OHS Field Trip Program
Go Behind-the-Scenes at the OHS
OHS Field Trips are back for the 2023 New Year!
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 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 subject to staff availability. Please contact programs@ottawahumane.ca before booking.
Age Requirement: Grades 1 to 12
Cost: $9 per student ($153 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 Field Trips, 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.
Booking a Field Trip at the OHS:
Fill out the Request for Field Trip Registration Form by clicking the “REQUEST TO BOOK” button below*. Please allow three to five business days for your request to be processed and for the supervisor: programs to contact you to confirm the Field Trip date and book. Full payment will be required upon booking.
*Please note the preferred date selected is not guaranteed, is subject to approval and will be based on availability of OHS staff, facilities, and shelter animals.
Download our OHS Field Trip – Handout for teacher, parents, and volunteers.
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. 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!
COVID-19 Safety Protocols: To ensure the safety of OHS staff, volunteers, participants and animals, we ask that participants stay home if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or live with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last five days. At this time, masking is not required for OHS programs, although youth who feel more comfortable wearing masks are encouraged to do so. We are regularly monitoring public health regulations and will update our COVID-19 safety protocols if anything changes.
OHS Field Trip Program – Cancellation & Refund Policy: Refund requests received seven days in advance of the scheduled program are eligible for a refund (a $25 non-refundable administration fee applies). Refund requests received within seven days of the scheduled program are not eligible for a refund. Rescheduling a field trip is subject to approval and availability.
Full refunds will be issued in the event the OHS has to cancel a scheduled program.
For more information or to be added to an interest list, email programs@ottawahumane.ca or call 613-725-3166 ext. 298.