OHS Field Trip Program

Go Behind-the-Scenes at the OHS

 

OHS field trips are designed to provide students in Grades 1 to 12 with educational and interactive on-site programming, where they can learn all about the OHS, responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. Through a combination of educational outreach and curriculum-linked humane education topics, students will be engaged in understanding the importance of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. Field trips are available Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., throughout the school year. Field trips are three hours in length and include a half hour lunch break for students at 11:30 a.m. Field trips cater to groups of up to 40 students.

Field Trip Programming is customizable and typically includes:

  • 9:45 to 10 a.m. – Students arrive at the OHS
  • 10 to 10:30 a.m. – Welcome to the OHS presentation
  • 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Group rotation
    • Tour of the OHS
    • Cat gallery visit
    • Small animal visit
  • 11:30 a.m. to noon – Lunch break
  • Noon to 12:30 p.m. – Animal-themed activity
  • 12:30 to 1 p.m. – Humane Education presentation selected by grade level
  • 1 to 1:15 p.m. – Students depart from the OHS

*Please Note: Field Trips are not available on PD Days or during the summer.

French programming is available but may be subject to staff availability. Please ensure to request services in French when submitting a Field Trip request.

Age Requirement: Grades 1 to 12

Cost: $9 per student ($180 minimum); teachers and volunteers are free!

Program Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (three hours, including a 30-minute lunch break)

Field Trip Capacity and Ratios:

A maximum of 40 students are allowed per Field Trip booking. A minimum of one teacher is required per booking. Teacher and parent volunteers must be present and are required to meet school board standards for off-site excursions.

Lunches and Peanut/Nut Policy

We do not provide lunches on Field Trips. Please have students bring their own lunch. While we request that students refrain from bringing products containing nuts to their Field Trip, the OHS is not a nut-free facility.

Transportation to the OHS:

The teacher/school booking a Field Trip is responsible for organizing transportation to the Ottawa Humane Society.

OHS Program Waivers & Emergency Contact Information:

Each student (child or youth participant) is required to have an OHS Program Waiver signed by a parent/guardian. Waivers are mandatory and the teacher booking is responsible for contacting parents and distributing the waiver. Every teacher/school booking is responsible for having emergency contact information on each student attending a Field Trip at the OHS.

Requesting a Field Trip at the OHS:

Fill out the Request for Field Trip Registration Form by clicking the “REQUEST A FIELD TRIP” “button below. Please note the preferred date selected is not guaranteed, is subject to approval, and will be based on the availability of OHS staff, facilities, and shelter animals.

Please allow three to five business days for your request to be processed and for the supervisor: programs to contact you to confirm a Field Trip date and to complete the booking.

Request a Field Trip

Download our OHS Field Trip – Handout for teacher, parents, and volunteers.

Payment:

Full payment will be collected once final student numbers are confirmed the week before the field trip.

Shelter Animals & Availability:

To maintain safety and security of all participants, and to reduce stress of animals in our care, shelter dogs are not used in this program. Approved volunteer dogs may be used depending on availability. Shelter cat and rabbit interactions are subject to animal availability on the day of the scheduled Field Trip.

Animals are behaviourally assessed for suitability in being with children, as well as health checked by our animal care team. Animal availability may be determined by an animal’s health or adoption status, stress level and temperament.

All proceeds above and beyond the costs to run a Field Trip go to the animals at the OHS!

OHS Field Trip Program – Cancellation & Refund Policy:

Teachers are responsible for contacting the supervisor: programs to cancel a Field Trip reservation with as much notice as possible. Field Trips may be cancelled within 24 hours’ notice as a result of schoolboard directed snow days. Rescheduling a field trip is subject to approval and availability.

The OHS reserves the right to cancel any field trip at its discretion and without penalty. In event of an OHS-directed cancellation, the supervisor: programs notifies the teacher/school by phone and follows-up in writing.

For more information please email programs@ottawahumane.ca or call 613-725-3166 ext. 298.