🌻Monthly Update for August 2026🌻

A Word from Our President

Dear members,

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their engagement with the club recently. We received a record number of member survey responses, which is a fantastic indicator of our community's health. Whether you provided positive feedback or suggested areas for improvement, we truly appreciate everyone who took time out of their day to share their thoughts with us.

Behind the scenes, the board is working to review our bylaws and incorporate our community standards and a proposed code of conduct. We have engaged external expertise to help ensure we get this right. In the coming months, we’re hoping the community will continue to engage in discussions about how to formalize everything. Keep an eye out for opportunities to gather and share your perspective with us directly as we shape these updates.

All of these conversations will culminate at our Annual General Meeting on November 19th. We hope you're excited to join us to celebrate a successful year and discuss how we can continue the positive momentum we've built together.

Enjoy the August weather, stay hydrated out there, and we look forward to connecting with you soon!

Happy hiking,

Justin

Member Perks

GHTC Clothing

Sales of our branded clothing are going well, and people have been very happy with their new hiking wear! The sizes seem to be pretty standard, and the quality is excellent.

Whether you're looking for a simple t-shirt, a cozy tracksuit, a water-repellent jacket, or any of the other items that are for sale to help build community and spark excitement about our club, all you have to do is visit our online store to place an order with your credit card. If you prefer to shop in person to check sizes and really see what you'll be getting, then you can pop into 10C on Wednesday August 12^th from 6-7:30pm, or you can visit us. We'll have a table at the Guelph Farmers' Market on Saturday, August 22 (8am-1pm) and at our Members' Picnic on Sunday, August 23 (10:30am-2pm) at Riverside Park. In-person orders are cash or e-transfer only.

Anyone who has received an email letting them know their order is ready for pick-up can go to 10C, the Market, or the Members' Picnic to pick up their new gear on the dates and at the times mentioned above.

We hope you'll show your club spirit and support Fantastic Local Hiking!

Summer Members' Picnic

Time is running out to register for our

Annual Summer Members' Picnic!

Sunday, August 23

10:30am - 3:00pm

Riverside Park

Red Roof Picnic Shelter

In a typically August fashion, summer is flying by. As the date for our Summer Members' Picnic nears the excitement is building! Take advantage of this laid-back and enjoyable occasion to make connections with your fellow hikers over a plate of good food and fun activities.

To entice you even further, we'll be handing out game prizes, so bring along your favourite outdoor game (badminton, cornhole, hula hoops or bocce all come to mind) and join in on some friendly, laughter-filled rivalry. As an added bonus, anyone registered for the event will automatically be entered in a draw for one of our club hoodies. You could be the lucky winner of this stylish and sought-after item!

And speaking of clothing, we'll bring along any fulfilled clothing orders so you can pick them up at the picnic. If you haven't had a chance to order yours yet, we'll have lots of samples to look through and you can order them right then and there (payable by cash or e-transfer).

As a reminder, bring along:

a refillable water bottle
your own plate, cup, and cutlery
a lawn chair
fun outdoor games
your favourite food item (enough for 10 people)
your appetite
an equally hungry and fun-loving guest

We'll provide hotdogs, cold beverages, and napkins. Our team of hardworking volunteers will need a few days to go shopping and get everything organized for the event, so make sure you register soon!

Registration deadline: Tuesday, August 18th

Register Here!

We look forward to seeing everyone out on August 23rd!

Member Survey Update

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out this year’s Member Survey. Congratulations to Leslie C. on winning one of our new GHTC T-shirts! We received a whopping 147 responses, and I’m excited to dive in and share the information with our Executive Committee. Look for key takeaways and action items at our Annual General Meeting later this year.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

We’re hoping that you were able to take advantage of the recent discount at Columbia’s London location, and the ongoing discount offered at Mark’s stores. We’re excited to add another perk to the list: an exclusive offer to Hamilton Tiger-Cats games here. For easy access to member perks on-the-go, look at the Events page on the Wild Apricot app (or on the GHTC website) for current promotions.

As always, feel free to reach out to me at samantha.gow@guelphhiking.com if you have any questions, or want to share more information about your club experience!

Trail Updates

KBT Work Party B Rescheduled

The Kissing Bridge Trail Work Party B was postponed due to inclement weather. Fortunately, there's always a Plan B!

Rain date: Monday, August 17th

9:30am - 12:00 noon

We'd love to have an army of volunteers out to tackle the overgrowth! Now's your chance to help out with the cutting back of brush, small saplings, and grape vines so we can ensure the trail will be accessible for all users.

You'll want to wear a long sleeve shirt, pants, gloves, and have solid footwear. Bring along loppers and/or pruning shears if you have them. Don't forget to pack lots of water and bug spray.

Meet up is at the Marden Rd. (aka Wellington County Rd. 30) Trailhead. The trailhead is about a half a kilometer west of Silvercreek Parkway on Marden Rd. or Wellington County Rd. 30 Kissing Bridge Trailhead, Wellington Rd 30

Organizer: George MacNaughton 519-835-8970

Please call him or text if communicating on the day of the work party.

Amazing Member Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for a volunteer Secretary to join the Hiking Club's Board of Directors.

