking.
Kivi Park is located at 4472 Long Lake Rd. It was born out of the demolition of the defunct Long Lake Public School when Sudburian Lily Fielding donated land to the city this past summer. At 300 acres, Kivi Park is the city's largest park — 23 times larger than Bell Park, in fact.
The park provides public access to Crown land leading to three lakes – Crowley Lake, Linton Lake and Camp Lake – and provides a city connection to Killarney Provincial Park.
Thanks to the work of more than 100 volunteers, as well as the talents and equipment of Pioneer Construction Ltd., the park marks a dramatic expansion to the existing sports facilities in Greater Sudbury.


Explore LaCloche P.P



Thanks JustaBitFurther!

Watch our Twitter for Tons of Trail Information!



Family Day Trail Events and More!
Wye Marsh



  • Snowshoe Ecotours - January 14th, 21st & 28th 2017
    Experience areas of the Wye Marsh that are otherwise not open to the general visiting public! After a brief lesson on the art of snowshoeing, you will head out in search of the many mysteries that animal tracks & signs present while being followed by hungry chickadees that like to eat right out of your hand! Your Naturalist guide will teach you how to identify trees in the winter and interpret the symphony of bird songs overhead. You will then have an opportunity to warm up by the fire at Freshet's Creek while enjoying some roasted bannock & hot Cedar tea!
  • Winter Pursuits for Kids! Saturdays Jan. 21-Feb.11 2017
    Participants will be given opportunities to learn through exploring nature! Exclusively run outdoors, this program will focus on embracing all that winter has to offer! From snowshoe obstacle courses & bannock roasting to shelter building & animal tracking, participants will learn to embrace winter - after all, there is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing!
  • Annual General Meeting Jan 28th at 1pm
    Join the Wye Marsh for their Annual General Meeting at 1pm. Hear all about the successes of 2016 and learn about plans for the future. New this year we've got a special guest speaker to give you a History of the Wye Marsh presentation.
  • Marsh by Moonlight Snowshoe Experience February 4th, 11th and 19th 6:30-8:30pm
    Join us for this new and exciting opportunity to experience nature at night!


Hearst Winter Carnival from Ontario Travel


Come enjoy the winter activities that characterize Hearst: A mega outdoor boot hockey tournament, ice sculpture, dog sleigh rides, outdoor curling challenge, snowmobile and car rally tube rides pulled by horse, biathlon-running and snowshoeing, line dancing and rock band tributes!

EVENT DATES:

Feb-17-2017 to Feb-19-2017

ADMISSION:

Free
Price Details: Prices vary according to each activity.


Family Day - Northumberland
Ontario Family Day is February 20, 2017 and is the 3rd Monday in February each year. Escape for the weekend to Northumberland and enjoy quality family time in the great outdoors:
    Toboganning on Northumberland's Hilly Terrain
                 
Festivities and Activities
Family Day celebrations take place in Cobourg centering around their outdoor skating rink just a block south of King Street and right beside the Millstone Bakery where you can warm up with a hot chocolate and nibbles.    The Keeler Centre in Colborne will have their annual skate on Family Day, too.
Port Hope has lined up swimming, skating, crafts and gym challenges at two of their Parks and Recreation Centres.


Algonquin College Trail Education Program - Trail Planning Module Begins !

algonquin on-line education

trail planning program


Trailhead Hastings!



Get Outside and Embrace Winter in Ontario
January 19, 2017
Many Ontario Parks Offer Family Fun All Year RoundWinter has arrived, but that doesn't mean staying indoors until spring. Ontario's provincial parks continue to offer many activities this time of year, with more than 25 parks open all winter long. So bundle up, get outside and enjoy the crisp air and quiet forests.

Here are five ways to take part in winter fun in Ontario's provincial parks:

Learn something new
Ever heard of winter camping? Try it! Frontenac offers winter camping workshops to teach you all the basics - from trip planning to equipment details and safety.

Eat what you catch
Try your hand at ice fishing at Sibbald Point, Windy Lake or Silent Lake Provincial Parks.  No equipment? Windy Lake has an ice fishing kit you can borrow. Just be sure you have a valid fishing licence and outdoors card, and ensure you follow the rules of ice fishing in Ontario's parks.

