Corporate Membership

Is your corporate team looking for an opportunity to give back to your community and the environment, discover more about the natural world, and experience a fun and fulfilling day of volunteering together? Consider a Corporate Membership with the Bruce Trail Conservancy!

By choosing Corporate Membership with the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC), your organization or business can arrange a hands-on group volunteering event, hike or learning opportunity for your staff while contributing to the conservation and trail work of the Bruce Trail Conservancy.

Through membership, you can help the Bruce Trail Conservancy to secure a conservation corridor along the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere and directly support our mission: Preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever.

We greatly appreciate the generous support of our Corporate Members and are pleased to provide recognition through our website and social media.

Please review the information on this page and then complete an application to get started. We look forward to meeting you!

What is included with a Corporate Membership?

BenefitsBronzeSilverGold
On-Trail Event(s)1 event of less than 25 people per year2 events of less than 25 people per year OR 1 event of up to 40 people per year2 events of up to 40 people per year OR 3 events of up 25 people per year
Recognition as a member on brucetrail.org
Quarterly BTC Magazine (digital)
Quarterly BTC Magazine (print)3 per issue3 per issue5 per issue
Voting Right at the AGM1 vote1 vote1 vote
Bruce Trail Reference Guide – provided for each new edition2 copies2 copies2 copies
Fee$1,000$5,000$10,000
Membership applications for Summer events deadline – June 14th

On-Trail Event Information

The On-Trail events included with Corporate Memberships give your team a chance to get out of the office to learn more about the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) firsthand. We offer a variety of event options to provide an experience that best suits what your team is looking for. Read below to find out more.

The event will begin with a guided group hike on the Bruce Trail with an experienced staff member or volunteer, where you will learn about the amazing diversity of life along the Niagara Escarpment and how the BTC is working to protect and restore it. The rest of the time will be spent working on an ecological restoration project, helping to support the BTC’s conservation goals. Possible restoration projects include invasive species removal and plantings but are determined by the BTC’s restoration plans. If you’re looking for a physically demanding but highly rewarding team-building experience, this is a good option.

The event will begin with a guided group hike on the Bruce Trail with an experienced staff member or volunteer, where you will learn about the amazing diversity of life along the Niagara Escarpment and how the BTC is working to protect and restore it. The rest of the time will be spent providing maintenance for an ongoing ecological restoration project. This important work will provide a boost for ongoing restoration projects so that they can have the best chance for success. Tasks can consist of (but are not limited to) weeding, watering and mulching. If you’re interested in a slightly less physically-demanding, but equally important volunteering option, this is a good option.

Event duration: 3-3.5 hours
Availability: Spring, Summer & Fall

Go out for a hike and become a citizen scientist by taking part in a BioBlitz along the Bruce Trail. While on a guided group hike along the Bruce Trail with an experienced staff member, participants will take pictures of different plant and animal species along the Trail and upload them to the BTC’s iNaturalist Project. Through a BioBlitz, your team will be helping the BTC understand what can be found living along the Niagara Escarpment. Participants must have a smartphone with the iNaturalist app downloaded (more instructions to be provided). This is a great opportunity if you’re looking for a unique hiking experience.

Event duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
Availability: Spring, Summer & Fall

Take a relaxing hike along the Bruce Trail and enjoy some time in nature and some exciting views. You will learn how volunteers maintain the Bruce Trail year-round to keep the Trail blazed and clear of debris. We will bring some trash bags to collect any litter found along the hike and we’ll keep an eye out for any potential Trail hazards to report. Hikes will be tailored to suit the experience level of participants.

Event duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
Availability: Spring, Summer & Fall

Events typically run on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Spring, Summer and Fall. When submitting your membership application, you will be asked to select the season(s) you wish to have your event(s) and we will provide you with some options to choose from. Please note, the Restoration Project option is not available in the Summer.

Spring events: Late April – early June; Summer events: July – early September; Fall events: Late September – early November

The start time for the event is typically 9:00 a.m. but can adjusted on request. We ask that everyone arrives 15 minutes before the start time to get the most out of the day!

All events occur along the Bruce Trail and on BTC protected natural areas. Your event location(s) will be determined by the event activity, the time of year and where your team is travelling from.

The BTC is not responsible for participants transportation to the event. GPS coordinates and a Google Maps link to the parking location (and the meeting location, if different than the parking location) will be provided upon confirmation of your event details. Depending on the event location, parking will be available either in a parking lot or along a roadside. We strongly encourage carpooling to limit the number of cars travelling to an event.

Always check the weather before your event so that you can be best prepared. Keep in mind that the Trail can remain muddy days after a rainfall.

  • Comfortable, closed-toe shoes that can get muddy
  • Loose pants and light, long-sleeve shirt to protect from sun
  • Hat, sunglasses, sweater, (rain) jacket, etc. (depending on the weather)
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Garbage bags

There is no access to water, so be sure to bring plenty extra on hot days. All food wrappers must be packed out as there will be no garbage bins available.

You will be outside in nature for 3-4 hours, depending on the event. On the Trail, you can expect the footing to be anywhere from flat to rocky conditions and the terrain can consist of both flat and hilly features, as it follows along the Niagara Escarpment. Conditions can be compared to a green gym.

For Restoration Projects and Restoration Project Maintenance events, the hike portion will take about 1 – 1.5 hours and will conclude with a break, before beginning the volunteer activity. There will be brief breaks along the hike for learning and to take pictures. During the volunteer activity, participants will be digging in soil, handling plants and moving dirt. For BioBlitz and Litter & Trail Monitoring Hikes, the hike will be tailored to suit your groups abilities. On the membership application form, you will be asked to indicate the overall fitness level of the participants so that we can organize the best possible event for you.

In most cases, washrooms are not available on-site. Most events will take place on BTC protected natural areas, which do not have any facilities available. Participants are encouraged to use the facilities prior to their arrival at the event.

  • Weather: Events will proceed in both rain or shine. If the weather is too severe (e.g. lightning, extreme winds and/or rain), we will cancel and reschedule your event.
  • Cancellation: If you need to cancel your event, please let us know as soon as possible. We may be able to accommodate a rescheduling but it is not guaranteed. Membership refunds will not be issued if an event is cancelled.

Corporate Membership FAQs

When is payment due and how can we pay?
After submitting your membership application, we will review your information and will follow up with you to confirm your event details. Once the event details have been confirmed, you will be issued an invoice. We can accept payment via cheque, credit card, EFT or wire transfer.

Can we get a membership and not participate in an event?
Of course! As members you will still be supporting the Bruce Trail Conservancy. Your membership will help to secure a natural corridor along the Niagara Escarpment, that will be protected for everyone to enjoy.

Additional questions?
If you have any other questions about the Corporate Membership program, contact Ryan Mickeloff at rmickeloff@brucetrail.org.

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