You must register before the outing. See the
Outing registration section in the FAQ below.
At the starting point, the leader may ask you that your answers to
the health questions are still all "no", to confirm all of your
answers and just in case symptoms just appeared.
During the outing, if any symptoms appear that
might suggest COVID-19, please tell the leader immediately. You will
be requested to isolate from the group as much as possible. In
addition, you will not be permitted to participate in any OOC outing
for the next 14 days. The other participants in the outing will be
informed.
Dogs are not permitted.
Transportation to and from the starting point
We are not organizing carpooling. All participants must meet at the
starting location. The outing will be finished once the participants
have returned to the starting location.
During the outing
Please maintain a distance of at least 2 metres
from each other unless you're from the same "social circle".
Distancing is one of the recognized ways of reducing your chance of
passing along COVID-19 to others and your chance of acquiring
COVID-19.
You must have a mask. The leader will indicate when it needs to be
worn. If you do not put on your mask when requested, you will not be
permitted to join future outings of any type with the OOC. There will
be no exceptions.
Stay in the group and away from other groups.
Supply your own hand sanitizer and / or disinfectant wipes,
etc.
Since a shelter is an enclosed space where there is a greater risk
of being exposed to the SARS-COVID-2 virus, we will not use any
shelters. To reduce the risk of potentially infecting other members
of the group, please do not enter a shelter.
If possible, please take your own first aid kit.
If someone is injured and another group member must provide first
aid, unless the injured person and the person providing first aid are
part of the same "social circle", neither will be permitted to
participate in any OOC outing for 14 days. (Unless the medical
situation is urgent, we will try to use emergency personnel.)
Answers to Frequently (or Occasionally)-Asked Questions (FAQ)
Outing registration
To register for a particular outing, click / tap on the
registration icon before the outing's registration deadline, noted in
the Register by column
The registration icon will remain available until the outing. If you
register after the deadline and especially within a few hours of the
outing, you reduce your probability of being accepted.
For our hikes and our urban walks, acceptance is automatic after
payment of any fees (please see below). For all other types of
outings, you will be informed as to whether or not you can
participate in the outing.
Except for the urban walks and skating on the Canal, there are
activity fees for non-members. For everyone, there are rental fees for
canoes or snowshoes for those who choose to use this Club equipment.
Information about paying the fees is available
here.
If you need to cancel, please inform the leader as
soon as possible so that the leader can open your spot to another
person (should space be limited) and so that the leader knows not to
wait for you at the meeting location.
Non-members may participate. If you are not a member of the Ottawa
Outdoor Club, we invite you to become a member. Details are available on our
membership registration page.
Check the general requirements by selecting the link for the
Activity that you choose, e.g., hiking.
Meeting and departure times
Meet at the specified time and location.
The departure time from the meeting location is
firm. If you're late (even by one minute), don't expect the
leader or the group to wait for you.
If you plan to use local transit, use the "map" link in the
Meet at... column to determine the transit routing
for the day and time of the outing using the "Directions" feature of
Google Maps.
Lyme disease
is prevalent in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
Fees for
members and non-members (not all apply to each activity or
person):
carpooling(COVID-19 restriction),
equipment rental, non-member activity fees.
General: bring
sunscreen and a hat for protection
from the sun.
snacks and your meal with you. When the activity
runs through mealtime (usually lunch), we take a break for the
meal.
plenty of water. One (minimum) to two litres are
generally recommended, depending on your specific needs, the weather
conditions, and the distance, duration, and intensity of the outing.
Bring more than you think you'll need.
appropriate clothing and other gear:
most times, layers are best
if the forecast calls for rain, rain gear appropriate
for the forecast conditions
a backpack
at night, a headlamp (preferred, since it leaves
your hands free) or flashlight
Cold-weather protocols:
with colder, winter weather or snow on the ground, we
strongly recommend that you have a hat,
gloves, food, and water with you, should an emergency occur
during the outing. Even when you're not the one injured, we
might be waiting for an extended period.
We strongly recommend wearing sturdy footwear,
particularly such as hiking boots or hiking
shoes. Footwear should fully surround your feet, e.g., no
sandals.
Bring bug repellent.
See the information regarding Lyme disease
above. Long sleeves & long pants are highly recommended.
The Club has canoes and related equipment for
rent
(fees), including
personal flotation devices (PFDs); you do not need your
own. (The Club does not have kayaks.)
COVID-19 recommendation:
for health reasons, we recommend that you provide your
own PFD and paddle if you have them.
You can provide your own canoe or kayak and related
equipment.
For many outings, you do not need to have prior canoeing
experience. The registration form includes questions related to
this.
You must wear a life jacket or PFD at all times while
in the canoe when canoeing with us. You will not be
permitted to participate if you do not wear one.
Bring a hat for protection from the sun.
Bring sunscreen and bug repellent.
See the information regarding Lyme disease
above. Long sleeves & long pants are highly recommended when
on the land near vegetation.
Spring and fall cold-water warning:
The water can be very cold in the spring and fall. The
Club's canoes are very stable, but there is always a
chance of capsizing, at which time hypothermia becomes a
real concern in water below 15° C. Thus, in the
spring and fall, in case you capsize, take along a
change of underwear and socks in a Ziploc bag or
similar. Better yet, bring a full change of clothing
(sealed) if possible. We'll have extra warm layers. You
may not make a fashion statement in our layers, but
you'll be dry and warm!
301 Wellington Street. We meet by bus shelter at the road on
the west side in front of the building, where there is free
parking available in the evening.
1001 Queen Elizabeth Drive. Free parking is
available after 6:00 PM on Adeline Street and Norfolk Avenue
(map), northeast of Carling
Avenue and Preston Street.
East end of Somerset Street at Range Road, on west bank of Rideau
River. Meet by the Strathcona Park sign at the parking-lot entrance.
Free 2-hour lot & on-street parking.
250 Somerset Street East, between Sweetland Avenue and Nelson
Street. The actual meeting spot is around the back by the Centre's
parking lot, off of Sweetland Avenue.
You can park in the parking lot for free when attending activities
at the Centre and temporarily when we are gathering for an outing,
but you are at risk of being ticketed if you leave your vehicle
there while we are away on an outing. People usually manage to
find parking on the nearby streets; ensure that you check the
parking duration on the signs.
(This is not the Sandy Hill Community
Health Centre, which is elsewhere.)
We go swimming on many outings! When the weather's warm and we're hiking or
canoeing, plan that we'll spend some time in or by the water. If you like to
be in the water, please prepare accordingly!
We usually stop for lunch somewhere along the route for day outings.
Bring your own lunch, and bring water.
To register for a particular outing, click / tap on the
registration icon before the outing's registration deadline, noted in
the Register by column
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