This page is designed for teachers and educators who have registered their class for an LPS School Program. Please carefully review to prepare you and your class for a program. Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns.

Documents and
Waivers (PDFs)

Program Prep: Step by Step

The following guides are program specific. Please select your appropriate program, and take the time to review the prep documents. For Special Programs, please contact us to determine which prep package is most appropriate for you.

Program Prep: Forest Friends

In order to ensure that you and your class are fully prepared for your Forest Friends program, please follow the steps below:

Share our Take Home Letter (What to Bring list, Map and Waivers/Informed Consent forms) with students’ families, to help them be informed and prepared.
Review the “What to Bring” list with your students. It makes a HUGE difference if all participants are ready for a full day outside, rain or shine! Remind them to leave behind anything that they don’t want to get wet or dirty.
Ensure you are available by phone during the evening before and morning of your program. Certain circumstances (e.g. extreme weather) may require last-minute adjustment or cancellation of your program. We will do our best to avoid this scenario but it is sometimes unavoidable.
Bring all fully completed LPS Waivers/Informed Consent forms, prepared to hand in upon arrival.
Remind our staff when you arrive in person if you have any particular concerns. For example, scheduling an early pick-up, planned adjustments for behavior or student needs, or a change in the number of participants.

Where do we meet? Drop off and pick up is at “The Gathering Place” which is the grassy field, with a canvas stretch tent, beside the first main parking lot. Driving past the boat launch and the first yellow gate, it is to the far side of the parking lot, near the dumpsters. If you have passed the main washrooms and concession stand, and can see the lake, you have missed it! Your program will start at 9:15 AM and end at 1:45 PM.

If you haven’t already done so, we also recommend that you consider these SD71-EOL resources on Forms & Policies, Grants & Funding, and Transportation to help you prepare for a full-day, outdoor field trip.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding preparing for your program, please contact us. We look forward to a day of programs with you and your class!

Program Prep: Water Keepers

In order to ensure that you and your class are fully prepared for your Water Keepers program, please follow the steps below:

Share our Take Home Letter (“What to Bring” list, Map and Waivers/Informed Consent forms) with students’ families, to help them be informed and prepared.
Review the “What to Bring” list with your students. It makes a HUGE difference if all participants are ready for a full day outside, rain or shine! Remind them to leave behind anything that they don’t want to get wet or dirty.
Ensure you are available by phone during the evening before and morning of your program. Certain circumstances (e.g. extreme weather) may require last-minute adjustment or cancellation of your program. We will do our best to avoid this scenario but it is sometimes unavoidable.
Bring all fully completed LPS Waivers/Informed Consent forms, prepared to hand in upon arrival.
Remind our staff when you arrive in person if you have any particular concerns. For example, scheduling an early pick-up, planned adjustments for behavior or student needs, or a change in the number of participants.

Where do we meet? Drop off and pick up is at “The Main Beach”, which is the sandy beach area beside the picnic shelter, past the main office, washrooms and concession stand, at the far end of the beach parking area. There is a convenient bus turnaround at this location. The program will start at 9:15 AM and end at 1:45 PM.

If you haven’t already done so, we also recommend that you consider these SD71-EOL resources on Forms & Policies, Grants & Funding, and Transportation to help you prepare for a full-day, outdoor field trip.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding LPS program prep, please contact us. We look forward to a day of programs with you and your class.

Coming soon!

Program Prep: Floating Classroom

Please note that the Floating Classroom is a teacher-led program. In order to ensure that you and your class are fully prepared for your Floating Classroom program, please make sure you are on track to complete the steps listed below.

Carefully review the LPS Program Prep Package: Floating Classroom Canoe Charter. In addition to the providing essential program information, this package includes a copy and/or links to important documents including:
- Important Considerations for Planning your Day
- Sample Schedules
- What to Bring List
- Take Home Letter
- Site Maps
- LPS Waivers
Ensure that you are prepared for the portion of teacher-led activities and planning involved in this Canoe Charter. Resources and considerations to help you plan your day are included in the Program Prep Package.
Get in touch with the School Programs Coordinator to confirm your learning intentions and rough plan of the day.
Review the What to Bring list with your students, also included in the Program Prep Package. We also recommend that you review/share this “What to Wear for Outdoor Teaching and Learning” resource created by the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada.
Share our Take Home Letter and What to Bring list with students’ families, to help them be informed and prepared. This is also included in the Program Prep Package.
Ensure that you are familiar with LPS policies and safety considerations around reservation, cancellation, and program/activity choice (found on this webpage).
Ensure that LPS Waivers are fully completed for all participants. Bring them with you on the morning of your program.
Update us with any changes in class size, timing, and/or any additional medical or behavioural information.
Confirm Contact Info: Ensure that you are available to be contacted the evening before and/or the morning of your scheduled program, in case circumstances require last minute program cancellation/rescheduling. We will do our best to avoid this scenario, but sometimes it is unavoidable.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding preparing for your program, you may direct them to our Program Manager. We look forward to a day of programs with you and your class!

