FAQ

General & Membership

What is Wilderness Union? (Are you a hiking club?)

Wilderness Union is more than a hiking club! Our mission is helping people find community and connect with nature. To do this we provide everything you need to lead a more outdoorsy life. We organize the trips, the transport and most importantly, a group of like minded people to join you.

We offer community/membership-based programming and services that enable you to get out of the city and into the wild. We organize regular hikes, paddling and camping trips, skating, skiing and we socialize together. If you can think of it, we've probably either done it or have plans to do it in future!

On top of all of our adventures, we offer a range of active, free member clubs like Run Club, Climb Club, Book Club along with a partner discount program that gets you discounts at some of Canada’s top outdoor brands.

Check out our adventure programming and previous adventures to get a better sense of what we do.

Are you a tour company?

Wilderness Union is not a tour company. We know that community grows through repeat experiences and many members join us week after week. Our guided trips, socials, and skill sessions help you adopt a more outdoorsy way of life.

Do I need a membership?

That depends. Some of our adventures are open to everyone - these are clearly marked as Public. Learn more about why a membership makes sense for most people here.

Why do you charge a membership?

Unlike companies that offer one-off trips, Wilderness Union is building a community of young professionals who share a passion for the outdoors, connecting with nature and like-minded people.

Your membership fee supports all of the activities that go into running Wilderness Union like:
- Building a member community and offering a wide range of member resources and benefits such as partner discounts and gear rental for members' use;
- Safely offering a massive range of activities at affordable prices. We offer our adventures at a 20-40% discount compared to comparable tour companies;
- Offering our own fully-insured transportation and employing highly qualified, certified wilderness guides.

How does membership work?

We offer two types of membership, Annual and Quarterly. You can sign up for membership at any point in the year with a one month free trial. Once that trial is finished you will automatically roll into whatever period of membership you selected unless you have pre-emptively cancelled your account. Memberships are charged in full in a single payment on the day your trial expires and no refund is possible once your membership has become active and paid.

You will receive whatever term of membership you've signed up for (plus a one month trial) no matter what date in the year you sign up. For example, if you sign up for an annual membership on March 1st 2025, you will be on a one month free trial until April 1st 2025 at which point you are charged and your membership is active until March 31st 2026. It will automatically renew unless you've cancelled in your account.

If you are currently on the Annual plan and switching to the Quarterly plan, your change will only take effect after your current annual membership cycle ends. However, if you are upgrading from the Quarterly Plan to the Annual Plan, your change will take effect immediately. We will prorate the remaining amount of your quarterly fee and apply it towards the annual fee.

Please note that you will need an active membership to join any of our adventures. If your membership has expired by the date of an adventure you've already registered for, you'll need to purchase a new membership.

What does trial membership include?

We offer new members (those who never tried our services or had an active plan with us before) a free one-month trial regardless of which type of membership you sign up for. Trial members can enjoy all of the regular member benefits other than partner discounts.

How do I cancel/change my membership?

You can manage your membership in the Manage Membership section under My Account. You are able to change and cancel your membership from this tab.

As a member, can I bring a guest?

Some of our trips and socials allow you to bring guests - this will be clearly marked on the individual adventure listing. The cost for your guest will be added to your adventure cost at checkout. Please note that all guests will need to sign a waiver to be able to join adventures.

Can I use trip credit towards my membership fee?

No. Unless otherwise indicated, the credit we offer is trip credit that can only be applied to adventure costs.

How often do you add new member benefits?

We are committed to continually improving our member offerings. We'd love to hear which other benefits you'd like to see!

What is your refund policy for membership?

Membership fees are not refundable.

How do you offset the climate impact of your operations?

We consider the environmental impact of each of our activities and actively work to minimize it wherever possible.
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We calculate our projected annual scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions every year and support a global portfolio of verified projects that will reduce carbon emissions by at least that amount. Each of these projects meet the stringent requirements of the Quality Assurance Standard (QAS) for Carbon Offsetting.

Wilderness Union has a volunteer committee working on reducing our environmental impact and welcome new members who want to contribute.

Community and Members

Who are your members?

Our members are mostly professionals in the GTA area aged between 20 and 45. We have entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, actors, lawyers, consultants, developers, medical professionals, architects, teachers, adventure hounds, literal hounds and more.

Wilderness Union is as much about the conversations you'll have with other members as the adventures. We think we count some of the most interesting people in the city among our members. Chances are, if you feel the same itch to get out of the city, if you love to discuss the bigger questions in life and if getting off the beaten path appeals, then Wilderness Union will be for you.

How diverse is your community?

Our community is made up of people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and there are many BIPOC and LGBTQ+ members.

How often do you organize member socials?

We normally organize at least one member social per month, which you can see on the upcoming event page. We also have a member-run club, climbing club,cooking club, and local social activities that take place very regularly. Once you become a member, you will gain access to our Discord channel where all member-organized activities are communicated.

How do your clubs work?

Our member-run clubs such as the run club, climbing club, book club, and cooking club are run by members and organized on our Discord server. The clubs meet at different frequencies (e.g., the run club meets once a week and the climbing club meets once a month), and the time and location of the event is communicated through Discord. Clubs are open to all members of Wilderness Union.

How do you communicate with members?

