We will meet you at your school or community for indoor programs. Outdoor program options are available in the Calgary region, Kananaskis, and the Pincher Creek region, including Beauvais Lake and Castle Provincial Parks. Please check individual program pages for its specific location offerings. Indoor virtual programs are available across Alberta.

Below you can find directions to our hiking and snowshoeing location (we can also come to a community park near you):

• Beauvais Lake Provincial Park
  • Beaver Creek Day Use Area
  • North Shore Day Use Area
• Castle Provincial Park
  • Carbondale Lookout 
  • Syncline South Staging Area
• Fish Creek Provincial Park
  • By car
  • By transit
• Mount Yamnuska
• Nose Hill Park
  • By car
  • By transit
• Ribbon Creek
  • Ribbon Creek Day Use Area
  • Troll Falls
• Sheep River (Foran Grade Trail)

Snowshoeing

• Brown Lowery Provincial Park
• Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (Penstock Loop)
• Sibbald Lake – Ole Buck Loop

Please inform us at the time of booking if your group has any special needs. We will work with collaborate with you to meet the needs of your group.

Thanks to Adaptable Outdoors , anyone living with mobility challenges who would like to participate in a CPAWS hike is able to do so at Castle or Beauvais Lake Provincial Parks. Adaptable Outdoors provides opportunities for people living with disabilities to experience the benefits of outdoor recreation. By using adaptive equipment, experiences in nature become accessible to people of all abilities.

Contact CPAWS at education@cpaws.org for more information.

In-class experiences include two 1-hour visits. Community walks are up to 2 hours and hikes and winter walks are 3 to 4 hours. Bussing is not included. If you want to book multiple programs for your school or group, then we offer multi-class discounts:

We don’t want your class or group to feel excluded by fees! Please contact us at education@cpaws.org for flexible payment options.

A class/group is defined as max 34 people (including adults). This is applicable for both indoor and outdoor programs. For an outdoor program, you will need to ensure the following student to adult ratios are followed:

• Gr. 1-3: 1 adult per 8 students


• Gr. 4-6: 1 adult per 10 students


• Gr. 7-9: 1 adult per 12 students


•  Gr. 10-12: 1 adult per 15 students

For workshops and virtual programs, we can usually accommodate you with 1 month notice. For outdoor programs, we suggest you follow this timeline for booking:

As our programs are in high demand, it is our expectation that you will make every effort to maintain your bookings.

If extenuating circumstances warrant cancellation of a program (like extreme weather, road closures, family emergency, etc.) we will reschedule programs rather than cancel.

We encourage all facilitators 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 the time of booking

• 29 to 14 days prior to booking: 50% refund

• Less than 2 weeks prior to booking: no refund

We have a robust risk management and emergency response plan. Please refer to our hiking information for details.

It is our intention to continue the program rain or shine! Participants must be prepared for all weather conditions. Appropriate footwear, raingear, sunscreen, and hats and mitts are recommended. It is your responsibility to ensure all participants are prepared for the weather prior to leaving (check them as they board the bus). Guides will refuse service to participants that are ill-prepared for the day.

In the event of weather conditions that affect participant safety, the trip will be rescheduled and/or stopped (if the group is already onsite).

Our wilderness trips do occur in bear habitat. Bear safety is paramount. Wild bears typically fear humans. Participants will learn how to safely recreate in bear country during the program.

No, you need to arrange for snowshoes for your group.

During March at Brown Lowery you may want to rent ice cleats for a winter hike in addition to or instead of snowshoes, depending on snowfall.

The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre offers snowshoe rental discounts for school groups. If you would like to book your snowshoes through them please fill out their Group Booking Rental Form and email it to grouprentals@ucalgary.ca (even though the form says outdoor@ucalgary.ca).

Please contact education@cpaws.org if you still have questions.