Corporate Volunteering
Is your corporate team looking for an opportunity to give back to your community, spend time outdoors and make real environmental impact? Sign up for a Corporate Volunteer event!
Corporate Volunteering with the Bruce Trail Conservancy
The Bruce Trail Conservancy’s Corporate Volunteering program offers businesses and organizations the opportunity to support conservation efforts along the Bruce Trail – both financially and through hands-on ecological stewardship events.
Participants work directly with BTC staff on stewardship or Trail maintenance projects, gaining a unique, educational, and rewarding experience that strengthens team connection while helping care for the Niagara Escarpment.
We look forward to working with your team!
Why Participate in Corporate Volunteering?
Team Building with Purpose
- Participants enjoy an active outdoor experience that promotes teamwork, connection and shared purpose.
- Corporate volunteers build environmental awareness while engaging with nature.
Support the BTC’s Conservation Work
- Your financial contribution enables the BTC to restore and protect ecologically significant lands along the Niagara Escarpment.
- Funding helps maintain safe, sustainable public access along the Bruce Trail.
Meaningful Environmental Impact
- Your team’s volunteer hours directly support ecological restoration, stewardship and conservation activities on BTC-protected lands.
- Each event contributes to preserving and enhancing natural habitats along the Niagara Escarpment.
Volunteer Event Options & Details
Invasive Species Removal
- Start the event with a guided hike led by BTC staff, where participants learn about the rich biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment and how the BTC protects and restores these ecosystems.
- Receive instruction on how to properly identify the targeted invasive species, including key traits and how seasonal growth stages determine the best timing for removal.
- Spend the remainder of the event removing invasive plants in priority areas selected through the BTC’s restoration plans.
- A physically engaging and rewarding option ideal for teams looking to make a direct conservation impact.
Availability: Spring & Fall
Duration: 3.5-4 hours
Restoration Maintenance
- Start the event with a guided hike led by BTC staff, where participants learn about the rich biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment and how the BTC protects and restores these ecosystems.
- Spend the remainder of the event assisting with essential maintenance tasks that help ongoing restoration projects succeed.
- Activities include weeding, watering, mulching and other site-specific restoration tasks that give sensitive habitats the care they need to thrive.
- A slightly less physical option that still offers meaningful conservation impact and a rewarding team-building experience.
Availability: Spring, Summer & Fall
Duration: 3-3.5 hours
Tree or Wildflower Planting
- Start the event with a guided hike led by BTC staff, where participants learn about the rich biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment and how the BTC protects and restores these ecosystems.
- Receive guidance on proper planting techniques and learn how native trees and wildflowers contribute to healthier ecosystems, improved biodiversity, and long‑term climate resilience.
- Spend the remainder of the event planting native species in priority restoration sites identified through the BTC’s ecological planning.
- A physically engaging and rewarding option ideal for teams looking to make a direct conservation impact.
Availability: Spring & Fall
Duration: 3.5-4 hours
Limited planting events available and requires 15+ participant
Educational Walk & Litter Cleanup
- Begin with a relaxing guided hike tailored to the group’s experience level that offers time in nature, scenic views, and insight into the Niagara Escarpment’s unique landscapes.
- Learn how volunteers maintain the Bruce Trail year‑round — from blazing and clearing debris to monitoring trail conditions and reporting hazards.
- Take part in a low‑intensity litter cleanup along the route while keeping an eye out for any potential trail issues to report.
- A great option for teams seeking an educational and rewarding introduction to conservation volunteering.
Availability: Spring, Summer & Fall
Duration: 3-3.5 hours
Volunteer Event Pricing
All events are led by BTC staff and include an educational component about the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s conservation work. Pricing is based on group size.
| Event Type | 5-15 Participants | 16-25 Participants* |
|---|---|---|
| Invasive Species Removal / Restoration Maintenance | $1000 | $1500 |
| Tree or Wildflower Planting Limited availability – requires at least 15 participants | $2000 | $2500 |
| Educational Walk & Litter Cleanup | $800 | $1000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Events typically run on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Spring, Summer and Fall. When submitting your application, you will be asked to select the season you wish to have your event(s), and we will provide you with some date options to choose from. Please note, the Invasive Species Removal and Plantings options are 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 10:00 a.m. but may be 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 option, the time of year and where your team is travelling from.
Volunteer groups are responsible for their own transportation. 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 prepared. Keep in mind that the Trail can remain muddy days after a rainfall. Participants should bring:
- Comfortable, closed-toed 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 volunteer opportunity. On the Trail, you can expect the footing to be anywhere from flat to rocky conditions and the terrain on the hike can consist of both flat and hilly features, as it follows along the Niagara Escarpment. Conditions can be compared to a green gym.
For Invasive Species Removal, Restoration Maintenance and Plantings 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 the Educational Walk & Litter Cleanup option, the hike will be tailored to suit your groups abilities. On the 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 volunteer opportunities 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.
- 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 reschedule your event to the best of our abilities.
- 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. Refunds will not be issued if an event is cancelled.
After submitting your application, we will review your information and will follow up with you to confirm your event details. Once the event details have been confirmed, an invoice will be issued. We can accept payment via cheque, credit card, EFT or wire transfer.
Additional questions?
If you have any other questions about the Corporate Volunteering program, contact Ryan Mickeloff at ryan.mickeloff@brucetrail.org.
