Frequently Asked Questions

Trips

What kind of trips does UTOC run?

We run a variety of trips that can be a day, weekend, or extended period of time.

Common day trips that we run include hanging at a park or a beach, geocaching, paddling on the Don/Humber rivers or around Toronto island, hiking local trail systems like the Don Valley or the Scarborough Bluffs, or driving out to places for hikes such as the Hamilton Falls or the Niagara Glen.

Our most common weekend trip is to our cabin near the Collingwood / Thornbury area. We’ve also done weekend camping on the Bruce Peninsula, 1,000 Islands, or the Adirondack Mountains in New York.

Extended trips we’ve done in the past include week-long backcountry camping trips in Killarney, Algonquin, or Moose Factory.

How are trips organized?

A notification is sent out to the mailing list advertising the trip and where and how you can sign up. We organize carpools to keep the cost low and split the cost of food. When applicable, participants are expected to help with trip duties such as setting up camp, cooking, and cleaning. Anyone can organize a trip for other members, and we strongly encourage it! Feel free to contact us if you need help organizing.

How do I organize a trip or event?

Any member can organize a trip or event! Let us know about your next outdoor adventure by contacting activities@utoc.ca or anyone on the exec team. Please contact us at least 2 weeks before the event. You can also drop by the office or come out to our next pub night.

how much do trips cost?

We try to make trips as affordable as possible so as many of our members as possible can participate. We are a student-run club, so we are mindful of student budget constraints. For a day trip that is accessible by public transit, then it’s free. If the trip requires a carpool, we split the cost of gas. Longer trips have a slightly higher cost for food and lodging which are split evenly among all participants, including trip leaders.

When planning a trip, how do members get to the TRIP location?

It depends on where the trip starts. If it’s located within Toronto, or accessible by public transit, we will provide directions to the location and it is up to each individual member to meet at the given location. If it is outside the city, the event organizer will coordinate carpooling options.

DO YOU RUN BEGINNER-FRIENDLY TRIPS?

Yes we do! These are advertised in our newsletter. Please note that the difficulty distinction of a trip is up to the discretion of the trip organizer. If you are unsure whether the difficulty level of a trip is right for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to the trip organizer to ask questions.

TRIP PLANNING GUIDES

Interested in doing any activity that you haven’t seen us do? We encourage anyone to run their own trips with us! In order to run a trip email activities@utoc.ca with the following information at least 14 days prior to the event:

• Activity name - a short name that catches the attention of our members!

• Date & Time - when will the activity take place? How long will it last?

• Activity description - write a short paragraph describing what will we do, if there is any equipment or experience level required, or any cool stuff you can come up with!

• Location - where will the activity take place and where will we meet.

• Transportation - details on how members are supposed to get to the activity location

• Estimated cost - cost of the activity, any equipment rentals, or transportation costs.

After sending this information to the activities officer, they will get back to you with confirmation or any additional information you may need to provide. 

Still have questions on how to plan a trip? Email the activities officer (activities@utoc.ca) if you have any other questions or need help planning a trip.

Membership

What does Membership Include?

Details regarding benefits of membership can be found the membership section.

Why does it cost money to become a member?

UTOC is a SKULE-recognized club but the university does not fund it. As such, we use the money to cover the costs of running the club, maintaining our cabin (insurance & property tax), and keeping our gear library up to date!

When does my membership expire?

Memberships last one year from the date they were purchased. So, if you bought your membership on September 1st of this year, it will expire on September 1st of next year. We’ll send you an email when your membership is about to expire so you can renew if you wish.

Does the membership fee cover the cost of trips?

No, however it is our priority to make trips as affordable as possible. We charge trips at cost and the cost is split evenly between everyone, including trip leaders. One of our main goals as a club is to make the outdoors accessible to everyone!

What commitments do I have to make as a member?

None. You can be as involved in the club as you wish! There are no time commitments to attend meetings or trips. Every trip will be sent out to the mailing list and you can sign up for whatever ones you want. However, we always encourage you to come out to meetings and events!!

Have any more questions?

Head over to the Contact section to email an exec or swing by our office hours.