Getting excited for your CPAWS experience? We are too! But before we get to the all the fun, let's review some important details about your outdoor experience.
What to Expect
Hikes are 3-5km and depending on the trail chosen, can be over either gentle or steep terrain. These experiences are up to 4 hours maximum from 10am to 2pm.
Community walks are 1 to 2 hours at a local park or your community. Two community walks can be paired in a day (morning and afternoon). The schedule must include a 30 min break between groups for your CPAWS guide.
Programs are led by experienced, certified, interpretive guides. We offer educational activities/games throughout the outdoor experience which vary based on program selection. Visit our Youth Experiences and Professional Learning pages for program options. More trail information can be found here.
Please take the time to read through this, and our Outdoor Experiences FAQs, (coming soon). Below is important information about what to expect and how to help participants have a wonderful outdoor experience. If you still have questions, reach out!
Please note that guides reserve the right to refuse service to participants and organizers who are ill prepared for the weather, trail conditions, or are missing medication. Arriving ill prepared can put the program and participants at risk. We highly suggest using our Outdoor Experience Planning Checklist (coming soon), which will help Facilitators ensure everyone is ready for a great day outside!
Sample Hike Itinerary
Time
Activity
10:00 AM
CPAWS staff greet participants in the parking lot and discuss the plan for the day.
Possible Activities: ice-breaker games, landscape connection activities
11:00 AM
Hiking & Interpretation
Possible Activities: games, nature connection activities, community science
11:30 AM
Lunch at a scenic location
12:00 PM
Hiking & Interpretation
Possible Activities: games, interpretation, conservation teachings, debrief
2:00 PM
Goodbye
Sample Community Walk Timeline
Time
Activity
10:00 AM
CPAWS staff greet Group 1 and provide a local, community walk. Activities may include nature connection activities, games, community science, interpretation, conservation teachings, and a debrief.
12:00 PM
12:30 PM
CPAWS staff greet Group 2 and provide a local, community walk. Activities may include nature connection activities, games, community science, interpretation, conservation teachings, and a debrief.
2:30 PM
Group 2 finishes their time with CPAWS.
* Please Note: Outside of the times scheduled with CPAWS, your Facilitator in Charge of the group is responsible for the participants. In the example above, CPAWS is responsible for Group 1 from 10-12 and Group 2 from 12:30-2:30. If you arrive early and/or stay late, please prepare your participants for the walk (washrooms, if applicable, apply sunscreen, have a snack, etc.) and/or arrange facilitator-led activities until your time with CPAWS begins.
Community walks can be scheduled for 1 hour up to a maximum of 2 hours.
Facilitator Responsibilities
- Read this entire hiking info page (all facilitators/teachers/leaders/volunteers involved should also read this).
- Read the Outdoor Experiences FAQs (coming soon) page for more detailed information on what to expect.
- Fill out the Pre-Trip Form 2-3 weeks prior to your trip.
- Arrange Transportation – see below for more details.
- Arrange for all participants to sign CPAWS waivers (unless a Master Agreement is in place for your organization). Waivers are not required for CBE, CCSD, and RVSD schools (Master Agreements are in place).
- Ensure all participants have appropriate gear and have any necessary medication prior to departure.
- Ensure all participants who require vital/rescue medication, have it with them (inhalers, epi-pens, etc.).
- Double check for gear and medications before you travel to the trailhead. Participants that are not prepared or are missing vital medications will be asked to remain in the parking lot.
- Carry a cell phone and a first aid kit on the trip. Each group must carry these items. If you are bringing two groups, you must bring two first aid kits and two phones.
- Confirm each group size is no more than 34 participants (including all facilitators/teachers/leaders/volunteers). This is in accordance with our Alberta Parks Permits. You will have one guide per group.
- The recommended group size is 15-20 people.
- All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Confirm size of each group is no more than 34 participants
- For Kananaskis hikes:
- Arrange your Kananaskis Conservation Pass. Buses transporting groups from K-12 schools are eligible for a single day Kananaskis Conservation Pass. Call the Alberta Parks Contact Centre at 1-877-537-2757 for more information.