Skate through the woods
Glide through the woods at MacGregor Point and Arrowhead Provincial Parks where summer campground loops become skate trails. Visit MacGregor Point at night when the outdoor lights come on, making an evening skate truly magical.

Stay active
There are lots of ways to stay active this winter in Ontario's provincial parks. Grab a friend or the family and go for a hike through Presqu'ile Provincial Park.  Once the snow accumulates, many parks also offer snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or tobogganing.

Book a cozy cabin
Stay warm and toasty in a cabin at Quetico or Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, or enjoy a trailside yurt at Pinery or Algonquin Provincial Park.

Reserve mid-week for the best availability!

Remember, winter outdoor activities always depend on the weather, so check park conditions before you leave home and dress appropriately.

QUICK FACTSMore than 450 kilometers of cross-country ski trails are offered this winter in 19 Ontario Parks.
Ontario has more than 330 provincial parks, which cover more than 8 million hectares — an area larger than the entire province of New Brunswick.

In 2016, Ontario’s provincial parks received more than 10 million visits from people around the world and brought in over $82 million in revenue, which supports jobs and businesses across the province.


MTCS Community Recreation Grant FundingOntario is now accepting applications for the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF) 2017–18. OSRCF is a grant program that supports the government’s vision to enable people in communities across Ontario to lead healthy, active lives. The fund increases opportunities for participation in sport and recreation, supports implementation of physical literacy as a foundation for lifelong physical activity and strengthens the community sport and recreation sector.

The deadline to apply for the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund 2017–18 is February 1, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Full details, including who’s eligible and how to apply, are available through Grants Ontario, the providers in your area.


Federal Student Experience Grant FundingThe 2017 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) application period for employers is now open.
EXTENDED TO FEB 3, 2017!
Canada Summer Jobs is a Government of Canada initiative. It provides funding for not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create summer jobs for students between the ages of 15 and 30.

The application form as well as the applicant guide is currently available at www.canada.ca/canada-summer-jobs. You can submit your application online, by mail or in person at any Service Canada Centre. For a better understanding of the Canada Summer Jobs program including key tips to apply, please watch this YouTube video: https://youtube/SfMoLhkgjU8

We encourage you to submit your 2017 application online. By doing so, you will benefit from a fast, easy-to-use, and secure way of applying as you will:
  • have access to the Canada Summer Jobs application 24/7, from any location, allowing you to complete it at your convenience;
  • ensure your application is received immediately by Service Canada;
  • receive an instant acknowledgement confirming that your application has been received; and,
  • avoid postal delays. 
There are two systems available to enable you to apply online:
  1. Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS): If you already have a GCOS account, please use this online platform to submit an online application; or
  2. CSJ online application form.
For more information:
Clickwww.canada.ca/canada-summer-jobs
Call: 1-800-935-5555 (ATS: 1-800-926-9105)
Visit: a Service Canada Centre
CSJ presentation: https://youtube/SfMoLhkgjU8


Use the OFSC Trail Guide this season!
Use the trail guide for the best accuracy in open and closed trails this season.



Trailhead Canada - Save the date!


Trails Tourism Integration Underway

Based on your feedback we are making improvments, areas include such things as:
  • having an event map
  • self directed trail or event edits
  • mapping and maps
  • guided services listings
  • improved weather reporting
  • improved trip planning with printout
  • adding trails for folks with pets to cater to the traveler with pets
  • add trekking and other unique experiences
  • re-brand off-road cycling as mountain biking, add fat-biking as a specialty
  • space for local content
  • improved site search functionality
  • more links across RTO's
  • improved forms with additional categories
  • more support route content like Wine or Arts Routes
  • event to trail linkages on trail content pages
  • cms capability to red flag broken links
  • more! trails!
We appreciate the feedback from all the marketing and branding staffs we have worked with and all the suggestions for improvement. Thank- you


Membership Renewals - Thank-you for your Support!We wish to thank the following organizations that have already completed their membership for 2017. We couldn't do our work without your continued support. Many thanks! Renew Today!