Most member communications take place in our Discord server and we occasionally send emails to share news and updates to members and non-member subscribers. So once you become a member, you will need to join our Discord server.

We rarely send text messages or call you unless in emergency situations (e.g., if we don't see you at the designated meetup time for an adventure). So if you receive messages or calls that ask you for sensitive information, please take caution and reach out to us on Discord or through email if you are not sure.

How do you build a safe member community?

We care deeply about our members' experience and try our best to provide a safe environment for members.

We designed our member application in a way that allows us to have a sense of who you are, and we review each application carefully before approving it.

We have a clear Code of Conduct that new members are asked to review and agree to. We are also building a stronger mechanism to ensure we can effectively deal with inappropriate member behaviours not in alignment with our Code of Conduct, which includes having a Member Care Leader.

Adventures

Where do you go?

Typically, a couple of hours up the 400, heading North into Shield country around Muskoka, Haliburton and the Kawarthas. Our 'Rural Hikes' are at areas within about 90 minutes of Toronto. We also run regular urban adventures in Toronto to some wild and hidden spots that will give you a new perspective on the city. Occasionally we go further afield for more ambitious and longer trips. You can always see what's coming up on the Upcoming Adventures & Events page.

How often do you meet?

Wilderness Union came about as an antidote for feeling stuck inside during colder months. We want you to have a reason to get outside each weekend.

We offer at least one adventure a week, so you'll always have an option for an outdoor adventure at the weekend.

Do you offer adventures during the week?

Most of our adventures are run over the weekend to make them as accessible as possible.

What happens in Winter?

We switch to winter activities. We've got a great roster of events planned for the winter including skiing, winter camping, and snowshoeing.

How long do trips last?

Normally, all day. We tend to leave the city early (i.e., before 9) and be back just after sunset. In summer we also run camping trips that range from a night or two up to week-long adventures.

How big is the group?

We cap our trips at 17 people. We’ve found this is the sweet spot to meet new people without the group feeling too big to get to know people.

Our social events have larger group sizes, depending on the event.

What if I don't have a car?

We organize transportation for every adventure that is not accessible by transit so you'll always have an affordably priced lift if you need it.

Where do you leave from?

We typically meet close to Keele TTC station on the West End.

Do you offer pickups en route?

No, all pick ups happen at a location near Keele station and we’re unable to make additional stops along the route.

What vehicle is used for transport?

We provide comfortable, airconditioned transport with plenty of space for all members and their gear.

What if I'm late for the ride?

Out of respect for other members, we always leave right at the time shared on our schedule. This means we'll leave without you. We'll give you plenty of notice of when to meet us along with a suggested time to show up in advance so you won't be caught unaware.

What should I wear?

We share a detailed list of what you should bring in advance of each trip. Your regular active wear will be good for most of what we do, paired with trail shoes or hiking boots. Where you need anything out of the ordinary, like ice spikes or river shoes, we'll let you know and, where necessary, secure rentals for you.

How fit do I need to be?

That depends! Wilderness Union offers a range of different types of adventures, some of which are more leisurely and others that are more challenging. Each adventure is given a difficulty rating on the adventure page on a scale of 1-5, where 1 star is a very leisurely adventure and 5 stars is more challenging. If you are unsure, reach out to us and we can provide some more information about the difficulty.

What happens in case of bad weather?

Mostly, we grin and bear it! We keep a very close eye on the weather from a safety perspective and if it seems that we can no longer safely operate the adventure, we’ll cancel and seek to reschedule for another date. Any fees already paid will be added as credit against your account for a future adventure.

What's your cancellation and refund policy for adventures?

If we cancel a trip, you'll receive a full refund within one week through your original payment method. If you cancel a trip, our policy is as follows:
Cancellations made:
More than 10 days before the event: Will receive a full refund minus a 5% admin fee.
‍7–10 days before the event: 50% refund.
‍Less than 7 days before the event: No refunds.
‍Weather or emergency cancellations: If an event is canceled due to severe weather or other uncontrollable factors, members will receive a full refund to their account.

What happens if I am sick/injured?

Let us know prior to the adventure, and we will work on a solution.

How does trip credit work?

As long as you have trip credit in your account, it will automatically apply towards your next credit-eligible adventure at check-out. Trip credit is valid on most WU hikes, camping and transportation but not on most special adventures or socials. Every trip listing specifies whether it is eligible for credit or not.

How does equipment rental work?

We always clearly list any gear that you'll need for a trip on the adventure listing. In most cases, we provide everything you need (think tents, canoes etc). There's some gear that many members already have (like sleeping bags) that we offer for rental to members at extremely affordable prices.

Who leads the adventures? What are their qualifications?

We pride ourselves on having some of the best guides in the business who turn each of our trips into extraordinary experiences. They’re as qualified at making people feel safe and welcome as they are in their outdoor knowledge.

All of our guides have advanced wilderness first aid qualifications to ensure the safety of all our participants. Our guides have a range of different backgrounds, ranging from wilderness medicine, to education, to survival skills - meaning there are lots of opportunities to learn something new about the outdoors.

How can I get help?

Members should use the #get-help channel on Discord - this is the most direct way of getting help. Alternatively all members and non-members can reach out to support@wildernessunion.com or use the support form here.

Got Questions?

General & Membership

Community and Members

Adventures