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.
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, please follow the steps below:
- Share our Take Home Letter (What to Bring list, Map and 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.
- Please ensure you are reachable by phone on the evening before and the morning of your program. In rare cases, circumstances such as extreme weather may require last-minute adjustments or even cancellation. We do our best to avoid this, but it is sometimes unavoidable.
- Upon arrival, hand in fully completed Informed Consent forms (minors) and Waivers (all adults).
- 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, please follow the steps below:
- Share our Take Home Letter (What to Bring list, Map and 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.
- Please ensure you are reachable by phone on the evening before and the morning of your program. In rare cases, circumstances such as extreme weather may require last-minute adjustments or even cancellation. We do our best to avoid this, but it is sometimes unavoidable.
- Upon arrival, hand in fully completed Informed Consent forms (minors) and Waivers (all adults).
- Remind us 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.
Program Prep: Energy Rangers
In order to ensure that you and your class are fully prepared, please follow the steps below:
- Share our Take Home Letter (What to Bring list, Map and 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.
- Please ensure you are reachable by phone on the evening before and the morning of your program. In rare cases, circumstances such as extreme weather may require last-minute adjustments or even cancellation. We do our best to avoid this, but it is sometimes unavoidable.
- Upon arrival, hand in fully completed Informed Consent forms (minors) and Waivers (all adults).
- 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.
Program Prep: Paddling Together on Comox (Pentlatch) Lake
In order to ensure that you and your class are fully prepared, please follow the steps below:
- Share our Take Home Letter (What to Bring list, Map and 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.
- Please ensure you are reachable by phone on the evening before and the morning of your program. In rare cases, circumstances such as extreme weather may require last-minute adjustments or even cancellation. We do our best to avoid this, but it is sometimes unavoidable.
- Upon arrival, hand in fully completed Informed Consent forms (minors) and Waivers (all adults).
- 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.
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, please follow the steps below:
- Share our Take Home Letter (What to Bring list, Map and 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 that you are prepared for the teacher-led portion of this program. Review the Floating Classroom Considerations and Sample Schedules for more information.
- Please ensure you are reachable by phone on the evening before and the morning of your program. In rare cases, circumstances such as extreme weather may require last-minute adjustments or even cancellation. We do our best to avoid this, but it is sometimes unavoidable.
- Upon arrival, hand in fully completed Informed Consent forms (minors) and Waivers (all adults).
- Remind us 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.
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
- Gear may be stored in vehicles or in the geodesic dome above group site until group site check-in.
- Access to Group Site: 1:00 PM or later, max 3 vehicles on group site road (please check with Campground Office about early check-in on day of arrival)
- Option to book LPS program(s) on day of arrival (between 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM)
Check-out Day
- Check out of Group Site: 11:00 AM or earlier (must have site cleared, gear out, vehicles moved)
- Please depart the park by 12:00 PM or earlier to avoid conflict with other school groups.
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.
More Info
Please review our LPS Overnight Campout: Info & Waivers package for more detailed information.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.