Annual Hike Ontario Summit
Every year in October or November, Hike Ontario host's its Annual Summit - a weekend gathering for hikers, walkers and trail enthusiasts. The 2009 Summit is being held on November 13-15, 2009 in Quinte West, Ontario, hosted by the Friends of the Trail Inc.
An important part of each year's Summit is the presentation of the Volunteer of the Year Awards. Do you know an individual that has made an outstanding contribution to Ontario's hiking and walking trails and opportunities? If so, please nominate them here.
Event Highlights
Hikers Social Gathering at the Batawa Ski Hill Chalet on Friday evening
Full day Summit on Saturday at the Batawa Community Centre, including;
- Workshops & Presentations on Nature Deficit Disorder; Trails and Environmental Stewardship; Economics of Hiking; Trail Partnerships; Wayfinding and Signage and Nordic Walking
- Annual Friends of Hike Ontario Luncheon
- Provincial Volunteer of the Year Awards
Plus, free guided hikes on Sunday lead by the Friends of the Trail
Registration Fee:
Friday: Cash Bar / Saturday: $20.00 / Sunday: Free
Detailed Event Schedule:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH
Hiker’s Rendezvous at the Batawa Ski Hill Chalet.
Join us anytime after 6:00 p.m. and share tales from the trails with hikers and walkers from across Ontario. Cash bar. Everyone & anyone welcome. Chalet is located at 99 Ski Club Lane, PO Box 1128, Batawa, On.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH
Annual General Meeting, Presentations and Annual Volunteer Awards.
Batawa Community Centre. 51B Plant St. Batawa, On.
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Annual Business Meeting
- Greetings
- Call to Order and Welcome from Hike Ontario President, Tom Friesen
- Acceptance of the Minutes of the Hike Ontario Annual General Meeting – 2008
- Presentation of and Approval of the 2008-2009 Financial Report
- Presentation of Slate of Nominations and Election of Officer
- Other Business
- Adjournment
9:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Presentation Sessions
6 consecutive presentations of 20-25 minutes each (includes a 15 minute break)
- Nature Deficit Disorder
- Trails and Environmental Stewardship
- Economics of Hiking
- Trail Partnerships
- Wayfinding and Signage
- Nordic Walking
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Friends of Hike Ontario Lunch & Annual Volunteer Awards
Casual luncheon (provided) with special presentation of Annual Volunteer Awards. Followed by Ambassador Materials Video Promo or optional “Breath of Fresh Air” walk
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Three sessions of “Tabletalk”
Participants will have three 20 minute “sit downs” with the morning Speakers to ask questions or make comments on their presentations. Speakers will be asked to be available to answer questions or lead a discussion activity.
Additional table sessions will include:
- Cost of Hiking
- Safe Hiker
- Hike Leadership
- Insurance & Risk Management Questions
After each 20 minute session participants change tables (10 minutes)
3:00 p.m.
Closing remarks by Hike Ontario President, Tom Friesen
Dinner Anyone?
For those who are staying overnight in the Quinte area, or for those that are simply feeling social, we will be making plans to convene at a local pub or restaurant for a casual dinner. Details will be provided during closing remarks. Everyone and anyone is welcome! Please feel free to bring friends, family and fellow hikers along!
Presentation & Table Talk Session Descriptions
Nature Deficit Disorder, Terri LeRoux
An examination of the trend that today’s children are spending less time outdoors than past generations resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems. Causes such as parental fears, restricted access to natural areas, and the lure of the screen will be discussed.
Speaker Bio: Terri LeRoux is Hike Ontario’s Past President and a former Provincial Park Warden. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Credit Valley Conservation Foundation.
Trails and Environmental Stewardship, Holly Nadalin
Stewardship is an ethic of caring for the land and environment. As hikers who are passionate about the trails we travel on, we all have a responsibility in keeping these natural places healthy for our use today but also for future generations.
Speaker Bio: Holly Nadalin is a University of Guelph graduate of Environmental Science who has been promoting stewardship in her community for the past ten years. She is a member of the Ontario Stewardship program and chairs her local stewardship council in Wellington County. Her most recent hiking adventures have led her to West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest and Killarney Provincial Park.
Economics of Hiking, Patrick Connor
Current trends show that people are taking vacations closer to home and as a result, money is being pumped into the local economy through retail sales, lodging and food. Local businesses benefit. For example, the Bruce Trail alone averages 400,000 users annually, 70% of whom purchase nondurable goods during their visit. The average expenditure is about $20 (that's $5,600,000). Approximately 75% of this is spent within a 10 km corridor.
Speaker Bio: Patrick Connor is a passionate trail advocate for trail use and is the Executive Director of the Ontario Trails Council.
