Fleming College

Program Highlights

Gain insight into best practices related to the design, construction and maintenance of trails. Learn about and apply techniques that can enhance, rehabilitate and protect trails and greenways. Participants will also learn about trail classification, signage and visitor management in these online and in-person interactive courses.

These certificate courses take place at Fleming’s Frost Campus, one of Canada’s leading environmental education institutions, as well as online. In-person courses are offered primarily on weekends.

Is This You?

This certificate provides a full range of trails theory and skills training available to trails groups, communities, employers, and government agencies.

Admission Requirements:

The minimum admission requirement for entrance into this program is: 19 years of age or older, or an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or its equivalent.

Courses in Trails Certificate

Details and registration below

Mandatory

• Trail Business Planning and Risk Management (RECR112)
• Trail Planning and Accessibility (RECR115)
• Visitor Management for Trails (ECOS041)
• Trail Classifications and Maintenance/Signage Guidelines (RECR145)
• Trail Design and Construction (RECR152)

Electives - choose 2

• Marketing & Promoting Trails (RECR111)
• Motorized Trail Recreation (RECR121)
• Introduction to Trails (RECR122)
• Chainsaw Operator (MECH082)
• Hike Leader & Leave No Trace Certifications (NATR120)
• Construction Contracts and Documents (CNST206)
• Project Management-Leadership Development (MGMT209)
• Wilderness & Remote First Aid (NATR121)

Mandatory

Trail Business Planning and Risk Management

RECR112

Explore key concepts and develop your own Trail Business Plan and associated financial and risk management plans. You will examine entrepreneurial strategies, marketing and financial management, as you gain an understanding of the liabilities associated with trails. You will learn how to identify and minimize related risks. Students will be expected to use the on-line lesson content to develop a Trial Business Plan, Financial Plan and Risk Management Plan in order to complete this course.

Trail Planning and Accessibility

RECR115

Prepare a comprehensive trail plan - the first step in trail development. You will reference the new Ontario Trails Act, study land ownership, legislation and site evaluation, as you explore the use of planning tools such as GPS, aerial photography and maps. Gain insight into the importance of the AODA legislation, the accessibility of trails and learn how to use tools like the Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) and Trail Access Information (TAI).

Visitor Management for Trails

ECOS041

Learn about visitor management as it relates to trail user experience in this self-directed online course. Discover a variety of tactics to address visitor safety, etiquette and education when designing and managing trail systems. Explore ways to communicate and market visitor messaging to address issues encountered by a variety of trail users with a focus on the promotion of safe, enjoyable, and sustainable trail-based recreation. Replaces ECOS 34.

Trail Classifications and Maintenance/Signage Guidelines

RECR145

Delve into trail users expectations and all stakeholder relations related to the uses of a trail. You will create a signage plan to manage the users of a trail, including volunteers, and in doing so, determine its uses and articulate a code of conduct and regulations. You will also learn about user safety, access and convenience; and maintenance, protection and preservation of the trail.

Trail Design and Construction

RECR152

This course, which builds on Trail Planning & Accessibility (RECR 115), blends online learning with on-site practical training. Start with an overview of sustainable trail design principles and techniques in the online component and apply this knowledge in a self-guided investigation of a trail of your choice. Building on sustainable trail design theory, continue your study of sustainable trail construction principles. Then, in a capstone two-day field experience you will lay out and construct a segment of sustainable trail with hand tools, using all the knowledge and techniques you learned online.

Electives - choose 2

Marketing & Promoting Trails

RECR111

Explore basic concepts of online marketing and promotion techniques such as web site design and social marketing, as they relate to recreational trails and compare these with offline strategies such as magazine adverts, editorial and flyers. Learn to apply the concepts behind a marketing plan framework to trail promotion. Prerequisite: a general familiarity with the Internet. While not required, participants who have had courses in web technologies or programming related to web page design will find it useful.

Motorized Trail Recreation

RECR121

Gain an overview of all types of motorized trail use. Building upon your knowledge of the principles of planning, design and construction acquired in other courses, examine the broad aspects of off highway vehicle recreation, planning and construction of OHV trails and facilities and operation and management of OHV trail systems.

Introduction to Trails

RECR122

Sustainable trails have many facets, including environmental, social and economic sustainability. The aim of this course is to provide participants with a practical overview of the many aspects of trails including business planning, planning, designing, construction, people management, law and liability, trail ecology, and more.

Chainsaw Operator

MECH082

Acquire the knowledge and basic skills to handle a chainsaw safely, fell trees properly and adopt safe practices. Based on the competency standards set by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and developed by the Workplace Safety North, this course will teach you proper chainsaw use, maintenance and sharpening, and safety techniques for chainsaw handling before we spend two days in the bush (off-site) practising these techniques with an emphasis on safety methods. You must provide your own working chainsaw, supplies, and safety equipment and be physically fit to take this course. Additionally, you must be 19 years of age or older and/or a high school graduate.

Hike Leader & Leave No Trace Certifications

NATR120

This Hike Leader Certification course delivers the standards and training developed by Hike Ontario for any individual and/or groups interested in leading organized hikes and walks in Ontario. Leave No Trace Canada certification is intended for outdoor recreational users who wish to minimize their impact on the natural environment whether they are hiking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing etc. Both certifications are provided in this combined 2 day course held at the Ken Reid Conservation area and at the Frost Campus.

Construction Contracts and Documents

CNST206

As projects become more complex it is important that all the parties involved (owner, architect, engineer(s) and general contractor construction) have a proper understanding of contract documents and their relationship to the entire project. This understanding of contract documents is essential to prevent or minimize disputes and claims, which can be very costly. This course is an introduction to the documents that form a construction contract. The course builds upon the principles of law and introduces the most commonly used standard forms of construction contracts issued by the Canadian Construction Documents Committee and the Canadian Construction Association. Basic building law, contractual responsibilities and obligations are explored.

Project Management-Leadership Development

MGMT209

Leaders need multiple skills to fulfill a spectrum of duties and responsibilities. Gain the practical knowledge from a leadership perspective to start and complete a project successfully and manage your project teams. We explore how the elements of the Project Management Body of Knowledge are applied during each phase of a project's life cycle and the implications of project management on leadership within an organization.

Wilderness & Remote First Aid

NATR121

This course consists of an online component that MUST be completed the THURSDAY before the in-class portion. You will NOT be allowed to attend the in-class portion without successful completion of the online portion. You will receive an email with information about where to log in to the course material. Participants Should Bring: - water bottle - rainwear or ponchos, rain pants or equivalent - winter coat, snow pants, warm winter boots, mitts or gloves, toque - knee pad or closed foam roll for sitting - headlamp preferred or flashlight with spare batteries - pocket notebook and pencil/pen - daypack - whistle - bagged lunch - snacks.