| Q. |
Tell me more about the club. |
| A. |
The majority of our members are people that enjoy the wilderness and
are looking for other people to go on trips with, whether it is camping,
hiking, cross-country skiing, etc. The focus of the club has traditionally been on flatwater and white water canoe tripping
but various other outdoor activity based trips are organized by members.
The Wilderness Adventurers of Ontario is unique club in that it is all
volunteer based. The club itself does not organize trips, or own any
equipment. Members organize their own trips, which are then listed in
the quarterly newsletter that is sent out to all the members by e-mail,
and also listed in the Members and Visitors sections of our web page.
So what the club does provided you with is, other people to go camping,
canoeing, hiking or any other outdoor activity that you would like to
organize or participate in.
Any member can go on a trip listed in the newsletter and/or the club website as long as space is available. A
member interested in a trip will get in touch with
the person organizing that particular trip, and will be informed on where
they will meet, what to bring, and what they are responsible for, usually
a meal or two on the trip. Generally club members have their own basic camping equipment
(tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mattress, backpack, water bottle, personal items, etc.) If somebody does not
have a tent, then they will be teamed up with somebody that does. Most
of the trips are limited to 6-12 people because of camp sites limitations. The rest of the gear (stove, pots etc.) will be
shared by participants - usually somebody on the trip will have these group items. If you don't have your own canoe and there is no empty seat in a member's canoe, you
are responsible for renting a canoe. The trip organizer will assist in making renatal arrangements. The
cost of the trip food, camping fees, canoe rental is all shared equally between the people that went on the trip.
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| Q. |
What do membership fees pay for? |
| A. |
Wilderness Adventurers is a not-for-profit club. Annual membership fees help cover some of the costs
of organizing club-sponsored training events and
social events, pays for this website, helps support accredited foundations for preservation of our
wilderness, and covers the cost of liability insurance. All other money raised is put back into the club. No one in the club is paid - all
the time and effort by executive and non-executive members to run the club is volunteered.
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| Q. |
How are trips organized? |
| A. |
Club outings are planned and led by members on a volunteer
basis with a minimum of formality and expense. Trip organizers assist in
arranging car pools, and participants share in the cost of food, transportation,
and park or camping fees. Members provide their own equipment, but trip
organizers can often assist new members in renting or borrowing essential
items. |
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| Q. |
How are trips announced? |
| A. |
There is a quarterly newsletter that is sent out to all members
listing the trips scheduled for that quarter (spring, summer, fall, winter).
In the newsletter there is also any other information pertaining to the
club, i.e. President's message, latest news, camping tips, etc. All this
information is also posted in the members' area of the Wilderness Adventurers
web site.
Sample
newsletter Requires
Adobe Acrobat Reader  |
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| Q. |
Are there any club meetings? |
| A. |
There is no set club meeting. All information is distributed
by the newsletter and the web page. There are, however, social events,
as in the picnic, slide night, and corn roast, where members meet and talk
about their adventures.
Once a year, in November, there is the Annual General Meeting (AGM). This
is when the club executive committee recaps the year's events for the club
members, set new club events, such as trips, social occasions, and any other
functions the club might undertake. The members elect a new executive committee,
in which members serve a two year term. |
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| Q. |
How much does it cost to join the club? |
| A. |
Club memberships are $35/yr for singles or $55/yr for couples/families.
Membership provides access to the members' section of this website, includes a quarterly newsletter, and
allows you to particpate in various social events such as a spring picnic, fall corn roast,
Christmas party and a slide night. |
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| Q. |
Where is the club located? |
| A. |
The Club has no specific location -- there is no club house -- but most members live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Club members, who live in the GTA, Hamilton, Guelph, Ottawa, Georgetown, and other communities in Southern Ontario,
keep in contact through e-mail, the club newsletter, telephone, and this website. |
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| Q. |
How can I join? |
| A. |
You can join by filling out the application
form.
Please print it out and fill it in, then mail it along with your cheque
to the address at the bottom of the form. |
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| Q. |
Where do you run your trips? |
| A. |
Most of the trips organized by members take place in Provinical parks and
crown land in Ontario. Occasionally there are trips in Quebec and New York State. |
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| Q. |
What about the members? What is the average age and where do they live? |
| A. |
There are currently 100+ members made up of all ages in the WA. We do not keep statistics on member ages but
members range in age from 18 to in their 60s. The average age is probably around 40. Although most of our members
are from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) we have members in Ottawa, Guelph, Newmarket, St. Catherines and other Ontario cities. |
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| Q. |
How long are WA trips? |
| A. |
Trips are often 2 or 3 days in length over a weekend but may
occasionally be longer. Throughout the year there are often several day outings such as hiking and paddling as well. |
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| Q. |
Are WA trips suitable for young children? |
| A. |
Each year there are usually one or two "family" trips organized by members with young children and
children are welcome at most of the various social events. The participation of children in other
trips is at the discretion of the trip organizer and will depend on the nature and difficulty
of the trip. In general, canoe and hiking trips may be too physically demanding for young children. |
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| Q. |
As a member do I have to organize a trip of my own? |
| A. |
No. Although we actively encourage members to offer trips of their own it is
not a prerequisite to becoming a member. Your participation in trips offered by others and attendance
at social events makes the WA better for everyone. And after experiencing the camaraderie and
thrill of "tripping" with others we hope you'll be inspired to plan and lead a trip of your own or maybe
even get involved with the club executive. |
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| Q. |
Can I bring my dog along on a WA trip? |
| A. |
Whether your dog is welcome on a trip or not is at the discretion of the trip organizer. In many cases a dog
is a welcome addition to the group but, in others, a dog may be deemed to be inappropriate (on a white water
canoe trip for example) or even a hazzard (in known bear country for example). |