join ontario trails"The OTC provides us with the ability to communicate and collaborate with industry stakeholders, professionals and advocates. It also provides us with the tools to develop our own capacities, skills and networks. As well, it is important to back to the OTC and trail communities in our province.
 Being an OTC member allows us to benefit from the knowledge of other members through education and professional development opportunities such as the Trailhead Ontario conference, and through professional networking. The OTC is the influential body that will help guide and shape the political, professional and physical landscape of trails in Ontario. Joining the OTC provides an opportunity to be part of this process: to both contribute and gain knowledge in a community of passionate, like-minded individuals and organizations."
 - Damian Bradley, Cycling advocate and Developer Guelph Regional Trails Council


Membership Benefits
INFORMATION AND FUNDING
  • OTC Trails and Event page representation
  • Representation on OTC trails maps
  • Social Media represents you to 60,000+ people
  • Fund Development through grant writing, grant support
ACCESS AND INFLUENCE
  • Connectivity to the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport
  • Leadership at the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee
  • Office services and networking support
BEST PRACTICES
  • Partnership Support and Knowledge exchange
  • Access to Professional Development sessions
  • Tourism Practices, Trails Tort Reform, Trail Workshops
TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS
  • Access to Trail Insurance Broker
  • Option on registration in Trillium Trail Network
  • Local, regional or provincial User conflict resolution

2017 MEMBERSHIP FORM - PDF     2017 MEMBERSHIP FORM - WORD DOC

CATEGORIES
Become a "Friend of Trails"
  • Savings on conference/seminar registration
  • Monthly e-bulletins
  • Access to OTC trails database
  • Great gift price!
  • Savings on trail literature/maps
$26.52 + $3.45 = $29.97 (includes 13% HST)
Benefits to Student
  • Editions of the OTC newsletter Trailwise
  • Access to OTC trails information
  • Conference and selected literature savings
  • * must provide student verification
$21.21 + $2.75 = $23.96 (includes 13% HST)

Our members include municipalities, conservation authorities, parks,
trail management groups, trail clubs, trail user groups, health units
and other trail-related supporting organizations.
BaseHSTTotal
Small Non-profit,
Small Organizations
$109.27$14.20$123.47
Conservation Authorities,
Medium Municipalities,
Counties, Regional
Tourism Organizations
$273.18$35.51$308.69
Municipalities,
Provincial Level
Organizations
>5000 users
$819.54$106.54$926.0

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Ontario Trails News - updates on events, support our work, earn your certificate in trails and more!

Trails Talk


Join us every other Tuesday at 1pm EST for a lively half hour discussion on trail issues of importance to the trails community. We will be using our Google Hangout to facilitate our Trail Talks. So make sure you have a gmail account and the hangout app added to your gplus account.

How to Join a Hangout

Invited presenters include:
April 12th, 2016 - Trail Building - are you interested? What is trail building all about? Who does it and the skills you need, with stories from trail builder Zane Davies. Register on Eventbrite

New calendar in development!
Upcoming Event

ORCKA SPRING SEMINAR!



BRING YOUR ORCKA COURSES & TRIPS TO THE NEXT LEVEL !!!

Are you looking for new techniques, games, initiatives and memorable ways to close 
out your trip or course? Then this is the Seminar for you! 

Join Shawn Stetson from AdventureWorks Association Inc in the morning to explore 
 How to connect and reconnect your group and create a sense of community
 Learn new ways to teach leadership through dynamic activities while at the 
same time exploring Leadership behaviours
 Explore 2 new tools to assist you in planning effective programs
 Reflect on your facilitation techniques while exploring new approaches

Finally, no course or trip is complete without a closing activity.  Join ORCKA’s very 
own Linda Leckie after lunch to explore

 Meaningful and effective ways to bring closure to your group
 Use Experiential Education Theory to discover the reason behind reflection and 
transfer activities 

Date:  Saturday April 9th, 2016 
Time:   9:00 am-4:00 pm 
Location: Norval Outdoor Education Centre,
10444 Winston Churchill Blvd, Norval, ON, LOK IPO 

