Booking FAQ

Planning & Booking

Q. What information do I need before I book?
A. A date, the potential maximum number of participants and the name of the program each group would like to participate in.

Q. How can I make a reservation for my group or class?
A. You can request or make a booking online 24/7. Please visit: trca.ca/learning/day-visits. Please note online reservations require full payment at the time of the booking. Phone reservations are also available Monday to Friday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at Visitor Services (416) 667-6295. Phone reservations can be made without advanced payment, but a deposit will be required later.

Q. Do I need a minimum number of participants to book a guided tour?
A. No. There is no minimum number of participants to book a guided tour. Our rates are based on the number of tours booked. At Black Creek Pioneer Village each tour can accommodate up to 25 participants and at Kortright Centre 30 participants (with some exceptions).

Q. What time do your morning and afternoon programs run?
A. Morning programs run between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at Kortright Centre and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Afternoon programs run between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Kortright Centre and from 12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

Q. Am I automatically confirmed when I book online?
A. Yes. When you book online full payment is required. You will receive a Booking ID with your receipt.

Q. What happens after I book online?
A. You will receive a Booking ID via e-mail. Please read it VERY carefully to ensure that the information is correct. Please read the Terms and Conditions by clicking on the link provided.

Q. What happens after I request booking information online?
A. You will receive an e-mail from Visitor Services within a business day to offer available dates and discuss your requirements for the trip.

Q. How and when can I make changes to my reservation?
A. If you would like to change the date, program or time please contact Visitor Services via e-mail at visitorservices@trca.on.ca or call 416-667-6295. Please provide the Booking ID to make the necessary changes to the Booking Invoice. Changes are accepted without penalty within 15 business days before the trip.

Q. How many supervising adults can I bring?
A. It will depend on the number of classes and the age of the group. Please check with Visitor Services based on your ratio requirements. Adults not included in your group rate pay additional admission fees.

Q. Can I select any program independent of the number of participants?
A. No. Most of our programs have a maximum capacity. Please check which programs will best accommodate your group.

Q. If I have more than one group, can they participate in different programs?
A. Yes. If you are using the online request form, please complete a booking request for each group.

Q. Can I book for several classes at the same time?
A. Yes. If you are booking online, please add all the programs to the same cart and provide a contact name for the overall booking.

Q. Can one of my classes have a guided program while the other class is doing a self-guided tour?
A. Yes. While programs are in progress, self-guided visitors are allowed to tour but must remain outside the trails or buildings where programming is taking place. Please note self-guided groups will pay a fee per person.

Q. What’s the maximum number of participants that I can add to an existing booking?
A. This will depend on the program maximum capacity.

Q. Do you offer tours in French?
A. Yes. Some tours are available in French at Black Creek Pioneer Village and at Kortright Centre. Requests for a guided tour in French need to be received at least two weeks in advance. Please check with Visitor Services for availability.

Q. Can your programs accommodate special needs?
A. Yes. Our facilities are almost fully wheelchair accessible. Please let us know your special needs at the time of your booking. When booking online, please list all special needs and health concerns in the booking form.

Q. Do the staff accompanying special needs need to pay?
A. No. Staff supervision for special needs participants is free. Please let us know in advance how many special needs staff your group will bring.

Payment & Cancellation

Q. How do I calculate the cost per student?
A. For Black Creek tours you have to calculate your fees based on 25 participants for each guided tour. For Kortright Centre the fees are based on 30 participants per guided tour. Please note tours have different fees depending on the program of your choice.
For fees per program please visit: blackcreek.ca or kortright.org

Q. Can I include teachers or parents in the cost of the tour?
A. Yes. You can include them in the total of 25 or 30 participants per guided tour.

Q. What happen if my numbers are more than 25 or 30 participants?
A. In that case your booking will require a second guided tour. Please contact Visitor Services when your numbers are too low for an additional guided tour.

Q. Can I book online without making a payment?
A. No. Online reservations require full payment. If you need an invoice to pay, please call 416-667-6295 to book by phone with one of our representatives.

