For families
Planned ahead, with two leaders
How we keep youth safe outside, how bursaries work, and how to ask for a spot in a program.
Safety
How every outing is run
The two-leader rule
Every outing has at least two adult leaders, and no adult is ever alone with one youth. Overnights have three.
A trip plan, every time
Before each outing you get a plan by email: where we're going, who's leading, when we leave and get back, and the phone number to reach us that day.
Weather calls on time
We decide by 1:00 pm on hike days and by 6:00 pm the evening before a Saturday or a trip. You get a text either way.
Medical forms
One form a year for each youth: allergies, medications and who to call. The lead leader carries it in a sealed folder on every outing.
Trained, checked leaders
Leaders train with us in first aid, group care and the program skills before they lead. Every adult passes a vulnerable sector check.
Sign in, sign out
Youth sign in with a leader and go home only with an adult named on their form, unless you've told us they can walk.
- Outing
- Fall overnight, tents by a lake
- Dates
- Sat Oct 24, 9:00 am to Sun Oct 25, 3:00 pm
- Where
- A lakeside site 50 minutes north of town, 1.5 km on a marked trail from the parking lot
- Leaders
- Three: Maya (lead), Jordan and Priya
- Leaving
- The gear room, 120 Larchwood Street
- Trip phone
- (555) 555-0158
- Weather call
- By 6:00 pm Friday, by text
- Packing
- List attached, marked with what we lend
Weather calls
When we go, change plans or stay home
These are our usual calls. Leaders can always be more careful than the table, never less.
| Forecast | Hikes and winter days | On the water | Overnights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorms | Postponed | Cancelled | Moved to another weekend |
| Wind over 25 km/h | We go | Sheltered bay only, or cancelled | We go, with a site out of the wind |
| Wind chill below −28 °C | Indoor session at the gear room | Not in season | Moved to the next weekend |
| Steady rain all day | Shorter route | Cancelled | Leaders decide by Friday 6:00 pm |
| Wildfire smoke (air quality index 7 or higher) | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
When we cancel, you don't pay for that day.
Bursaries
A full bursary is yours if you ask
Small fees help keep the programs going. A fee should never be the reason a kid stays home.
- Who can ask?
- Anyone registering a youth. You don't have to say why.
- What do you need from me?
- Your youth's name and the program. No forms, no proof.
- How much does it cover?
- All of it, for any program, overnights included. Gear is already free for everyone.
- Who will know?
- Only our program coordinator. Leaders and other families won't.
- Can I pay part?
- Yes. Pay what works and tell us. Any amount is fine.
Register
Ask for a spot
Send this and our coordinator will call or email you within two working days about a spot and the medical form. A spot isn't held until you hear from us.
Rather talk it through? Call (555) 555-0158 or email hello@opentrail.example.
