Participation of Minors on Official ACC Section Trips

May 10, 2015 Webmaster

Take note when choosing trips and selecting participants:

Participant safety is the paramount factor in deciding whether or not someone should be allowed to take part. If there is any doubt as to whether or not a potential participant might be a safety risk to themselves or anyone else on the trip, they should not be allowed to go. While this is always the case, it is particularly so with minors.
All trip participants (regardless of membership status or age) must sign the ACC Release prior to participating. The parent/guardian of each minor must also sign the Release.
Parents/guardians of minors participating on trips need to be specifically aware:
- of the gravity of the trip (nature of the activity, risks, etc.) and,
- that by signing the waiver for their minor, they are agreeing to their minor participating in such activity and,
- that they must accompany their minor on the trip.

National Park Rules for Winter Trips with Young People

The Calgary section cannot allow children on any backcountry ski trips that have exposure to any avalanche hazard unless either a UIAGM guide or at least one parent of the child is also on the trip. This policy applies to all trips regardless where they take place (in a National Park, on provincial lands and elsewhere).

Group coordinators planning backcountry trips in the mountain national parks now have obligations when they are responsible for a custodial group.

A custodial group is an institutional group where at least one person is below the age of majority and that minor is not in the company of his/her parent. Institutional groups include but are not limited to School Groups, Scout/Guide Groups, Church Groups, Cadet Groups and Community Youth Groups.

To ensure appropriate backcountry leadership and terrain choices, effective April 01, 2004, custodial groups must obtain a permit and be accompanied by a certified mountain or ski guide before they will be allowed to travel into avalanche terrain in Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho, Kootenay, Banff, Jasper and Waterton Lakes National Parks.

This applies to both day trips and overnight trips between October 15 and May 31. The application process takes about two weeks; pre-trip planning is essential. For more information please contact the nearest mountain national park office, or visit a mountain park web site.

ACC Section trips are those that are Posted to the Section Event Schedule.