This important role helps keep the club organized and compliant by preparing agendas, recording meeting minutes, maintaining board records, and managing governance documents in SharePoint. The Secretary also supports communication among board and committee members and helps ensure important club information is securely maintained.

We're looking for someone who:

Is organized and detail-oriented
Has strong writing and note-taking skills
Can maintain confidentiality
Is comfortable using Microsoft 365 tools (Outlook, Word, Teams, SharePoint)
Has an interest in supporting the long-term success of the club

Time Commitment:

Monthly board meetings (2–3 hours each)
Annual General Meeting
Approximately 4–8 additional hours per month

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys organization, governance, technology, and supporting a vibrant hiking community.

Interested or would like to learn more? Fill in this application, or contact Jane Bibby at jane.bibby@guelphhiking.com.

Application deadline: Monday, August 31st

Honey Bee Research Centre Tour Update

With a large number of attendees, our club's private tour of the new Luckevich Pinchin Honey Bee Research Centre was a great success! Under the tutelage of Paul Kelly, our tour guide and the centre manager, we were given a comprehensive overview of all things bees. We learned the roles of each caste of honey bee in the hive hierarchy (drone, worker, or queen), as well as how to interpret the meaning of a bee's behaviour and movements, a fun and interactive experience involving a lot of head tapping and tail wagging! Discussion of the centre's roll in groundbreaking scientific research into bee health branched off into their efforts to combat parasites and mites deadly to bees, the effects of climate change, the hugely impactful roll of bees as pollinators and how they are safely transported all around the continent for that purpose.

From there we moved outside to the bee yard where we were given an up-close glimpse inside a hive. We were even offered a taste of raw honey, straight from the hive! Our time outdoors allowed for the opportunity to discuss how to behave safely around bees. It turns out remaining calm is the answer, even if our instinct is to run away.

We finished the tour with a behind-the-scenes look at the harvesting and processing of honey, followed by a quick exit through the gift shop, providing us with a chance to support their research through our purchases.

We were an inquisitive bunch, and the conversation could have stretched on long past the two-hour time limit! If you were not able to attend, or still have unanswered questions, you can visit their website and enjoy a deep dive into the fascinating world of honey bees.

September Trek & Tell

Our first Trek & Tell of the new season is open for registration! Join us in conversation with club members Tanya Simpraga and Lis Laustroer.

More than two million people use the Bruce Trail each year. Of those, only about 40 hikers complete an End-to-End annually. Even fewer can say they have hiked the entire trail multiple times—club member Lis is one of them.

From her very first hike in 1984, wearing jeans and a cotton T-shirt, Lis began what would become a lifelong journey on the Bruce Trail.

In the early 2000s, completion badges were introduced. That’s when Lis caught what she calls “badge disease,” and her quilt project was born. Every badge she earned was carefully placed on the quilt exactly where it was received along the trail. Each one holds a memory—of people she met, moments shared, and the many End-to-End hikes she completed along the way.

Through this conversation, Lis will bring these memories to life, sharing stories from her remarkable journey.

It promises to be an inspiring and engaging evening.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Location: Guelph Little Theatre, 176 Morris St.

Doors Open: 6:30 PM

Presentation: 7:00 PM

Event Sponsor: Domino's Pizza - free pizza for all attendees

Cash Bar hosted by Guelph Little Theatre

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

GHTC 2027 Calendar Photo Contest

ENTER THE GHTC 2027
CALENDAR PHOTO CONTEST!

After the success of our 2026 Calendar Photo Contest, we’re excited to announce the launch of the Photo Contest for our upcoming 2027 GHTC Calendar!

We’re looking for 12 excellent photos that showcase the beauty of our local trails. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or a casual hiker with a keen eye, we invite you to submit your best shots!

Photo Guidelines

Subject: Local trails in the Guelph area (not limited to GHTC-maintained trails)
Orientation: Landscape only
Content: No people in the photos
Resolution: Minimum 7.2 megapixels or 10 MB
Details Required: Include the specific location and photographer’s name with each submission
Submissions: Unlimited number of entries per person
Eligibility: Open to members and non-members

Selection & Recognition

Winning photos will be selected by the GHTC Executive Committee
Selected photos will be featured in the 2027 GHTC Calendar
While there is no financial compensation, your photo will help support trail maintenance and club initiatives through calendar and greeting card sales

Deadline & Submission Info

Please submit your entries by midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, to Calendar Photo Contest . If your photo files are large, then you may need to send a separate email for each one. Remember to include the photographer’s name and the location for each photo!

We can’t wait to see the trails through your lens!

GHTC Hikes

Check out the GHTC calendar regularly for updates on all hikes!

Wednesdays - Arboretum afternoon hikes are offered every Wednesday afternoon. For more information contact Christa at arb.naturalist@uoguelph.ca or ext. 53615. Level: easy. Speed: slow.

Upcoming Hikes

August 9 - Limehouse section of Bruce Trail

August 10 - James St. and Royal Recreation Trails, Downtown Guelph

August 16 - Mono Cliffs

August 17 - Smith Property Loop

Thanks to our VOLUNTEER hike leaders

for building these hikes.

We appreciate your time and efforts!