- Complete your Kananaskis Region School Group Registration. This provides a safety backup for groups and it helps to give Alberta Parks a better number of schools on the land.
- For Youth/Student Programs:
- Arrange adult volunteers and brief them on their responsibilities.
- Manage youth behaviour during the trip.
- Confirm adult to student ratios are met:
- 1-3: 1 adult per 8 students
- 4-6: 1 adult per 10 students
- 7-9: 1 adult per 12 students
- 10-12: 1 adult per 15 students
Weather Preparedness
Facilitators in Charge must ensure EVERYONE dresses appropriately for the day and brings extra gear as the weather can change quickly. This includes:
- Appropriate footwear – runners or hiking boots.
- Rain jacket
- An extra sweater
- Hat and mitts
Weather is often different from Calgary to Kananaskis, when in doubt, plan for cooler/wetter weather in the mountains.
Please note that guides reserve the right to refuse service to adults and youth that are ill-prepared.
Washrooms
There are outhouses at the trailheads of our permitted hike locations. There are no toilets or outhouses while hiking. Community walk locations may not have washroom facilities.
Facilitator in Charge (for youth programs) or a Parent/Guardian is responsible for youth/children who need to use the washroom during the duration of the program.
Guides will inform participants of appropriate wilderness toileting practices and locations while hiking. They will encourage all participants to use the facilities at the beginning and end of the day.
If a lack of washroom facilities poses a barrier to participation for your group, please reach out to discuss location options.
Transportation
Transportation is not provided by CPAWS nor included in program cost; it must be arranged by the Facilitator in Charge.
For hikes outside of the city, the bus must remain on-site for the entire program and the bus driver must remain with the bus. This is in case of emergency. Please make this clear to your bus company. It is recommended to have a contingency vehicle in addition to the bus for emergency situations. (Required for all CBE schools)
Within the city of Calgary, we recommend ensuring your bus company will commit to picking up your group within 30 minutes in case of an emergency. If your group is travelling on foot or by public transit, please contact our staff to discuss logistics.
Important Note on Back-Up Locations:
*NEW* - We now have back-up locations set-up for all our hiking trails in case of trail closures or local, inclement weather. This will allow us to pivot to a nearby trail without having to cancel your booking. Please confirm the back-up plan with your bus company and school board, as required. Include the specific trail information (booked trail and back-up trail) under the destination field of your trip proposal to your school board. The location pairings are as follows:
| Booked Trail | Back-Up Trail |
| Coal Mine Scar Trail | Yamnuska Day Use Area, Lower Meadows Area, and Yamnuska Ridge Trail (up to the first bluff only) |
|
Troll Falls Trail & Hay Meadows Trail (Please note, Troll Falls is only available to groups of 14 or less). |
Yamnuska Day Use Area, Lower Meadows Area, and Yamnuska Ridge Trail (up to the first bluff only) |
| Yamnuska Day Use Area, Lower Meadows Area, and Yamnuska Ridge Trail (up to the first bluff only) | Coal Mine Scar Trail (Grade 6+) |
| Foran Grade Trail & Windy Point Trail | Brown Lowery Trail |
| Brown Lowery Trail | Foran Grade Trail & Windy Point Trail |
| Fish Creek Hiking Trails (from Bebo Grove Day Use Area) | Nose Hill Park Trails and Pathways |
| Fish Creek Hiking Trails (from Votiers Flats Day Use Area) | Nose Hill Park Trails and Pathways |
| Nose Hill Park Trails and Pathways | Fish Creek Hiking Trails (from Bebo Grove or Votiers Flats Day Use Area) |
Where to Meet
Pre-Program Communication and Cancellation
We require a contact cell phone number and email address for each Facilitator in Charge for each date you have booked. Please ensure you provide us with this information on the Pre-Trip Form.
