Booking & Rates
Booking Our Facilities
The general public is welcome to self-explore the trails at Elbow Lake and download our trail guide app! We request that you park at the outer main gate, and walk in to enjoy the trails. Cycling is permitted on the gravel road, but not on any of the trails. No motorized vehicles are permitted on the trails.
Please note that access to the facilities including the buildings, outdoor classroom, developed waterfront (sand beach, docks, picnic tables), and canoes is limited to outreach programming guests and registered users of group facility rentals.
If you are interested in staff-led outreach programming please contact the Outreach and Teaching Coordinator (qubsoutreach@queensu.ca) Please see outreach program booking details here.
The Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre facilities are open year-round and available for groups to book for an overnight conference/retreat/reunion/workshop etc. The facility features 11 cabins. Each cabin has two bedrooms, one with a double bed, and the other with a single bed bunked over a double bed (11th cabin, staff cabin, has single bunk beds in each room and a small kitchen/bathroom attached, additional $15 fee/night). In addition, a pull-out single cot is available in each cabin. While the maximum occupancy of each cabin is set at six persons, recommended occupancy is a comfortable 2-3 people/cabin. As a group facility rental we request a minimum of 5 cabins, if not, additional fees will apply (the Main Pavilion daily rental rate). When more than 5 cabins are booked, the Main Pavilion rental fee is not applied. Overnight guests are expected to bring their own linens/sleeping bag, pillow, towel and personal toiletries as they are not included. Separate meeting spaces are available upon request (Rec Hall, Day Lodge, Nature Centre), with wifi service available in the meeting spaces and Main Pavilion. Audio and visual needs are available (projector, screen, microphone/speaker). A fully-stocked kitchen in the Main Pavilion or Day Lodge is available for meal preparations (dishes, cutlery, pots, basic appliances). Catering recommendations available when requested in advance. Day use bookings available in non-peak periods.
Please inquire on the availability of the dates you are interested in by sending an email to Elbow Lake Bookings.(Elbowlakebookings@queensu.ca) Once the available dates are confirmed, please fill in our online Facility Booking Form. This will provide the necessary information for staff to provide a non-refundable 20% deposit invoice to confirm your dates and booking.
All users of facilities at Elbow Lake are asked to be familiar with the guidelines listed in the User’s Guide for Elbow Lake. In addition to providing key information about the facility, including helpful tips on how to plan and what to pack for your visit, this guide also outlines the rules we expect all patrons to abide by.
As the event organizer (Lessee), you are asked to confirm the following:
LIABILITY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE: The Lessee shall be liable for all damages resulting from injury or loss of life to any person(s) attending at or participating in its use of the leased facilities, equipment and services. The Lessee shall be liable for all damages to physical facilities and equipment resulting from the use by the Lessee, its agents or persons attending its activities. The Lessee shall keep indemnified and save harmless the University from all claims, actions, suits, demands, judgments, executions, liens and costs in connection there with arising out of or resulting from damage to any person or persons, physical facilities and equipment referred to herein.
The Group Waiver must be signed by all individuals onsite, and as the Lessee (event organizer), agree with the Liability and Liability Insurance statement above.
All inquiries and bookings are to be directed to the Elbow Lake Operations & Maintenance Coordinator.
Rates
To support teaching and learning, and environmental outreach and conservation, the ELEEC offers an affordable rate for educators and conservation partners visiting the Elbow Lake property for purposes consistent with our Mission. A competitive rate is provided to the public and other organizations seeking a unique venue for their next conference, retreat or workshop.
All visitors booked to the ELEEC are granted access to washrooms and kitchen space, most often in the Pavilion but occasionally directed instead to the Day Lodge; basic facility amenities such as on-site parking and waterfront use (fully-equipped canoes, beach) are included with the cost of use. Additional amenities may be available upon request; fees apply.
Various additional levels of day use fees are offered:
- Day or Overnight Use building rental is the preferred option for groups leading their own agendas (e.g., retreat, meeting, conference, field course, teacher-led class visit).
- Full Program is intended for individuals participating in ELEEC educational outreach programs (e.g., high school class visit), and includes a full day (4-5 hrs) of ELEEC-led curriculum-based programming in biodiversity exploration.
- Single Program offers up to 2 hours of staff-led programming, from interpretive hikes, to canoe instruction, to educational outreach – a perfect diversion for your group’s Elbow Lake visit. Visitors booking a Single Program are granted basic facility amenities during the program. A Single Program can also be added to a Day Use or Overnight booking.
- A facility tour can be booked by individuals and groups prior to their first ELEEC stay. Staff will be happy to show you the various buildings and amenities, and answer any questions you might have about your upcoming or potential visit.
