For immediate
release: September 28, 2012
Contact: Patrick Connor Executive Director
Ontario Trails Council
|
|
Norfolk County piloting Ontario Trails Activity
Project
Ever wonder how
many people use your trails?
The Norfolk
County Trails has initiated a trail use survey on 4 of its trails. The Sunrise, Waterford, Delhi, Lynn
Valley trails all have
been incorporated into a larger province wide pilot project.
Designed to be
easy to use off of any iPhone or mobile device, the application simply directs
you through QR code to an on-line survey. The survey asks 10 easy to answer
questions about the trail, how far you travelled to use the trail and
improvements you’d like to see on the trail, etc.
“This represents
a great opportunity for Norfolk
County to use available
technology, in a very low cost way to assess the use of its trails,” said Mark
Boerkamp, Trail Development/Business Marketing Coordinator.
“Collecting
data in this way is cheaper than laser trail counters and gives users the chance
to tell us more about their trail trip, especially in rural areas.”
Current trails
being surveyed include:
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/sunrise Norfolk Sunrise Trail survey
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/delhi Delhi Rail Trail survey
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/waterford The Waterford Heritage Trail survey
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/lynnvalley The Lynn Valley Trail survey
“Ontario Trails
Council is pleased to support the desire of Norfolk County to know more about
how it’s trails are used so that it can strategically improve trails for use;
by local residents, cycling tourists or other groups,” affirmed Patrick Connor,
Executive Director, Ontario Trails Council.
As regional
tourism organizations promote trail tourism, and as local communities use
trails to increase resident health, knowing the level of use will assist
planners in developing trails that make a difference.
Look for the
following decal on your favorite Norfolk Trails:
For more information please contact
Mark Boerkamp, Trail Development/
Business Marketing Coordinator
Community Services Department
519-426-5999 Ext: 2215
________________________________________________________________________
Trail Management Aides
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 fundraising
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
_________________________________________________________________________
Camping cutbacks in Ontario
Sault Star
“People will still have access to them for hiking
and fishing and picnicking but there will no longer be the overnight
camping that will be available and washroom facilities,” Natural
Resources Minister Michael Gravelle said in an interview. The park ...
See all stories on this topic »
______________________________________________________________
Hike Ontario (HikeOntario) on Twitter
Hike Ontario.
@HikeOntario. The provincial voice for the hikers and walkers of
Ontario. Join us. Hike. Walk. Ramble. Just Get Outside. A trail waits
for you.
https://fr.twitter.com/HikeOntario
______________________________________________________________
TRAIL BUILDING - OCTOBER 3-4, 2012
The Ontario Trails Council and the Ontario Trails
Education Program, in conjunction with
International Mountain Bicycling Association (ON)
are pleased to announce the decison to offer the highly recognized and
nationally respected IMBA Trailbuilding Program, as part of its Trail
Education Course offerings in Ontario. We are currently working to hold
our first course on October 3-4. Please save the date.
Daniel
Scott from IMBA writes, "Students will come away with a firm
understanding of the fundamentals of trail design for both hard surface
and naturally surfaced trails of various user types. A working knowledge
of the
design process from
the planning phase to ground proofing trail alignments will be both
discussed and experienced with examples and a field exercise which will
include using field measurement equipment and flagging a trail alignment
for construction."
Program elements include:
IMBA will provide for a two day workshop educating on the following elements
• Sustainable Trail Design – Making sure it lasts using various techniques:
• 5 Elements of
Sustainable Design - Micro trail design - the fundamentals for bench cut
• Bench cut Trail vs. Raised Tread Trail - when is each appropriate
• 13 Steps to Trail Planning - Macro trail design - how one trail fits within a larger system
• Art of Trail Design - User psychology and design theory in the natural landscape
• Trail Closure & Rehabilitation - Mitigating reroutes & closures through design & signage
• Advanced
Design & Construction Techniques – Building in challenging locations:
• Wooden Structures - intro to various techniques and how to design for users types
• Rock Armouring - intro to various techniques and how to design for users types
• Technical Trail Features -
Designing trail features specific to various user groups
• Turns - Climbing, In sloped & Switchback - which turns is appropriate for who & where?
Or contact: Graham Burke, Ontario Trails Council
course@ontariotrails.ca
______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
ONTARIO TRAILS COUNCIL E-NEWS - Every Friday
• Local Trail News
• Trail Education Program
• Trail Heros
• Trailhead Ontario
• Activity and User Updates
View it Here
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Sunday September 30
Bruce Trail Day is an annual event celebrating Canada's oldest and longest footpath, hosted by the Bruce Trail Conservancy and each of its nine Bruce Trail Clubs. Click here for the complete list of Bruce Trail Events along The Bruce Trail.
Limehouse (Halton Hills, Ontario)
Hosted by: Toronto Bruce Trail Club, Halton Hills Chapter
Date & Time: Sunday September 30, 10:00 am
Description:
Join
hikers of the Halton Hills Chapter of the for a picnic hike to
celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the
Toronto Bruce Trail Club and all the work done by volunteers. There will
be displays and information on the Bruce Trail. We'll hike in
the Limehouse Conservation area and then enjoy a picnic in
the Millenium Garden, next to the parking lot. Bring food to share for
our picnic lunch after the hike. All ages are welcome but children but
must be accompanied by an adult.
Hike Leader: Heinz Rusche
Meeting Point:
OR
Terra Cotta Conservation Area (FREE shuttle bus from Toronto)
Hosted by: Toronto Bruce Trail Club
Date & Time: Sunday September 30, 2012; 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Description:
Explore
the variety of life and beautiful fall colours in one of the most
scenic sections of the Bruce Trail. Start by warming up at the Watershed
Learning Centre and meeting some of your local Bruce Trail volunteers.
Then join Credit Valley Conservation staff for a fun-and-fact filled
guided hike at 10:00 am or at 1:00 pm.
Free parking at Terra Cotta Conservation Area for Bruce Trail Day participants.
(Thank you to our partner, Credit Valley Conservation)
Bus from Toronto available (see details in Directions below).
______________________________________________________________
MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE EVENT CALENDAR
Our event calendar shows weekly adjustments to our course offerings.
This week we have added another date for Volunteer Management with Diana
Smyth and adjusted out two courses from this current week.
In
addition, we have added the new Trail Design Course detailed below. We
have also taken calls from some folks wishing to take the Trails
Marketing Course in Kingston October 18, 2012. Those seats were block
purchased by RTO 9, what we could do is work with you to get another RTO
1-or 4- or 7? to purchase a block of seats so that folks can attend in
those areas. Sorry for any confusion this may cause. Thank you.
Be
sure to use our array of press or other flyers to circulate to your
local papers or possible attendees. All available for use - call -
877-668-7245 or 519-941-8911, or 1-866-560-7783
