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  • Trails Specialist Workshop

Trails Specialist Workshop


Instructed By: 

Zane Davies

Presented in Partnership with:


In partnership with the Ontario Trails Council, OPA offers this two-day course as an introduction to understand professional trail development and how it relates to trail maintenance. You will receive instruction on how to observe, detect, document and mitigate potential risk resulting from poor trail design, construction and maintenance. This workshop combines in classroom theory and hands-on experiences. Participants will leave the course with a tool kit on how to create and implement a successful trail maintenance program. This course will cover all types of trails from natural surface single track to 3 metre wide crushed aggregate. 


This course will cover:

  • Overview of Professional Trail Development
  • The Science and Art of Trail Building
  • Maintenance of Trails
  • Environmental Impacts
  • Liability Issues
  • Handwork and Trail Construction Techniques

    Participants are required to have a hard hat, safety glasses, closed toe footwear (CSA rating preferred), and gloves. 

    This course is being delivered in partnership with Ontario Trails Council.


    This course is worth 2 credits towards your Parks Practitioner Designation

    Want to host this session? 
    The ideal location should be comprised of both an indoor facility and outdoor environment with a variety of existing trails. The goal of the facility is to provide the best possible representative sample of the actual trail terrain to be expected by participants taking the course. This will allow the course to be tailored to your specific region which will have its own unique set of strengths, weakness and opportunities. The classroom should be able to accommodate approximately 15 people in size (group dependent), have a projector available, and a means of writing via white board, flip chart and/or chalk board. The outdoor environment ideally should have an existing trail of both natural and soft surface (crushed aggregate). The overall topography of the property should be of mixed terrain ideally with flood plains, rolling hills, mixed bush and meadow areas. 

    Recommended equipment for participants to use include: pin flags, clinometers, pulaskis, mcloed rakes and/or any other trail building tools/equipment the organization, government agency or participant intends to use for trail design, building and maintenance. This idea behind having your own tools/equipment onsite is to allow the opportunity for it to be integrated into the course and suit the specific needs/wants/desires of the participants.

    Here's what people say about this course: 

    • "It was an excellent course!"
    • "Well done, our instructor (Zane) was interesting and definitely has a passion for trails"
    • "Covered all areas very well"
    • "Zane is knowledgeable, engaging & passionate in what he is teaching"

    Upcoming events

      • 22 May 2024
      • 9:30 AM
      • 23 May 2024
      • 4:00 PM
      • McMaster University 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton Ontario - Campus Services Building B109 -
      • 0
      Registration is closed

      In partnership with the Ontario Trails Council, OPA offers this two-day course as an introduction to understand professional trail development and how it relates to trail maintenance. You will receive instruction on how to observe, detect, document and mitigate potential risk resulting from poor trail design, construction and maintenance. 


      This workshop combines in classroom theory and hands-on experiences. Participants will leave the course with a tool kit on how to create and implement a successful trail maintenance program. This course will cover all types of trails from natural surface single track to 3 metre wide crushed aggregate. 


      This course will cover:

      • Overview of Professional Trail Development
      • The Science and Art of Trail Building
      • Maintenance of Trails
      • Environmental Impacts
      • Liability Issues
      • Handwork and Trail Construction Techniques


      Participants are required to have a CSA approved hard hat, safety glasses, closed toe safety shoes/boots, and gloves. It is also recommended that the participant bring with them the following equipment to allow the opportunity for it to be integrated into the course and suit the specific needs/wants and desires of the participants.
      • Pin flags
      • Clinometer 
      • Pulaski
      • Mcleod rake
      • And/or any other trail building tools/equipment the organization, government agency or participant intends to use for trail design, building and maintenance. 

      DATE: May 22nd & 23rd 2024

      TIME: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

      LOCATION:  McMaster University 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton Ontario - Campus Services Building B109 

      Campus Map Below - Campus Services Building is Building 31 

      Parking can be in Lot M. 



      COURSE COST

      OPA Member: $433.00

      OPA Potential Member: $699.00


      *Please note that lunch will not be provided at this training. We encourage you to bring a bagged lunch and reusable water bottle with you for both days.

      REGISTER HERE

      Register above online. An invoice will be sent to you within 24hrs of registering. Payment can be made online through the invoice you will receive or via cheque (made payable to Ontario Parks Association).

      Click here to read our registration policies.


    For more information on hosting or attending, please send an email referencing the course title to training@ontarioparksassociation.ca

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