Grade 3 Trip to Crawford Lake

VENTURING OUT PACKAGE –

Grade 3 Crawford Lake Conservation Area Excursion

Dear Parents,

Re: Grade 3 Crawford Lake Conservation Area Excursion

October 2023

The Grade 3 classes will travel to Crawford Lake Conservation Area on Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 to learn about Ontario’s rich First Nation’s heritage as they explore a reconstructed 15th century Longhouse This trip is in relation to Grade 3’s unit on Early Canadian Communities and will focus on Indigenous experiences We will be departing from school at 8:45 am and returning to the school prior to 3:15 pm for regular pick-up.

Enclosed with this letter you will find an Excursion Information Form that outlines the educational rationale for the trip, our activities, risks associated with the trip, important contact information, and financial information Please read the information carefully as it forms the basis of your consent for your child’s participation Families who elect to not send their children to attend this school excursion in-person should contact their child’s teacher as soon as possible, so they can plan accordingly.

Once you have satisfied yourself as to the suitability of this trip for your child, please fill out the following forms online via YorkNet by: Wednesday, October 11th

Parent Acknowledgement, Consent & Release Form Level II Code of Conduct

Finally, please ensure that your child’s medical information and emergency contact information is up to date for this excursion. To confirm these details, log on to YorkNet.

EXCURSION INFORMATION FORM

Excursion Name

Transportation Details

Date and Time

Grade 3 Trip to Crawford Lake Conservation Area

Wednesday, October 25th 2023

Depart from 1639: 8:45 am

Depart from Crawford Lake: 1:45 pm

Return to campus: prior to regular dismissal at 3:15 pm

Group Involved 3A & 3B (Approximately 41 students)

Group Leader and any other Staff Involved

Griffen Daoust, Annie Rowland, Hayley Wright, 4 parent volunteers, any other York School faculty as needed, and Crawford Lake on-site staff

Destination Address Crawford Lake Conservation Area

3115 Conservation Rd, Milton, ON L9T 2X3

Activity Description and Educational Rationale

This trip connects with our second unit of inquiry Students discover Ontario’s rich First Nation’s heritage as they explore a 15th century reconstructed Longhouse Hands-on opportunities abound when students engage in games, craft making, longhouse exploration and a hike to learn about what life was like in a longhouse village over 600 years ago

Activities include: longhouse exploration, circle gathering and fire starting, traditional games, craft making, multimedia presentation, Moccasin Walk (guided hike)

Service Providers Crawford Lake Conservation Area; Premier Coach

Emergency Contact Information

Crawford Lake (905) 336-1158 The York School: 416-926-1325

Griffen Daoust:gdaoust@yorkschool.com

Annie Rowland: arowland@yorkschool.com

Hayley Wright: hwright@yorkschool.com

Approximate Cost

Please note that once you have provided consent to have your child participate on the excursion, you will be charged for the expenses incurred on your child's behalf for this excursion. Where, after you have provided your consent, notice is given that your child cannot attend the excursion, efforts will be taken to avoid incurring expenses on your child's behalf for the excursion, and you will be only charged those expenses that could not be recouped.

$50-$75

Cost includes: Crawford Lake program and staffing, Premier Coach Transportation

Costs will be levied to student accounts after the excursion

Return Level II VO Form via YorkNet by Wednesday, October 11th

What to Bring

What to Bring:

1. WATER BOTTLE: All students need to bring a water bottle.

2. LUNCH: Sandwiches will be provided by The York School cafeteria for lunch, students are permitted to bring their own lunch if they choose to. We ask that all students exercise caution when packing snacks for the bus and are aware that people in our community have serious allergies to foods A NO NUT and NO PEANUT policy is in effect

3 CLOTHING: Please check the projected weather forecast for the day When packing, please follow these guidelines on dressing for an Outdoor Education trip: In order to fully enjoy their day, students need to be properly attired. Especially with younger students, it is advisable to send a few extra clothing items in case they get wet. All clothing should be labelled with the student’s name and extra items should be packed into a single backpack for easy access by the student, and to facilitate loading on the bus

ITEMS TO BRING/WEAR:

Warm Layers

Rain gear

Filled water bottle

Rubber boots or winter boots

Insulated jacket

Mitts or gloves

Toque

Neck warmer or scarf

Any personal medication (such as personal epipen, puffer, etc)

Please note:

While Crawford Lake tries to be as peanut-free as possible, they can not 100% assure us that the ingredients they use have been manufactured in a peanut or gluten-free environment.