Your program will start at 9:15 AM and end at 1:45 PM. Unfortunately, we cannot facilitate your class prior to 9:15 or after 1:45.

Program Prep: Overnight Campouts

Please note that Overnight Campouts are teach-led programs.

Timing: Please note the following key times as you begin to make your plans. This will help us ensure that we can share the space with the other school programs and user groups operating at Cumberland Lake Park.

Arrival Day

Arrive at Park: 9:30 AM or later in rear main parking lot (just inside the first yellow gate). Please avoid the stretch tent shade shelter in the rear parking lot and the main beach as other classes may be meeting there between 9:00 to 9:30 AM.
You may use the Lookout Nature Classroom for gathering, learning activities and storing gear between 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM (located beside/above the Group Site, overlooking the lake). This space includes a geodesic dome that can be used to keep gear dry.
In order to maintain the group site road and minimize congestion, we ask that you to meet your class in the main parking lot and then use only a few vehicles to transfer all the camping gear and equipment to the Lookout Nature Classroom / Group Site (if available).
Access to Group Site: 1:00 PM (please check with Campground Office about early check-in on day of arrival)

Check-out Day

Check out of Group Site: 11:00 AM or earlier
You may use the Lookout Nature Classroom, if there is not another school group gathering there for the Group Site.
You may use the Main Beach for gathering, learning activities and storing gear until you depart the park. Please depart the park by 12:30 PM to avoid conflict with other school groups.
In order to maintain the group site road and minimize congestion, we ask that you use only a few vehicles to transfer all the camping gear and equipment from the Group Site back to the main parking lot .

Amenities

The Group Site has a covered picnic shelter with two picnic tables, fire pit, garbage and recycling bins, and one outhouse. There is no running water or electricity on site. Please bring your own water (taps are available in the main campground). Firewood is available for purchase at the Campground Office.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding LPS program prep, you may direct them to our Program Manager. We look forward to welcoming you to the park.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the program start and end? Your program will start at 9:15 AM and end at 1:45 PM. Unfortunately, we cannot facilitate your class prior to 9:15 or after 1:45. If your class is being dropped off early or picked up late, please note this in your registration form and have a plan for supervision and class management outside of program hours.

What if we need to start late, or leave early (e.g. for bus drop-off/pick-up)? Please confirm your start and end times during registration, and again at the beginning of your program day. This will help us plan out timing and route for the day. We can easily accommodate late starts and early ends to our program with advanced notice.

When do we hand in our consent forms (waivers)? Fully completed consent forms for every participant, including all adults, must be handed in on the morning of your program.

What should we bring? Please ensure that each participant packs all of the items listed under our “What To Bring” list, which is included in this document. Preparedness for weather and/or activities will have a big impact on our program choices – please take this seriously! Please get in touch if you know that student(s) in your class do not have access to adequate outdoor clothing. We may have some items to lend.

What if the weather is “bad”? Do everything possible to prepare you and your class for weather, rain or shine! Our route and activity choices will be dependent on weather (especially winds). Please be prepared for our plans to adjust accordingly. LPS staff will be keeping a close eye on the forecast, and if it seems unsafe, your program will be adjusted or rescheduled. Our staff will contact you via the phone number provided if your program needs to be canceled due to weather. This may happen the evening before or morning of your program.

What if someone needs to meet us or leave part way through the day? This is not possible without prior arrangements, and we strongly discourage it. We will be moving through the forest and/or on the lake, and our activity timing will be group dependent. If it is absolutely necessary for your group, please check in with LPS in advance to see if it can be arranged.

Can we bring adult volunteers? Adult volunteers may be required for our forest programs (Forest Friends and Energy Rangers) depending on SD71 adult supervision requirements. Please select those who will be engaged and attentive. They must arrive prepared for the full day outside, and complete a waiver prior to the program’s start. For our Water Keepers and Floating Classroom programs, the total number of participants must remain below our maximum group size of 26. For our Paddling Together program, the total number of participants must remain below our maximum group size of 34. Additional adults are welcome to use the public amenities in the park during our program – there are trails and a beach to enjoy!