Cost:  $90.00 Members       EARLY BIRD RATE: $85.00 
$100.00 Non-Members 
Members register online atwww.orcka.ca in your secure member area, under “My Seminars” 

Non-Members contact Bonnie Fisher at the ORCKA - info@orcka.ca or 416-426-7016 

LUNCH AND SNACKS ARE INCLUDED 

Camping and/or Cabin (unheated) accommodations are available: $15.00 / night

Earn Your Trails Certificate from Algonquin College

algonquin college trail courses
Trail Planning
Course: OAD3001
This course is listed under the following fields of study:
Community Studies
Health Studies / Animal Care / Nursing
Hospitality & Tourism
Within the trail industry, there are trail standards and maintenance practices to follow. Students acquire base-level knowledge of organizing and planning trail systems and learn to recognize and utilize the necessary steps to plan and create a sustainable trail. This is accomplished through the usage of provincial legislation and the incorporation of interpretive and educational trail signage within a trail system.


Please consider supporting our work

We wish to thank all those organizations who have renewed their membership. Please renew today, our work is more important than ever! Help us help groups keep their trails open!
Please consider making a donation or taking out a membership today! We rely on the generous support of the Canadian trail community to allow us to do our work.

Our Mission - to promote the preservation, management, use and development of trails.

Everyday, somewhere in Ontario we educate, support a group, lead or assist a community improving its quality of life through trails.

Ask us how we make a difference! Thanks

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Ontario Trails Council - donate to support our work, take a course, or join us for Trails Talk


Trails Talk

Join us every other Tuesday at 1pm EST for a lively half hour discussion on trail issues of importance to the trails community. We are pleased to have added an additional topic to the Agenda - see January 12th.
We will be using our Google Hangout to facilitate our Trail Talks. So make sure you have a gmail account and the hangout app added to your gplus account.

How to Join a Hangout

Invited presenters include:
February 16th, 2016 - Explorer's Edge - all about the great trails in RTO 12 with James Murphy of Explorer's Edge. Register on Eventbrite
March 1, 2016 - The Georgian Bay Coast Trail - who supports it, what is happening and all about our spring community meeting in Killarney. With Luke Wassegijig and Kirsten Spence. Register on Eventbrite
March 15, 2016 - Trans Canada Trail - with Jane Murphy and Al McPherson. You've heard about it, how is it progressing? How can you support it? Register on Eventbrite
March 29, 2016 - Hiking, what is it? Who does it? What you need to know about community programs, and trail leadership programs - with Bill Mungall Register on Eventbrite
April 12th, 2016 - Trail Building - are you interested? What is trail building all about? Who does it and the skills you need, with stories from trail builder Zane Davies. Register on Eventbrite


Earn Your Trails Certificate from Algonquin College

algonquin college trail courses


 
Trail Planning
Course: OAD3001
This course is listed under the following fields of study:
Community Studies
Health Studies / Animal Care / Nursing
Hospitality & Tourism
Within the trail industry, there are trail standards and maintenance practices to follow. Students acquire base-level knowledge of organizing and planning trail systems and learn to recognize and utilize the necessary steps to plan and create a sustainable trail. This is accomplished through the usage of provincial legislation and the incorporation of interpretive and educational trail signage within a trail system.


Please consider supporting our work
Please consider making a donation or taking out a membership today! We rely on the generous support of the Canadian trail community to allow us to do our work.

Our Mission - to promote the preservation, management, use and development of trails.

Everyday, somewhere in Ontario we educate, support a group, lead or assist a community improving its quality of life through trails.

Ask us how we make a difference!

Thanks

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Ontario Trails News - Trailwise, landowner rights, grants, national trail work and more!

Ontario Trails Involved in National Trails Development 
 

national trails coalition

The Ontario Trails Council supports the initiatives of the National Trails Coalition who have made a pre-budget submission to Parliament.

The NTC was encouraged when, during the election campaign, we received the following response to our
request for continued support of this private/public partnership from the Liberal Party of Canada
Campaign:

“A Liberal government will provide a new, dedicated funding envelope of $20 billion for social infrastructure, which will prioritize investment in, among other things, recreational infrastructure such as trails. Our commitment to investing in infrastructure will ensure that groups such as the National Trails Coalition, and its municipal and provincial partners, have access to the stable and predictable funding they need to continue creating jobs and promoting our outdoors. We are proud to support investments in recreational infrastructure such as trails that keep Canadians active and healthy.”