Activities to be undertaken by students: Students will travel to and from site by coach bus

Students will be hiking through various habitats and taking part in active games, observing, investigating and discussing their surroundings. Students may also be walking on boardwalks and trails over and near streams, marshland and a lake Students will take part in hands-on activities including longhouse exploration, circle gathering and fire starting, traditional games, craft making, multimedia presentation, and Moccasin Walk (guided hike)

Student preparation for excursion:

In class we have been discussing what daily life looked like in early Canadian communities from 1780 - 1850 We have begun exploring the differences between daily life for European Settlers and for Indigenous communities such as the Huron, Metis, Anishinabek and Mohawk peoples.

Follow-up:

Students will reflect on what daily life was like for Indigenous peoples living in Longhouses and will compare and contrast the similarities and differences with daily life now

Risk Assessment

Specific Risks Identified:

Students may be exposed to a number of physical injuries including: cuts, scrapes, broken bones, bruising, sprains, head injury, concussions, and slips, trips, falls from heights, and drowning Students are at risk of temperature related injuries from physical activity outdoors While on this excursion, students are at risk of damage or loss of property While on this excursion with other students and staff, students are also at risk of exposure to COVID-19 There is also the risk of a traffic accident when en route.

Precautions to be taken to reduce risks:

Pre-trip preparation will include briefing on routes, boundaries, safety rules and emergency procedures, including contingency plans in case of separation All trip equipment and gear will be checked by staff before departure Students will be oriented to new sites Boundaries and out-of-bound areas will also be described Teachers will carry a cell phone, medical and contact information for their groups, and first aid kits. Students will be paired in a buddy system At minimum, 1:10 staff to student supervision ratio will be maintained

Contingency plan for bad weather/trip interruption: This trip is weather dependent and may be called off due to serious rain, high winds, or cold If there is a need to adapt plans while on the excursion, parents would be contacted for updates and further action plans. Programme goals would be adjusted according to the situation.

Location of nearest Emergency Medical Service: Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, 3001 Hospital Gate, Oakville, ON L6M 0L8

Arrangements to be made to transport person/group to EMS: In the event of a student with an injury, an adult would stay with the injured students and apply any necessary first aid A second adult would ensure the rest of the group is safe and stable However, if there is a major accident requiring EMS, a York School staff would accompany any student who would need to be taken to hospital Teachers will keep in contact with The York School and parents will be kept updated on the incident

SPECIFIC EXCURSION RULES

In addition to the expectations set out in the Code of Conduct, the following rules will apply during this trip:

Dress: Students must wear appropriate clothing for the activity, location and weather Students need not wear the school uniform Students are representing The York School and casual wear rules will be in effect: clothing must be neat and clean Students must wear shoes or boots that are suitable for extended periods of walking

Participation: Student participation in activities is mandatory and they must be on time

General: No gum or junk food is allowed on site or on the bus Valuables, such as, money and pocket knives are not required

What to Bring:

PACKING LIST

1 WATER BOTTLE: All students need to bring a filled water bottle

2 LUNCH: Sandwiches will be provided by The York School cafeteria for lunch, students are permitted to bring their own lunch if they choose to We ask that all students exercise caution when packing snacks for the bus and are aware that people in our community have serious allergies to foods A NO NUT and NO PEANUT policy is in effect

3. CLOTHING: Please check the projected weather forecast for the day. When packing, please follow these guidelines on dressing for an Outdoor Education trip: In order to fully enjoy their day, students need to be properly attired. Especially with younger students, it is advisable to send a few extra clothing items in case they get wet.All clothing should be labelled with the student’s name and extra items should be packed into a single backpack for easy access by the student, and to facilitate loading on the bus.