For those staying overnight, the cabin rate includes use of the Main Pavilion during and on the shoulder days of their stay if a minimum of 5 cabins are booked. If less than 5 cabins are booked overnight, the Main Pavilion day use rate will apply. Additional fees apply if an earlier/later arrival/departure time is requested, outreach programming or additional building spaces are desired.
A non-refundable 20% deposit is required to hold and confirm all overnight and building-based day use bookings.
Prices do not include HST.
Queen’s University led bookings do not have HST applied assuming the facility rental invoice is paid via an internal journal entry.
2025 Rates
Winter Operating Season
(October 15 to April 31 annually)
Cabins | Day Use Fees | Firewood | Campsite** | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(Per Night) | Pavilion | Day Lodge | Rec Hall | Nature Centre | (Per Bag) | (Per Night) | |
Queen’s University / Registered Charity | $96 | $126 | $73 (No water but heated) | $35 | FREE (upon request) | $9 | $30 |
Other | $106 | $144 | $73 (No water but heated) | $45 | FREE (upon request) | $9 | $30 |
Summer Operating Season
(May 1 to October 14)
Cabins | Day Use Fees | Firewood | Campsite** | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(Per Night) | Pavilion | Day Lodge | Rec Hall | Nature Centre | (Per Bag) | (Per Night) | |
Queen’s University / Registered Charity | $73 | $108 | $62 | $29 | FREE (upon request) | $9 | $30 |
Other | $93 | $120 | $73 | $34 | FREE (upon request) | $9 | $30 |
* Staff Cabin is an additional $15/night due direct access to bathroom and kitchen facilities in the cabin.
** 2 campsites available with a maximum of 3 tents per site. $10/tent for additional tents elsewhere (prior approval required).
Outreach Programming Fees
Day Use Fees | With Overnight Rental | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Programming **
(4-5 Hours) | Single Program or Outdoor Interpretive Tour (2 Hours)*** | Day Use, With Amenities | Self Use, No Amenities | Full Programming | |||
School / Class / Other | $14/student, $0/teacher | $8/student, $0/teacher (min fee $125) | N/A | FREE upon registration | $10/student, $0/teacher | ||
**minimum fee $200 for Full Programming & Cancellation Policy
***minimum fee $125 for Single Program & Cancellation Policy
Rentals and Services
Rental | Cost |
|---|---|
Canoe Instruction (ORCKA Certified Instructors) | Cost varies depending on course, please contact us for more information |
Snow Shoe Rental (day rental) | $10/day rental |
Audio/Visual Equipment Rental | $20/day rental |
Additional Information
Cancellation Policy
A minimum of seven (7) working days notice is required for cancellation. If the ELEEC is notified of the cancellation less than seven working days in advance of the scheduled visit, a cancellation fee of $50 will be charged and/or the 20% deposit for facility rentals is retained (whichever is greater).
Education staff will make contact by 7:00 am the morning of your trip, if we need to re-schedule the program in case of inclement weather or cancel due to severe weather. There will be no charge for a cancellation made due to severe weather conditions.
The Summer season runs from May 1 until October 14, and the Winter season runs from October 15 until April 31. Check in time is 4:30pm and check out time is 11:30am. Check in prior to 4:30pm are not permitted Monday to Friday in July and August as we have Eco-Adventure day campers on site. Please let us know if you wish to arrive earlier and/or leave later, as additional fees apply. The higher costs in winter reflect the additional cost to heat individual cabins plus the Main Pavilion – as a result, only bookings of four cabins or more will be considered during the Winter season.
Camping
Camping may only be permitted as supplemental accommodation during “full facility” bookings, or by users requiring a campsite for teaching purposes (e.g., outdoor education, scouts groups). Because ELEEC doesn’t normally maintain campsites, these must be requested at least one week in advance of your visit, after which time the full campsite fee is non-refundable.
Our Campsite policy is as follows:
- Tents only – no hammocks, trailers or other wheeled accommodation.
- Set up after 4:30 pm and take down by 11:30 am unless otherwise noted.
- Maximum six (6) persons and/or three (3) pieces of shelter per campsite.
Firewood Policy
Protecting the ecological integrity of the Elbow Lake property is of utmost priority, and this goal defines our Firewood policy. Because the spread of many harmful invasive species – Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in particular – is facilitated by the movement of wood, we do not permit firewood to be brought onto the property; as a nature reserve, no species – tree wood included – can be taken off the property. While small deadfall (fallen twigs, branches) near the communal firepit may be collected for kindling, larger deadfall is not to be taken. The wood sold at ELEEC is harvested from dead/hazard trees within the bounds of the facility, and is of high quality.
Cleaning Fees
Should staff be required to attend to housekeeping matters resulting from the carelessness of guests (e.g., garbage left behind, unclean cabin, dogs brought into non-pet-friendly cabins), a minimum $50 Cleaning Fee will be applied to the final invoice. The ELEEC is for all to share – please do your part to leave the facility as clean as you found it..
