How do I register for activities on your website?
Create an account.
First, you'll need to create an account so that we can keep in touch and send you information about the trips you sign up for. Rest assured that we will not sell your information. It just takes a few minutes to join, and you'll only need to provide your contact information once. On the upper right corner of our website, you'll see a green box that says "Member Login." Click the "Join Today!" link and you'll be led to our membership page. If you want to purchase a membership, you can do so here. All membership levels and benefits are listed for you. If you're not quite ready to join, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the link to sign up for a free account. You'll need to provide your mailing address and other contact information. If you want to have directions for trips emailed to you, please make sure to provide a valid email address. You'll see that below to the email address field there is a box checked for "VO Contours". This is our weekly e-blast with trip highlights and info about what's happening in the regional outdoor community. After you've filled out your contact information, your membership number will be provided. Please make a note of it, along with the password you created. You'll need these to log onto the website. The first time you register, you'll be automatically logged in. If, at some point down the road, you forget your membership number or password, you can retrieve it by clicking the "I Forgot my Login" link by the log-in box. I am logged on. Now, how do I register for an activity?
Simply click on the "Activities Calendar" tab at the top of our homepage. This will lead you to a listing of all available activities in the format of a calendar. Click on the activity you want to register for, read the description carefully and agree to the terms, check the box next to your name and follow the instructions to enter the secure credit card payment site. Your registration is complete after you've entered your credit card information. You will receive an email confirmation of your registration. I am now registered for an activity. What are the next steps?
You will receive an email with all trip details and driving directions as the date of the activity approaches. Generally, you will receive this email at least 48 hours before the start of the trip. Please remember to check in your junk mail folder, as our emails are sometimes automatically placed there. Do I have to be a Venture Outdoors member to register for activities online? No, you don't have to be a VO member to register online. However, you will need to create a free profile on our website (click here and scroll to the bottom of the page). This way, we are able to email you directions or contact you if a trip is cancelled. How can I pay with a check, cash or program pass? Simply give us a call during business hours (Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ) or send us an email [signup@ventureoutdoors.org] to reserve your spot using forms of payment other than credit card. Space is not reserved until registration is complete. Registration is not complete until payment has been received. How can I sign up additional guests after I've registered for the activity? You'll need to get in touch with us by phone or email [signup@ventureoutdoors.org] to make a reservation for guests after you've made your initial registration, even if you want to use a credit card. When is the last chance to register for an activity? For weekend activities, you will need to register by 5 p.m. on Friday, as we are unable to provide you with trip directions after business hours (we are closed on the weekends). For weekday events, you'll need to register by 5 p.m. on the day of the activity. For our early morning programs, you'll need to register by 5 p.m. the day before the activity. What if a trip is sold out? If you try to register for an activity that's sold out, you'll be given the opportunity to be put on a waitlist. You will be notified as soon as space becomes available for you. Is it ever possible to register the day of the event if it has not been sold out? All Venture Outdoors events require pre-registration (unless otherwise indicated) so that we can be provide a high quality program and be prepared with the appropriate amount of supplies and trip leaders. Can I purchase a membership on the day of the program? Unfortunately, we cannot take membership payment on site. Our trip leaders are volunteers and sometimes it takes a while for us to receive the trip's paperwork. In order to ensure that your membership is processed in a timely manner, we steer folks to our website for credit card payment: http://www.ventureoutdoors.org/JoinSite.aspx What is your cancellation policy, and what are the steps for cancelling a registration? To receive a refund or trip credit, your cancellation must be made at least 3 business days (Monday - Friday) in advance. For example, you must cancel no later than 5:00 PM on Tuesday for the following weekend's trips. Simply email [signup@ventureoutdoors.org] or call us to let us know that you need to cancel (cancellations cannot be made on our website). Cancellations with insufficient notice, no-shows, and late arrivals who have missed the group's departure will not receive a refund or trip credit. Refunds are issued in the form of trip credit, or you can request to be given a refund in the form of your original payment. Please note that refunds will not be given on check payments until there is verification that the check has cleared. Paid reservations are transferable to other participants. However, we request advanced notice that there will be someone attending in your place. Series participants who cancel after the series commences will be charged the per activity rate for each activity attended and will be offered trip credit or refund for the remaining balance. What if there is rain/snow in the forecast? As a rule of thumb, we generally do not cancel activities very far in advance regardless of the weather forecast. As we all know, Pittsburgh forecasts are prone to change at the last minute. Plan on showing up to the meeting location unless you hear otherwise. Someone will contact you by phone if the trip has to be cancelled. What is the cancellation policy for Wilderness First Aid? Wilderness First Aid Refund Policy: If a participant cancels or withdraws from the course: · Greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the course start date, Venture Outdoors will retain a $35.00 administrative fee. · Within 30 days of the course start date, course fee is non-refundable. What