We look forward to working with NTC to make this promise happen. We encourage you to contact the NTC to secure information to forward to your local MP.

http://ntc-canada.ca


OTC submits grants to OSRCF in support of Trails


G2G Trail
g2g trail logoVolunteers, staff and community members engaged in the management and operation of the G2G Trail will have their training costs subsidized to take the education program. Through the training they will be better able to manage and operate the Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail. The Ontario Trails Council offers three annual on-line courses for trail groups. Trail Planning, Trail Stewardship and trail Management. These are offered on a calendar basis through Algonquin College. The staff and volunteers of the Goderich to Guelph Trail wish to take these courses but do not have the money for up to 30 persons to spend 1,000 each to take the certification training. The OTC wrote a grant in support of their desire for training.


Hamilton Burlington Trails Council
hamilton burlington trailsTrail systems in Ontario are extensive but underused. With a trend of reduced activity driven by the use of technology, our project will use it to encourage communities to become more active. Our objective, through implementing innovative technology, is to improve trail usability and lower the barriers to trail usage thereby providing the community with the means to increased access of existing natural spaces.  This approach will promote the use of trails by raising awareness of their existence and providing guidance on usage and connectivity thus increasing frequency of activity.  Community trails provide a unique opportunity to accommodate various forms of activity, to users of all ages, at no expense thus rendering it very accessible.

We will attain our objective by creating a fun and innovative web based portal and supporting mobile device application. We propose to use various location based mapping technologies, to mesh panoramic imagery with ancillary cultural, environmental and heritage data. This will connect people to their natural surroundings, establish a sense of place and provide an avenue for positive experiences through increased safety, time and resource management.  

Ontario Tool Trailer/IMBA Canada
imba canadaThe Ontario Trail Tool Trailer project is a Resource Development project, in that it will provide a new and badly needed resource in the form of trail-building tools and volunteer event support, (there is NO trail tools trailer or lending resource in Ontario) and it will train several groups in the art and science of sustainable trail creation and maintenance. The primary deliverable that the project will address is in the category of "Volunteer and Education" - encouraging volunteer trail user groups to take a stewardship role in their trails, and providing them with the tools and education required to do so successfully.

The Ontario Tool Trailer project will consist of three parts: 1) A mobile tool trailer, that will house all the tools and support structure required to host a successful volunteer trail-building or trail maintenance day, 2) The creation of a lending structure to ensure the ongoing availability of the tool trailer to interested groups, and 3) A series of trail-building workshops to educate stakeholders in the art and science of sustainable trail creation and maintenance.

Ontario Trail Assessment
people using a hetap unitThe Ontario HETAP Trail Assessment Project is a Resource Development project, in that it will provide a new and badly needed resource of trail-assessments using our HETAP trail assessment tool, (the HETAP Unit) and volunteer event support, and it will train 4 technicians to  perform trail assessment to ensure AODA compliance. Once the technicians have been trained, a fee will be charged for the trail assessment. The trail assessment process will assess trails for accessibility and other trail characteristics.

HETAP stands for High Efficiency Trail Assessment Process and has been developed to accurately and consistently collect information on the length, grade, cross slope, width, surface type and obstructions of a trail, as well as inventory trail features, such as signage, amenities, maintenance issues, etc.

Great Lakes Guardian Fund for Georgian Bay Coast Trail and PartnersThe Project is part of a larger project by the community based organization Georgian Bay Coast (GBC) Trail which is developing a 200 kilometer rugged hiking trail alongside the east coast of Georgian Bay from Bayfield Inlet to Point Grondine.

This Project is located on a section of this trail on the north east shore of Georgian Bay approximately 90km of Sudbury on the west side of highway 69 and 71km north of Parry Sound on the Henvey Inlet Territory. This Project will identify and protect traditionally significant plants according to medicinal use, edibility or spiritual value along this trail.

 In partnership with Georgian Bay Coast Trail will utilize consulting firms such as Gayenaseh in Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, and community elders.

