Batawa Ski Hill

"What do you guys do all summer?"

A black bear was spotted on Maples Trail at approximately 3:30 p.m. on June 19.

While black bears are a natural part of our local environment, we ask all visitors to remain alert, keep a safe distance if encountered, and never approach or feed wildlife.

If you see the bear, please report the sighting to us and give it plenty of space to move through the area safely. Please share this post or tag your friends that frequent our trails.

For information on staying safe around bears, visit Ontario's Bear Wise program: https://www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise

We were honoured to be the venue for Leading Edge Quinte last week. It’s always a pleasure to welcome our local business community and see everyone enjoy the Batawa chalet and outdoor space.

Today, we're proud to recognize another initiative in our Small Project, Big Impact series.

This story began last year when community member Kristina Schwartz approached Batawa Ski Hill with a mission: to bring adaptive hiking to the Batawa Trails.

We connected Kristina with Ontario Track 3, and they worked together to bring their "Adventure for Every Ability" program to Batawa this spring.

Adventure for Every Ability is a hiking program designed to provide inclusive outdoor experiences for children and youth with disabilities, expanding opportunities beyond existing winter programs and creating a welcoming space to explore nature, build confidence, and connect with others.

What may seem like a small project on the surface represents countless hours of planning, coordination, and dedication from volunteers.

Thank you to Kristina Schwartz, Ontario Track3 Adaptive Sports Association , and everyone who helped bring Adventure for Every Ability to our community.

Last Friday evening, when our freezer compressor unexpectedly broke down, The Ladies of Sacred Heart came to our rescue by loaning us freezer space until repairs can be completed.

We're incredibly grateful to be part of a community that looks out for one another.

Thank you to the Ladies of Sacred Heart Batawa for stepping in when we needed a helping hand. ❤️

Today, we're excited to launch a new community recognition series: Small Project, Big Impact!

This campaign highlights individuals and organizations who step up in meaningful ways, often quietly, to support the hill. Whether it's a donated product, shared expertise, professional services, or support provided at just the right time, these contributions may seem small on the surface, but their impact is anything but.

To kick things off, we'd like to recognize

They generously donated first aid hip packs to Quinte MTB group ride leaders and volunteered their time to deliver a hands-on first aid information session. Their support directly strengthens the safety, confidence, and preparedness of ride leaders on the trails.

A small project with a big impact - exactly what this series is all about.

One of the best parts of the Batawa Trails isn't just the scenery, it's the unexpected moments.

On Friday morning, I crossed paths with a former coworker I hadn’t seen in years. When she worked at Batawa, we often talked about the owl that lived in her barn. Just moments after unexpectedly running into each other on the trail, her husband spotted this owl in a nearby tree.

We stood together for a while, taking it all in, grateful for a chance encounter with both an old friend and one of the forest's most beautiful residents.

Have you ever had a memorable wildlife encounter on our trails? 🦉

Please check out this opportunity to be a part of our community

We’re just under ONE WEEK away from kicking off our brand new Batawa Hiking Program and it all starts with you!

Join us next Sunday, May 24th from 10 AM – 12 PM for our Volunteer Orientation. This training session is all about getting our amazing volunteers prepped, equipped, and ready to hit the trails before our athletes join us. No athletes at this one, just us, the trail, and everything you need to know to make this program a hike to remember.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just love being outdoors and giving back, we’d love to have you on the team.

Sign-up link in our bio!

Over the past few days, there has been significant discussion surrounding unauthorized trail modifications and activity occurring on Batawa Private Property.

We want to thank the many community members who reached out respectfully and constructively, including those who shared additional information privately about this issue and other occurrences in and around the community.

The trails at Batawa exist because of an enormous amount of volunteer effort, stewardship, and cooperation between landowners, Batawa Ski Hill staff, Quinte MTB, and trail users. These trails are built and maintained with safety and sustainability in mind.

Unauthorized trail work, trespassing, fires, motorized vehicles, aggressive behaviour toward trail users and volunteers, and modifications to trail features create real safety concerns and can have a significant negative impact.

We recognize that some individuals are youths, and we encourage everyone to approach this situation - and future ones - with respect and perspective. Accountability matters, but so does ensuring conversations remain constructive and appropriate.

The individuals involved have now been identified, additional information has been received, and the matter is being handled through the appropriate channels. The Ski Hill has also invited those involved to sit down with us to discuss positive ways they can become involved with the trails and broader trail community moving forward.

Our focus remains on protecting the trails, supporting a positive trail culture, and continuing to provide a safe and sustainable riding environment for the community.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support responsible trail use, stewardship, and respect for private property.

Canadian Ski Patrol - Frontenac Zone ski patrol team member, Rob, was featured by Bladder Cancer Canada as part of their awareness campaign, sharing his journey with bladder cancer and his return to the activities he loves most - including skiing.

Rob’s positivity, resilience, and commitment to staying active continue to inspire our community both on and off the hill. We’re grateful he chose to share his story and help raise awareness for others navigating a diagnosis.

You can learn more and watch Rob’s story here: Bladder Cancer Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4um_7rh7zfc&t=30s