is the cancellation policy for Outdoor Leadership Weekend? Outdoor Leadership Weekend Refund Policy: If a participant cancels or withdraws from the course: · Greater than or equal to 15 days prior to the course start date, Venture Outdoors will retain a $20.00 administrative fee. · Within 15 days of the course start date, course fee is non-refundable. Are your trips dog friendly? Venture Outdoors loves dogs! However, some people don't feel as comfortable around them as we do. Look for the "dog friendly" labels next to the activities to find out if it's OK to bring along your canine companion. Do families attend activities? Yes! Venture Outdoors will be offering more family-friendly programming starting in the Spring of 2009. Be sure to stay tuned to our activities calendar. We also offer "tyke hikes" every Tuesday from May through October for families with children under 8 years old. Visit www.tykehikes.com for more information. Can I attend only a portion of the activity? We never want to split up groups and it's our policy to send an assistant trip leader with anyone who needs to leave the group throughout any part of the trip for any reason. Our suggestion is to get in touch with us before the trip if you have any questions or concerns. What if the trip is too strenuous for me? Each trip has a difficulty ranking, and we do our best to describe the format as much as possible so that you can get an idea of whether it's something that's suitable for you. If you are ever in doubt, always feel free to call us. We're here to answer any questions you have. Below we've listed a detailed list of all of our difficulty rankings. Relaxed
-Short distances at a slow pace
-Generally flat terrain, well defined trails
-No prior activity experience is necessary
-Perfect start for beginners
-Not too physically challenging Easy
-Short distances at a slow pace
-Relatively flat terrain, well defined trails, may involve some hills
-No prior activity experience is necessary
-Perfect start for beginners
-Not too physically challenging Moderate
-Varying distances at a steady pace
-Varying terrain, generally established trails
-Some prior experience in the activity is required
-Only for those in good physical condition
-Physically challenging Advanced
-Fast-paced over a short distance or steady-paced over a long distance
-Varying terrain, may include off-trail sections, rough spots, unexpected obstacles
-Prior experience in the activity is required
-Only for those in good physical condition
-Physically challenging
Strenuous
-Faster-paced over short distances or fast-paced over long distances
-Difficult terrain, will include off-trail sections, rough spots and unexpected obstacles
-Prior experience in the activity is required
-Only for those in excellent physical condition
-Most physically challenging What kind of equipment do I need? Unless the trip is marked as moderate or advanced, you probably won't need any special equipment. Supportive, sturdy shoes are a must. Hiking boots are recommended for our hiking trips, but they aren't always necessary. Dress in layers and be prepared in case of rain. Most of our trips are rain or shine. Along with directions, you'll be emailed a list of what to bring in advance of each event you register for. Do I receive a discount if I bring my own kayak? Yes, you receive a $5 discount off the per person cost of the program if you bring your own kayak. The kayak must be be in good condition and equivalent in performance ability to the kayaks provided by Venture Outdoors. To receive the discount, call the office at 412-255-0564. Who attends Venture Outdoors trips? Age ranges from very young (infants go on our tyke hikes) to people 65 and up. It's our mission to get as many people outside as possible, no matter age or ability level! We also encourage families to attend our trips together. They're a great alternative way to spend quality time with your loved ones. I want to go on a trip but I don't have transportation. Are carpools available? If you would like to travel with other participants to an activity, meet the coordinator and jointly decide whether you wish to convoy, share vehicles and expenses or make some other arrangements. Usually, participants share expenses in as few vehicles as possible. Directions and details are provided with the information email you receive before the trip. Do you rent kayaks or canoes? Yes, we rent kayaks from May through the end of October, you can rent a solo or tandem (two person) kayak at all locations of Kayak Pittsburgh. We have locations in North Park on the lake, downtown Pittsburgh on the Allegheny river and on Lake Elizabeth by the National Aviary. Rental rates, FAQ, and hours of operation can be found at www.kayakpittsburgh.org Click here for directions to our Kayak Pittsburgh locations. Do you rent bikes? We only rent bikes out for our activities, or at Kayak Pittsburgh Downtown. The bikes at Kayak Pittsburgh are available through a partnership with Golden Triangle Bike Rental which is located on 2nd Ave (on the rail trail just past the prison). Also, Friends of the Riverfront offers free bike rental for use on the Heritage trail only, and all bikes must be returned by dark each day. Golden Triangle Bike Rental
600 1st Ave.
412-600-0625 Friends of the Riverfront
33 Terminal Way I would like to bring my own group on a Venture Outdoors activity. Do you offer programs for private groups? Yes. We offer group programs that are convenient for any group from youth to senior, family to community, non-profit to corporate. Scheduling is flexible and each activity includes experienced guides and essential gear. Activities include kayaking, cruiser biking, geocaching, fishing, and specialty hiking. For additional information about Group Programs please contact:
Jon Lucadamo
Projects Director
412.255.0564 x 227
jonluc@ventureoutdoors.org
Can you replicate a Public Program as a Group Program? Possibly, it never hurts to ask. However, it usually costs more than a Public Program because the guides are paid staff members, not volunteers. Also, customized programs incur additional costs depending on location, permits, food & beverage, etc. For additional information about Group Programs please contact:
Jon Lucadamo
Projects Director
412.255.0564 x 227
jonluc@ventureoutdoors.org
Are there membership discounts for Group Programs? No. Private Program rates are already subsidized to make activities more affordable for area youth. For additional information about Group Programs please contact:
Jon Lucadamo
Projects Director
412.255.0564 x 227
jonluc@ventureoutdoors.org
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