This Project has four (4) objectives as follows:
1) The training of the Recipient to identify plants of traditionally significant importance and if a  species at risk (SAR); and,
2) Geo-location of identified plants/SAR; and,
3) Conservation of identified plants/SAR through arboretum or other methodology so that the  development and use of the Georgian Bay Coast Trail does not negatively impact these plants; and,
4) The understanding of heritage and culturally significant plant life will lead to interpretive signage programs and provide material for guides serving the GBC Trail  


ontario federation of snowmobile clubs logoOFSC Warns About Trail Conditions 


opp snowmobile safety


   
 DATE: February 2, 2016
UNSAFE ICE CLAIMS ANOTHER LIFE, STAY OFF LAKES AND RIVERS WARNS OPP & OFSC  
Three Ontario Snowmobilers Die in Weekend Incidents  
(ORILLIA, ON) – In the wake of a tragic weekend that claimed the lives of three snowmobilers on frozen waterways, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are warning snowmobilers about unsafe ice and urging everyone, including anglers to stay off lakes and rivers.   
In one incident over the weekend, four snowmobilers went through the ice on a lake in the Haliburton region and one of them drowned. In another incident, a snowmobiler and his passenger were travelling on a Georgian Bay area lake and died after reportedly colliding with rocks on an island.  The ice was too unsafe to get to the victims by ground and they had to be recovered by helicopter.   
No ice is 100 per cent safe 
The winter’s late start and persisting mild temperatures throughout the province make current ice conditions extremely dangerous. Even when sufficient ice forms, it is never 100 per cent safe to snowmobile on.  Staying off the ice altogether is the only sure way to prevent snowmobile tragedies from occurring on waterways.   
A personal choice? Think again 
Some snowmobilers call riding on frozen waterways a “personal choice”.  This is not the case when you and your snowmobile go through the ice and police, other emergency personnel and civilians have to try to rescue you on that same unsafe ice. 
To avoid unnecessary risks and get home safely after your ride, the OPP and OFSC recommend that snowmobilers adhere to available, land-based OFSC trails whenever possible. OFSC clubs provide many trails that avoid water crossings altogether and include bridges and culverts that allow you to pass over water crossings safely.
“Common sense” checklist   
If parts of the province experience sustained periods of cold temperatures in the coming days or weeks, carefully assess ice conditions before you head out on frozen waterways. If you do choose to snowmobile on lakes, cross only where a marked stake line is in place and go directly from shore to shore, without stopping on the ice. The following safety checklist can help ensure a safe ride:
  • Check ice thickness and quality before riding onto any frozen waterway.
  • Only travel where ice is already well-tracked and others are present, and where ice roads and fishing huts are in place.
  • Be mindful that ice conditions can vary from day-to-day, from hour-to-hour and from one location to the next.
  • Never travel on ice alone, at night or while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
  • Avoid slushy or untracked ice or ice near moving water or dock bubblers.
  • Watch out for obstacles like rocks, stumps, docks, ice roads and fishing huts.
  • Wear a buoyant snowmobile suit and carry ice picks.
  • Do not travel on ice for several days after any mild temperatures and stay off the ice altogether as soon as spring temperatures stay at or above 0˚C.
Your family needs you to come home  
Finally, the OPP and OFSC are asking snowmobilers to remember every time they head out for a ride, that their loved ones expect and need them to get home safely. Don’t let your family be the ones who answer the door to a police officer who has to deliver the devastating news that their loved one died in a snowmobile incident.     
The OPP is committed to saving lives on Ontario’s highways, trails and waterways through the reduction of preventable injury and death. Initiatives are developed and delivered through the Provincial Traffic Safety Program.
The OFSC is committed to proactive leadership in promoting safe, responsible riding, on and off Ontario snowmobile trails, by building safer snowmobiling knowledge, attitudes and behaviours through rider education, safety legislation development and enforcement.
For more information, click on the following links:  
Contacts: 
OPP Sgt. Peter Leon            Or:         OPP Sgt. Lise Grenier
Media Relations Coordinator                Specialized Patrol Coordinator
Corporate Communications                Highway Safety Division    
Phone: (705) 329- 6878                    Phone: (705) 329-7660
For more information, click on the following links: 

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Ontario Trails News - trail education, membership and more!