After receiving the Pre-Trip Form, guides will contact the Facilitator in Charge by email, 7-10 days before the program to confirm the details provided during booking and on the Pre-Trip Form. They will include important information to help plan for weather and trail conditions. Guides will provide a phone number that you can use to discuss any details, either through a phone call or via text message. Guides will update the Facilitator in Charge, 24-48hrs ahead of the trip, of any weather or trail conditions, if needed.
We ask that the Facilitator in Charge texts the guide, the morning of the program, when they are on their way to the trailhead.
Inquiries for programs can be directed to our staff at education@cpaws.org.
Cancellation Policy
As our programs are in high demand, it is our expectation that those who book programs will make every effort to maintain their bookings. If extenuating circumstances warrant cancellation of a program (like extreme weather, road closures, family emergency, etc.) we will reschedule programs rather than cancel. This may occur in a future season, if we are unable to schedule before the end of the season. We encourage all facilitators in charge to inform us of any circumstances that may prevent the delivery of a program with as much notice as possible.
Our cancellation policy is as follows:
1 month prior to booking: 85% refund – there is a 15% non-refundable deposit at time of booking.
29 to 14 days prior to booking: 50% refund
Less than 2 weeks prior to booking: no refund
Emergency Response
CPAWS interpretive guides are certified in Wilderness First Aid and carry bear spray, a first aid kit and a satellite messenger device.
For minor medical emergencies, the Facilitator in Charge will assume the role of first responder, not CPAWS. CPAWS guides will provide guidance and assistance as necessary. For all other emergencies, CPAWS guides will assume the role of first responder, using the CPAWS emergency response procedures. The Facilitator in Charge will help manage the situation. Organizations are expected to follow their own procedures in terms of communication, accident reporting, insurance, etc.
Please be aware of the following:
Allergies/Asthma
All participants, no matter their age, that require an EPIPEN or INHALER must have it with them at all times. Guides have the right to refuse service to participants without their mediation. Check with each participant as they board the bus to ensure they have their medications.
Weather
Participants must be prepared for all weather conditions. Appropriate footwear, warm layers, rain jackets, sunscreen, and hats and mitts are required. Weather can be notably different from Calgary to Kananaskis. It is the Facilitator in Charge’s responsibility to ensure all participants are prepared for the weather prior to leaving.
Guides reserve the right to refuse service to participants that are ill-prepared for the day.
In the event of a change in weather conditions that impacts safety, the trip will be stopped.
Bears & Other Wildlife
We follow industry best practices to avoid negative encounters with wildlife, including having all guides carry bear spray. Additionally, the guides will give lessons on how to avoid such encounters.
To help with this, we have the group travel together and the Facilitator in Charge hikes at the back of the group.
Uneven terrain, slips & trips, and falls
All participants must have appropriate footwear.
CPAWS guides will do their best to identify and manage hazards that pose a slip, trip and/or fall hazard.
Behaviour
Facilitator in Charge is responsible for group behaviour.
If working with youth or others who might be a more challenging group, ensure that you make special arrangements to have extra facilitators present to assist as needed.
Participants who are exhibiting behaviour that puts participants, guides, or other trail users at risk will not be tolerated. CPAWS reserves the right to stop the program if participant behavior is jeopardizing the group or natural area.
Insects
In the spring, and during wet times, there is an increased possibility of insect bites, including mosquitoes and ticks. Insect spray (DEET based) or lotion is recommended, along with long sleeves and pants.
Important Documents
PLEASE ENSURE YOU FILL OUT YOUR PRE-TRIP FORM 2-3 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR FIELD TRIP. SOME GROUPS ALSO REQUIRE WAIVERS.
Adult Waiver - Waivers not required for CBE, CCSD, and RVSD schools.
Minor Waiver - Waivers not required for CBE, CCSD, and RVSD schools.
We now have waivers available to sign digitally! Please contact us at education@cpaws.org to discuss if paper or electronic waivers are the best solution for your group. For e-waivers, CPAWS will need to set up a simple registration form for your participants to register and sign the waivers.