OFSC Landowner Information Booklet

1 OFSC Landowner Information BookletOFSC Landowner Information BookletThis Land Is Your Land32 This Land Is Your LandThe ABC s of Organized Snowmobiling cont dThe OFSCThe Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization. It is the coordinating body of organizedsnowmobiling for Ontario. The OFSC provides advice and guidance tomember clubs on a broad range of topics, to assist them in reachingprovincial objectives. The Federation is also responsible for activitieswhich the clubs deem are best handled at the provincial level such asTOP (Trans Ontario Provincial) Trail planning, safety, environment,insurance, guidelines, and the user pay system.

2 The Federation maintainsan office in Barrie, Ontario, where the club volunteers who operate theOFSC interact with the General Manager and staff on a daily OFSC has a rich history and a diverse legacy of decades, the Federation has made substantial inroads, on behalf ofthe member clubs, towards establishing organized snowmobiling as weknow it today. Along the way, its traditions of volunteerism,community service, trail building, positive Landowner relations, andlocal club autonomy have actively flourished, as has the popularity ofsnowmobiling. Organized snowmobiling has a proven track record in Ontario. As alandowner, you are dealing with a local OFSC club supported by aprofessional, effective association that assists in overseeing the over40,000 kms of marked, maintained and groomed snowmobiling trailsin the province.

3 For you, this means protection, stability andconsistency. Wehave a long-standing,successful, andamicablerelationship withOntario s privatelandowners. TheOFSC representsyour best assurancethat you and yourland will betreated right. The ABC s of OrganizedSnowmobilingClubsOrganized snowmobiling has existed since 1966 in the province ofOntario. It became unified when local snowmobile clubs becameorganized locally, regionally and provincially. It is very importantto make a clear distinction between snowmobiling and the organized snowmobiling which defines the Ontario club their many achievements, the local snowmobile clubs whoform the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) operateOntario s premier trail network.

4 They also have developed the mostsuccessful user pay funding system for recreational trails in theprovince. It is our belief that we are prepared to take the bestpossible care of your property for recreational trail trails are the unique product provided by OFSC are built to promote and bring together communities as part oforganized snowmobiling. All of the economic, social, health andrecreational benefits associated with snowmobiling stem from thedevelopment of these snowmobile trails. In many places, theexistence of these snowmobile trails depends on the continuedgenerosity and cooperation of private property owners. Thus, goodlandowner relations are of paramount importance to both the OFSCand its member clubs, because without you, an integrated trail systemcould not army of dedicated club volunteers drawn from your localcommunity continue to develop, build and maintain the OFSC snowmobile trail system by consolidating established local trails theyhave been using.

5 These volunteers ensure that local trails haveappropriate land use permission from the applicable landowners inthe community. Volunteers are also responsible for properlypreparing, signing, and safely opening trails in the fall, maintainingand grooming them in the winter, and closing them in the are the cornerstone of organized snowmobiling. This Land Is Your Land5 How Do Snowmobile Trails Work? cont drerouting, long detours or even the use of public roads to connect toother existing trails. Upon obtaining land use permission from landowners , the club thenensures that the trails are ready and groomed for snowmobilingthroughout the season.

6 With Landowner permission, preparationduring the off-season involves signing, clearing, leveling, brushing,staking and possibly widening and bridging. Some of these localtrails are linked to form the border to border trail network, called theTrans Ontario Provincial (TOP) Trail System, while others compriseregional networks. All will appear on snowmobile trail maps so thatriders know where to ride, and more importantly, where not to Funding To operate each kilometre of trail every season, it costs non-profitsnowmobile clubs an average of $412 in cash, in kind and in volunteerlabour. For our 40,000 kilometre plus trail system province-wide, thetotal amount is about $19 million each year.

7 Approximately $14million of the required resources are obtained from the OFSC ssuccessful User Pay System. User pay simply means that those whoutilize the trail pay for it. Thus, a Snowmobile Trail Permit, sold by theclubs, allows those who choose to ride on groomed and signedsnowmobile trails to pay their share of the operating cost. A full seasonSnowmobile Trail Permit enables a permit holder to ride any openOFSC Prescribed trail at any time during the winter. Most of the money raised from the sale of Trail Permits goes back intotrails or trail related programs. About 75% of the proceeds from thesale of Snowmobile Trail Permits provides primary funding for localsnowmobile clubs and their trails (The other 25% is allocated toprovincial programs; see below).

8 However, the total revenue derivedfrom permit sales is $14 million and it costs approximately $19 millionto operate the trail system. That leaves an annual funding shortfall ofabout $5 million, some of which is made up through ongoing clubfundraising efforts and the labour contributions of club volunteers. While 75% of the permit revenues stay with clubs, the OFSC managesan annual operating budget of almost $11 million for provincial programs 4 This Land Is Your LandHow Do Snowmobile Trails Work?LandownersAt last count, Ontario snowmobile clubs reported land use permissionwith over 15,000 private landowners . These owners include farmers,cottagers, hunt camp owners, wood lot operators, absentee landlords,businesses, corporations, and many, many others.

9 They are a diversegroup, with many different viewpoints and interests, but all share alove of their land, and a desire to be treated fairly and with respect bythe snowmobiling community. By designating a specific route across their land for OFSC snowmobiles during the winter, landowners have contributedimmeasurably to their local snowmobile clubs and home who provide consent for the snowmobile club to accesstheir property, will be invited to sign an OFSC Land Use PermissionForm. This form outlines the obligations of the snowmobile club tothe Landowner . When it is signed, the insurer for the OFSC agrees torecognize the Landowner as an insured by the OFSC s Third PartyGeneral Liability Policy for any legal liability claims with respect tothe Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs.

10 The signed formbecomes the Landowner s assurance that the trail system on his/herproperty will be monitored, maintained and groomed by clubvolunteers. By allowing this permission, the snowmobile trail on yourproperty becomes an important part of the local club trail networkwhich also forms part of the provincial trail system. Club Trails Form Provincial SystemEach OFSC snowmobile club obtains the necessary land usepermissions from local landowners . This permission is for exclusiveuse of a trail corridor by snowmobiles of OFSC members, only duringthe winter. It also allows the club volunteers to commence trailpreparation in the Fall and close up in the Spring.