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All requests within 1 kilometer of the a Fire Lookout Tower, or that mention Lookout towers are to be denied.

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Alberta Sustainable Resources and Development
(403) 297 8800
Office Building, Main Floor
8660 Bearspaw Dam Road N.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T3L 1S4                                                                                                                                                          

Calgary City Parks:

This is a work in progress as an agreement on cache placement is reached between Calgary Parks and the geocaching community.

Guiding Principles for Geocaching in Calgary Parks

Purpose
To provide direction for the management of geocaching as a recreational activity in Calgary's parks and natural areas.

Scope
The principles apply to all parks and natural areas with the exception of ecological reserves or sanctuaries where geocaching is prohibited. These include Special Protection Natural Areas – Natural Environment Parks, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Weaselhead / South Glenmore (Natural Area) and Southland Nature Reserve. The guidelines will remain in effect until further notice.

Objective
To encourage low impact, healthy activity in parks – geocaching will be encouraged, where appropriate, as an allowable activity in conjunction with related Geocaching has quickly become a fun family event. To encourage low impact, healthy activities in parks, The City encourages seeking and placing geocaches in parks, natural areas and public greenspaces, if it is done in conjunction with related bylaws, policies, regulations, and protected area management direction.Operational Policy – Other Existing Policies Apply
Participants in geocaching activities must adhere to the Parks & Pathways Bylaw, Tree Protection Bylaw, other related policies, regulations and management direction. This includes specific regulations and policies respecting other recreation activities such as hiking and trail use as well as conservation policies.

Placement of Caches

Cache placement may only occur Caches should be placed in areas publicly accessible from established designated trails or along approved travel routes (including remote areas that allow travel in areas without established trails). Cache placement must not result in disturbing of soils or wildlife, damaging or restricting vegetation (e.g. nailing to a tree) or other natural or cultural heritage phenomenon. Additionally, caches may not be sites or in "special feature" zones as outlined in protected area zoning plans. . Caches must be situated so that they can be found with minimal disturbance to the environment.

To protect our environment, please do not:

• Damage or disturb soil, wildlife, vegetation, or any natural or cultural heritage elements. For example, do not step on, or clear away a space; do not nail anything to a tree.
• Place caches in animal burrows, tree cavities; and special features such as amongst limestone rock within Waterfall Valley, Bowmont Park. Please leave holes in the ground or in trees alone.
• Dig holes of any size in any public space. For example, do not hide objects under moss, break branches or dig out rocks to place a cache.
• Disturb nesting birds or their nests. Migratory birds are federally protected.
• Place caches in Special Protection Natural Environment Parks except along the regional pathway.
• Place caches in riparian zones or within watercourses or water bodies as per the Water Act, Public Lands Act and the Federal Fisheries Act if fish bearing. Riparian zones are the vegetated area on both sides of a water body that separate the water from the rest of the landscape.
• Place geocaches within 10 metres of the top  bank of any water body.
• Place caches in any facility, including buildings, playgrounds and park infrastructure such as sports field back stops and goal posts.

The City of Calgary Parks retains the right to remove any caches deemed to be located in an inappropriate location.

Cache Lifespan
Caches placed in protected areas must not be considered "permanent" by cache owner. Caches must be removed once the cache is no longer being actively sought or within 3 years, whichever is sooner.

Cache Identification and Contents
All caches must be marked located inappropriately.

Please do:

• Stay on designated trails.
  Official designated trails are established paths or formal trails that may be made of trail mix or shale. Designated trails are regularly maintained and can be found on a City of Calgary area map or brochure. An undesignated trail is any trail not recognized or maintained by The City of Calgary. Trail maps are available online or are present within the park.
• Place caches within one metre of the pathway within Special Protection Natural Environment Parks. Wildlife using areas adjacent to pathways and within Community Parks are habituated to people and human-related disturbances.
• Include in the cache either a concise hint and/or a small (no more than 10 cm) length of naturally coloured flagging in close proximity to the cache. Natural coloured flagging will not distract from the park environment, nor will it interfere with flagging used for designated purposes.

Cache lifespan

Caches must be removed once they are no longer being maintained. Parks will remove caches if they have a detrimental environmental impact, are impacting the use and enjoyment of the park by other park visitors, or have an impact on operation and maintenance.

Cache identification and contents

All caches in Calgary parks must be labelled "Geocache" on the outside of the container and with the owner's name and contact information must be inside the cache. Caches may not contain food cannot contain any prohibited items such as explosives, weapons or illegal substances, no food or beverage items or any other materials material that may attract wildlife, tobacco, explosives or dangerous items such as knives or firearms. Prior approval from Calgary Parks is required in the event that the cache is to contain education or promotional material. Any and must be suitable for all ages. No caches for commercial gain are permitted. Any caches without proper identification and owner information or any caches that may be deemed inappropriate may be removed by Calgary Parks staff.Permits Not Required  Removed caches will be held at the nearest Parks Divisional Office. Police will be notified regarding caches that contain illegal material. Removal of a cache may occur without prior notification to the owner. Caches can be retrieved by contacting 3-1-1.

Permits not required

Permits or prior authorization is no not required for placing a cache placement providing the cache is placed in an area open to public use and consistent with the direction of this policy. All geocachers should ensure that cache placement is guideline.  Cache placement must be consistent with protected area management direction and placed in areas normally accessed by the public. Alternatively, activities that are found to be not consistent with the direction of this policy maybe (shall) be reviewed in accordance with applicable (penalties) in Bylaw.Geocaching Events

Cache placement in City of Calgary Cemeteries

Please do not place caches among these items in municipal cemeteries:

1. Memorial trees
2. Memorial vases
3. Memorial benches
4. Memorial rocks
5. Memorial bronze plaques
6. Upright monuments
7. Flat markers
8. Pillow markers

Geocaching events

Geocaching events may be permitted in protected areas without an open space allowed in Calgary parks with a special event permit providing the event is non-commercial in nature and has been approved by a Zone Superintendentthe permitting process. Please contact 3-1-1 or for more information or apply online.

Related

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recreation and park management

Geocaching or cache placement within Calgary parks may not occur anywhere that may interfere with other approved recreational activities or where it may be contrary to other park management.

Final Approval
The Director, Parks or designate shall have final authority on any amendments or exceptions to these guidelines.

Contact Info:  management activities (rehabilitation zones, maintenance areas etc.)

For further information, please contact Calgary.Geocachers@gmail.com or call 3-1-1, 403-268-CITY (2489) if calling from outside Calgary.