Are there bathrooms? There are single-stall (wheelchair accessible and gender neutral) pit toilets (outhouses) at the lake. Our schedule for the day includes opportunities for students to use the bathroom and we carry a portable handwashing station and hand sanitizer. When away from the main campground area, there are no pit toilets. Students will be encouraged to have a “nature pee” if needed. Staff carry a simple “nature pee” bathroom kit and can coach leave no trace practices to support this.

Can we go swimming? No. Students cannot swim during our program and should be reminded of this expectation. Feet may get wet entering and exiting the canoes, and anything brought to the program should be okay getting wet. See the “What to Bring” list.

Fees and Subsidies

We have a sliding-scale pricing model. Lake Park Society is a non-profit and our program fees are based on recovering our costs. Even so, we recognize that many classes cannot pay the full cost-recovery rate. We are proud to provide financial accessible programming by offering subsidies under our Connection Grant program.

You will be provided with an opportunity to select a Connection Grant subsidy and input a discount code during registration. Subsidies are issued on a self-declared basis, with no additional application required. Unused subsidies will be applied to future school year programs and to provide additional financial support for classes that cannot afford our sliding scale rates. Please contact us if you have any questions about our pricing, or if our programs remain inaccessible at the maximum subsidy rate. We have additional funding options to ensure all students can participate.

Providing funding for transportation is beyond the financial scope of LPS. Therefore, we strongly encourage all teachers to consider additional sources of funding/grants that may provide extra support for transportation costs and/or remaining program costs. We recommend that you explore the following SD71-EOL resources to help you in this search, and apply for grants as early as possible.

Grants & Funding – Relevant funding options, e.g. Daytrippers, Go Grants
Transportation – SD71 approved options for how to get to the lake

Policies and Safety Considerations

Reservation Policy: Your reservation will not be confirmed until payment is received. Payment is due 4 weeks before program date. If your program remains unpaid at this time, you will forfeit your reservation, allowing time for another class to book this date.

Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be issued to programs that are canceled with less than 2 weeks’ notice. This excludes programs cancelled on behalf of Lake Park to Society, due to weather or other factors. It is very hard for another class to fill a program with short notice. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are considering canceling your program. We will do our best to reschedule.

Program Choice, and/or Activity Choice: LPS will educators have final say on activity choices based on weather, group dynamics, and other factors. Programs may also be adapted to suit participant needs (e.g. mobility) and group dynamics. Please alert your instructors to any potential concerns.

Weather: Programs will run rain or shine; however, if weather conditions create a safety concern, programs will be adjusted or rescheduled accordingly. For example, if high winds create unsafe conditions for canoeing during a Water Keepers program, we will switch to our alternative watershed program which will take place in the forest and/or along the lakeshore. In the case of an extreme weather forecast, you will be contacted by one of our educators the evening before the program to cancel. We will give as much notice as possible, but in some circumstances, this may happen last minute – the forecast is dynamic, and does not always align with actual conditions. Please ensure that you are available to be contacted the evening before and morning of your scheduled program in case cancellation is necessary. We will do our best to reschedule your class for another day.

Safety: Safety is our top priority. Our risk management protocols are designed and regularly updated to meet or exceed industry standards. All LPS educators are first aid certified, Paddle Canada certified, and experienced in nature-based programming. For most canoe-based school programs, we lash two canoes together to create exceptional stability. Participants wear properly fitted PFDs, and we provide clear safety instructions before launching. The park also has an active Wildlife/Danger Tree program, and we operate only in appropriate weather conditions.

All group safety gear (including first aid kits) will be provided by LPS. Participants with any known anaphylactic allergies are required to bring a valid EpiPen, stored in a waterproof container/bag. In the event of an incident requiring first aid, our staff will act as first responders on site. In the case of an incident that needs further treatment (but no ambulance), it will be the responsibility of the teacher to take students off site to seek further treatment.

Communicable Disease Prevention: LPS has adopted a Communicable Disease Prevention Plan to manage health and safety. While this is continually revised, below is a brief summary: all of our programs take place outside; all staff and participants will wash hands (or sanitize) prior to snack time and lunchtime; and all staff and participants are welcome to wear masks if they wish. Please stay home if you are sick with a communicable disease or have been directed to self-isolate and follow public health guidance.