ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

We live and work on Treaty 7 Territory. The territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy: the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani, the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Stoney Nakoda consisting of the Wesley, Chiniki, and Bearspaw Nations. Along with these indigenous nations this land is also significant to the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, Dene, Mountain Cree, and Metis Nation (Region 3). We make this acknowledgement as an act of gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting and as a step in the journey of reconciliation.

In order to preserve the environment, we ensure that any individuals or groups that join us on a photography workshop or tour understand that they are responsible for minimizing their impact on the surrounding area.

We are always mindful of packing out everything brought with us as well as ensuring that nothing natural has been removed or altered at the locations we visit.

We closely monitor trail systems, conditions, and closures before we go to any area with a group to ensure their safety and enjoyment. We avoid damage to environmentally sensitive areas by staying on designated trails where off trail travel is not allowed or when it would adversely impact the area and we always respect other users of the trails especially with regards to right of way, noise & occupying viewpoints longer than necessary.

Wildlife is a privilege to experience, yet it can be a negative interaction without the necessary awareness of safe viewing distances, seasonal changes in species behaviour, area closures and how to properly store food & scented items.

We always ensure that if we are lucky enough to see wildlife that we:

• Observe from a safe distance which is different for different species and at different times of the year.
• Move away at the first sign of nervousness or a change in their behaviour.
• Never feed any wildlife to avoid harming their health, altering their behaviour, or exposing them to predators or other hazards.
• Store food, garbage, and other odorous products in the facilities provided on site, in bear-proof barrels, or or in car trunks.
• Respect area closures and never disturb animals during sensitive breeding, nesting, and calf-rearing
  periods, or during winter.

Our wildlife encounters are on the rarer side being landscape photography focused workshops & tours however we are always prepared & keep our guests informed.

We believe that one of the best, and most humbling, experiences in the outdoors is camping and we are lucky enough to provide this experience in some of the most scenically spectacular places in the world. When providing camping opportunities to our groups, we always ensure that we:

• Camp on durable surfaces.
• Store food and scented items away from camp in the correct manner.
• Cook & prepare food away from the campsite in a designated camp kitchen.
• Follow best practices with regards to water treatment and grey water disposal.
• Have a fire only where permitted and follow best practices for creating and extinguishing it.
• Dispose of human waste properly and pack out all garbage.
• Are not impacting other users of the camping area.

To provide a high-quality experience, we keep our groups small enough that we can provide quality time with each participant, yet large enough that we can learn from each other. Keeping our groups at this size allows us to minimize our impact on the environment, comfortably monitor the safety of all participants, and provide our guests with a positive experience. The maximum group size varies from 6 to 12 participants depending on the trip.

Our qualifications include:

• ACMG Hiking Guide (winter accredited)
• IGA Professional Interpretive Guide
• IGA 4 Season Hiking Guide
• 80hr Advanced Wilderness First Aid (re certified every 3 years) & Standard First Aid CPR AED Level C (re certified every 3 years)

Licensing and permits are obtained from the relevant government agencies and land managers for the areas we operate within.