Q. How and when do I pay for the booking invoice?
A. All reservations require advance payment. Reservations by phone require a 50 per cent deposit one month in advance. Payments can be made by cheque or by phone with credit card (Visa or Mastercard). Deposits are refundable if you cancel 15 business days prior to your trip. Balances are paid upon arrival based on your Booking Invoice. Please note the invoice might be adjusted upon arrival in case the numbers of participants change.

Q. To whom are the deposit cheques payable to?
A. Please make your deposit cheque payable to TRCA and mail it to the following address: 5 Shoreham Drive Downsview, On, M3N 1S4. Please add the Booking ID in the memo of the cheque.

Q. Do I have to pay extra for a self-guided visit if I’m booked for a tour?
A. If you have a program booked at Black Creek Pioneer Village, there is No extra charge to stay self-guided before or after the tour.  If you have a program booked at Kortright Centre you need to inform in advance if your group is planning to stay for more time than the actual tour and an additional fee will apply.

Q. What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my trip?
A. All programs proceed regardless of the weather. Please make sure the participants are dressed accordingly, with special attention to footwear. Only if your school buses are cancelled because of the weather conditions, can you contact us to re-schedule without penalty.

Q. How can I cancel a booking?
A. We must receive your written cancellation 15 business days in advance to avoid any penalty. If the group cannot attend at its scheduled date/time, every effort will be made to re-schedule the trip during the school year. If that is not possible, notice of a cancellation must be received by phone and in writing no less than 15 business days prior to the scheduled visit. If these cancellation conditions are met, the deposit will be returned. Cancellation with less than 15 business days’ notice will forfeit the deposit. Same-day cancellations (or no-shows) will be billed for the entire cost of the trip based on the Booking Invoice.

Q. What happens in the case of a strike or work-to-rule?
A. If a strike or work-to-rule is in place on the scheduled date/time that directly inhibits the school’s ability to attend, every attempt will be made to re-schedule within the current school year. Should that not be possible we will refund, in full, any monies that have been paid to us. If the strike or work-to-rule has been cancelled or suspended on the scheduled day of your visit then we expect that you will honour your booking. Should you choose not to attend you will forfeit any and all monies as per our usual cancellation policy.

Q. Can memberships be used towards education programs?
A. No. Memberships cannot be used to cover education guided tours. Memberships can be used for students or teachers for self-guided visits with their families only.

Transportation & Lunch

Q. Can I use public transportation to visit Black Creek Pioneer Village?
A. Yes. Using public transportation is quick and convenient from the Finch subway station using the Steeles 60 West route, or from the Jane Station using the Jane 35 route. Call the Toronto Transit Commission at 416-393-4636 or visit ttc.ca.

Q. Can I use public transportation to visit Kortright Centre?
A. Public transportation, while possible, is not recommended for school groups due to complicated routes, the long walk in from main roads and the need to start programming punctually. However, public transportation may be viable for individuals/families visiting on the weekends. Call York Transit at 905-762-2100 or visit yrt.ca for more details.

Q. Why can’t I bring backpacks/large bags into these parks?
A. For health and safety reasons carrying backpacks for several hours can be detrimental to children’s back health. Additionally, Black Creek Pioneer Village has small building entrances and large bags and backpacks are not permitted in the programs for security reasons and for the safety of our very fragile and irreplaceable artifacts. Kortright Centre also encourages visitors to keep backpacks separate from programming times because they may get in the way and/or be too heavy to carry for several hours.

Q. Will our group have space to store and eat lunch?
A. Yes. However, indoor eating space is extremely limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please bundle up all lunches and backpacks in storage bins prior to your arrival. Please make sure the boxes are clearly labeled with your group name.

Q. Where can I park at Black Creek Pioneer Village?
A. School buses may park in front of the Village when dropping off and picking up students. Drivers must stay with their vehicles and turn off their engines. There is a public parking lot for cars next to the entrance. School buses are free. Car parking at Black Creek Pioneer Village is $10.00 per vehicle.

Q. Where can I park at Kortright Centre for Conservation?
A. School buses and cars share the parking area located in front of the entrance to the Visitor Centre. School buses are free of charge. Car parking is free on weekdays and $4.00 on weekends

For any other question, please e-mail us at: visitorservices@trca.on.ca