We appreciate the membership support of:

County of Huron
 
GUIDE TO HIKING TRAILS AVAILABLE
Huron County - Hikers from near and far will be pleased to know that a guide to the Maitland River Valley hiking trails has just been published.

Thanks to funding from The Ontario Trillium Foundation, and to many hours of effort from volunteers, The Maitland Trail Association (MTA) is pleased to announce publication of the Guide to the Maitland Trail and Associated Trails in the Goderich Area.

"The guide offers full colour detailed maps and informative text describing conditions found on the trails, as well as pointing out places of geographic, historic and cultural interest. This information will enhance use of these trails for local residents and visitors, as they appreciate the natural beauty of the Maitland River Valley while they enjoy walking and hiking in the area.

The 48 km. Maitland Trail, from Goderich to Auburn, is divided into five sections, with a map available for each section. These detailed maps show contour lines, landmarks and distances.

MTA volunteers checked the trail distances using GPS (Global Positioning System) units. Geographic Information System (GIS) computer mapping was then contracted to the County of Huron Planning and Development Dept. 


Georgian Cycle and Ski Trail Association

georgian cycle and ski trail associationThe Georgian Trail is a 34 km all-season, easy access, recreational trail linking the communities of Collingwood, Craigleith, Thornbury and Meaford, primarily on former railway property.  
 
The trail is for cyclists, walkers, joggers, cross-country skiers, and is wheelchair accessible * motorized vehicles and horses are not permitted.  
 
Users may access nearby park lands and businesses, such as restaurants, shopping, and accommodation, are just minutes away from some areas of the trail. 
 
Users are encouraged to become members of The Georgian Cycle and Ski Trail Association, donations are welcomed and needed to help underwrite costs of maintenance, further trail development, newsletters, etc. Income Tax receipts will be issued under the charitable organization registration #0813576-56.
 


Durham Mountain Biking Association

Durham Mountain Biking Association is a non-profit association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve trail opportunities for mountain bikers in Durham and York Regions. We formed in the fall of 2005 to advocate for mountain bikers in the Durham Region. With a growing membership, who live across the Greater Toronto Area, we have evolved and expanded our representation of and for the mountain biking community. durham mountain bike association

 

City of Burlington

burlington trails
There are so many trails in the Burlington area that you could spend days exploring them all.  The main hiking trails (a total of over 130 km) are featured below.  There are also multi-use pathways located throughout the city of Burlington that are used by hikers, cyclists, joggers, skateboarders etc.  TAKE a HIKE!

Safety

There are some risks associated with hiking on trails through natural areas. Many trails follow cliff edges and shorelines of creeks and lakes with no barriers from steep slopes or water.  Trail surfaces can also be slippery when wet or icy. High winds can make hiking unsafe so trails may close during times of high winds. Wearing appropriate footwear, exercising caution in hazardous areas and watching children carefully will help make your hiking adventure safe and enjoyable.

This past year the OTC Membership grew beyond 240 members, with over 220 being organizational supporters.

Your support of our work helps us to:
  • travel to communities
  • update the website
  • answer the phone
  • seek other funds for special projects
  • write grants for members
  • mitigate conflict
  • guide users with a where to turn
  • update the youtube, and other social media
  • engage with government
  • promote the design, use and management of trails
  • coordinate meetings
  • manage the education program(s)


Earn Your Trails Certificate from Algonquin College

algonquin college trail courses


 

Trail Planning

Course: OAD3001
This course is listed under the following fields of study:
Within the trail industry, there are trail standards and maintenance practices to follow. Students acquire base-level knowledge of organizing and planning trail systems and learn to recognize and utilize the necessary steps to plan and create a sustainable trail. This is accomplished through the usage of provincial legislation and the incorporation of interpretive and educational trail signage within a trail system.


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Our Mission - to promote the preservation, management, use and development of trails.

Everyday, somewhere in Ontario we educate, support a group, lead or assist a community improving its quality of life through trails.

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