ITEMS TO BRING/WEAR:

Warm Layers

Rain gear

Water bottle

Rubber boots or winter boots

Insulated jacket

Mitts or gloves

Toque

Neck warmer or scarf

Any personal medication (such as personal epipen, puffer, etc)

Please note:

While Crawford Lake tries to be as peanut-free as possible, they can not 100% assure us that the ingredients they use have been manufactured in a peanut or gluten-free environment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CONSENT, AND RELEASE

The following sets out statements to which you, the parent(s), must agree by signing electronically below in order for your child to be permitted to participate in the intended trip Should you have questions regarding any of the statements below, you may contact the Director of Student Life and Belonging, Sarah Charley, at scharley@yorkschool com (416-926-1325 Ext 1616) or Experiential Educator, Andrea Lossing, at alossing@yorkschool.com (416-926-1325 Ext. 1221).

I/We understand, as the parent or guardian of the student named above, that students on The York School trips are expected to participate fully in all activities undertaken during and in preparation for the trip, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner befitting of their role as ambassadors for the school community. I/We further understand that all students will be bound by The York School Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations listed in this information package and/or discussed and implemented while on the trip, and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the trip leader, result in the immediate return of the student to Toronto Responsibility and payment for these arrangements will be borne by the parent/guardian Any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the Division Head, result in appropriate disciplinary action including suspension from subsequent trips.

I/We have reviewed the contents of this information package and Code of Conduct expectations, rules and consequences with our child I/We, the undersigned, consent to the participation of our child (as noted above) in The York School trip to Crawford Lake Conservation Area, on Wednesday October 25th.

Details concerning this event, including activities, travel, supervision, location and safety precautions have been communicated to us and are understood In particular, we are aware that students will be engaged in the following activities: Students will travel to and from site by coach bus. Students will be hiking through various habitats and taking part in active games, observing, investigating and discussing their surroundings. Students may also be walking on boardwalks and trails over and near streams, marshland and a lake Students will take part in hands-on activities including longhouse exploration, circle gathering and fire starting, traditional games, craft making, multimedia presentation, and Moccasin Walk (guided hike)

Our emergency contact information is up to date. I/We agree to update the information with the trip leader if changes occur prior to the trip start date

I/We have reviewed the Trip Plan and are aware that this excursion may expose my/our child to the following risks: cuts, scrapes, broken bones, bruising, sprains, head injury, concussions, and slips, trips, falls from heights, and drowning Students are at risk of temperature related injuries from physical activity outdoors While on this excursion, students are at risk of damage or loss of property While on this excursion with other students and staff, students are also at risk of exposure to COVID-19 There is also the risk of a traffic accident when en route

I/We, the undersigned, grant the trip supervisors appointed by The York School permission to act on my/our behalf and to consent, to any medical, dental or surgical treatment, including pain relief and admission to hospital which may be required for my/our child, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner if, after reasonable attempts have been made to contact me/us

at the phone numbers provided to the school, I/we cannot be reached I/We do hereby release The York School, its directors, employees and its agents, from every manner of suit, claim or legal action which may arise as a result of an injury to, or the death of, my/our child sustained by reason of my/our child’s participation in this excursion As parent(s) of the child above, I/we 1. acknowledge that I/we understand the statements made regarding the intended excursion with respect to expected behavior, consequences for misbehavior, and the details of the trip, including activities and risks, 2 consent to my/our child’s full participation in the trip, and to the school taking the measures set out above in response to any medical emergency that may arise, and 3 release the school from legal action arising from injury or death according to the terms set out above

CODE OF CONDUCT

I understand, as the parent or guardian of the student named above, that students on The York School trips are expected to participate fully in all activities undertaken during and in preparation for the trip, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner befitting their role as ambassadors for the school community. We further understand that all students will be bound by The York School Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations listed in this information package and/or discussed and implemented while on the trip, and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the trip leader, result in the immediate return of the student to Toronto at the parent/guardian’s expense and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the Division Head, result in disciplinary action We have reviewed the contents of this information package and Code of Conduct expectations, rules and consequences with our child.

Please Note:

This copy of the Venturing Out Package is for reference only. Log on to your YorkNet account at https://yorkschool.myschoolapp.com/app#login to complete your child’s VO Package and give consent for their participation in this excursion.