Trail Partnerships, Allen McPherson
Examples will used to illustrate how a 44 km of Trans Canada Trail within the City of Kawatha Lakes is managed as well as how "experiences" are developed along this trail in cooperation with partners such as schools, private businesses and government.
Speaker Bio: Formerly a Ontario Provincial Park Manager and professor at Fleming College, Allen teaches part time at Trent University and is active in trail organizations.
Wayfinding and Signage, Richard Knobbs
If you’ve ever gone hiking, then you appreciate how valuable good trail signage can be. An overview of the different purposes of trail signs will be provided. Including using signs for information, regulation and as an attraction for trail users.
Speaker Bio: Richard Knobbs is the founder and owner of Fontasy Signs.
Nordic Walking, Gerry Faderbauer
Nordic walking is a Finn fitness craze that's becoming a rage throughout Europe. Currently, over 8 million people in more than 40 countries nordic walk for fitness and pleasure.
Speaker Bio: Gerry Faderbauer is an Olympian and three-time world rowing champion who founded the Canadian Nordic Walking Association in 2006. Based in Aurora, he hosts workshops and provides the tools and basic technique to boost walking routines, as well as certifying instructors.
Additional Table Talk Sessions:
Cost of Hiking
One of the great things about hiking is the fact that anyone can do it- regardless of age, ability and... budget! No need to drop a load of cash on hiking equipment- there are ways of outfitting yourself for the trail without feeling the need to crack open the piggy bank!
Safe Hiker
Learn more about Hike Ontario’s newest program, the Safe Hiking Program. This course takes students through the process of planning a hike in a safe manner including preparing for a hike, packing and outfitting and hitting the trail.
Hike Leadership
Hike Ontario has developed standards and training programs for Hike Leaders that are used by community colleges, universities, hiking clubs and outdoor training organizations. Currently, Hike Ontario offers Standard Hike Leader, Youth Hike Leader and Wilderness Day Hike Leader certification courses. At present there are over 300 certified hike leaders from across Canada who have taken the Hike Ontario Certification program. Learn how you can become one of them.
Insurance & Risk Management
Trail insurance is an important component to the successful and safe development and management of trails in Ontario . Trail clubs are faced with increasing insurance costs that help protect them from liability. The pressure of higher insurance rates has placed great burden on many of the hiking and walking clubs and trails of Ontario placing many of the treasured recreational resources of Ontario at risk of closure.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH
Guided Hikes with the Friends of the Trail Inc.
There will be three 2 hour hikes available of the new Lower Trent Trail. Each hike will cover approx. 5 kilometres of a section of the trail and have a different focus:
- History: Maria Luja will lead a historical perspective hike starting at the Glen Ross Lock and heading south
- Natural Features: Bea Heissler will lead a ecological hike starting at the Bleasdell Boulder heading south to Locke Road
- Trail Construction: Tom Postma will lead a “Building the Lower Trent Trail” hike starting at Station Park in Frankford.
Following the hikes, join us for Sunday Brunch at the scenic Stockdale Mill Café. Hikers responsible for their own lunch expenses.
About Quinte West:
Conveniently located between Toronto and Montreal, the newly amalgamated City of Quinte West offers numerous amenities including waterfront parks, marinas, special events, festivals, attractions and four season sport fishing in the Bay of Quinte.
Try the superb shopping in our active downtown areas and the specialty shops throughout Quinte West, along with your choice of accommodations from B&B's to major hotel chains. The various communities within Quinte West offer an assortment of rural experiences with an abundance of country charm. A driving tour through the rolling Murray Hills and Oak Hills offers breathtaking scenery during the four seasons with autumn staging the ultimate show of colours.
The City of Quinte West, known as the "Gateway to the Trent-Severn Waterway" welcomes water travelers as they embark on a unique boating experience through the historic Lift Lock System along the Trent River.
Beginning in Quinte West, the Waterfront Trail follows the shore of Lake Ontario 350km to Stoney Creek near Hamilton.
Directions
Directions:
Batawa Ski Hill Chalet is located at 99 Ski Club Lane, PO Box 1128, Batawa, On.
Batawa Community Centre is located at 51B Plant St. Batawa, On.
Local Accommodations:
Trenton Comfort Inn, 68 Monogram Place, Trenton, ON K8V 6S3
Tel: 613 965-6660 1-800-4CHOICE www.choicehotels.ca/cn313
Howard Johnson Trenton - www.hojo.com - (613) 392-9291
Holiday Inn Trenton - www.holidayinn.com - (613) 394-4855
Travelodge Trenton - www.travelodge.com - (800) 578-7870
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