Planning a school visit to Chappelle Gardens? Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
If you don’t see your question here, contact our Events Coordinator at events@chappellegardensra.ca or 780-705-1815.
Choosing Your School Trip
What School Group Bookings are available?
Schools can visit Chappelle Gardens throughout the year:
Winter Skating
Affordable outdoor skating field trips with special winter rates starting at $50.
Bookings are first-come, first-served.
May Splash Park
Discounted off-peak Splash Park bookings with full-day and half-day options.
Bookings are first-come, first-served.
June Splash Park
Our peak School Group season.
June dates use an annual Booking Request Period from January 15 to January 30 rather than first-come, first-served booking.
September Splash Park
Discounted off-peak Splash Park bookings with full-day and half-day options.
Bookings are first-come, first-served when September dates open.
What does a School Group Booking include?
Your School Group Booking includes access to the seasonal amenities available during your visit, including:
- Splash Park for spring and fall bookings
- Outdoor skating rinks for winter bookings
- Playground facilities
- Outdoor green spaces
- Public washrooms
- Skate Change Room
Optional Rental Enhancements and Snack Shack preorders may be added to confirmed bookings for an additional cost.
Chappelle Gardens remains open to residents and their guests during school visits. Your School Group Booking does not provide exclusive access to any amenities.
For June Splash Park bookings, CGRA books only one school per date. Residents and their guests may still be present on site.
Group Size & Supervision
How many students can we bring?
School Group Bookings are designed for approximately 150 students, with flexibility of up to approximately 15 students to accommodate class and grade sizes.
Required supervising adults are in addition to the student capacity.
If your group is expected to be significantly larger, please contact us before submitting your request.
Do supervising adults count toward the student capacity?
No.
Teachers, educational assistants and other required supervising adults are in addition to the student count.
What is the required supervision ratio?
Schools must provide a minimum of one supervising adult for every 10 students.
School staff and supervising adults remain responsible for their students throughout the entire visit.
What if we have a smaller group?
That’s completely fine!
June Splash Park bookings use a single flat rate regardless of the number of students attending.
May, September and Winter bookings offer reduced pricing for smaller groups:
- Small Group: up to 60 students
- Standard Group: 61 to approximately 150 students
This means an individual class or smaller grade group does not need to pay the same rate as a group of 150 students.
What if our attendance changes?
We understand that student attendance changes.
For June bookings, normal changes in attendance will not affect your rate.
For May, September and Winter bookings, your rate is based on your group-size category. Small changes within the same category will not affect your rate.
If your expected attendance changes from 60 or fewer students to more than 60 students, or vice versa, please contact CGRA so we can update the applicable rate.
We will also ask for final attendance information approximately one week before your visit so our team can prepare appropriately.
Rates & Booking Times
Which schools qualify for Neighbourhood School pricing?
Neighbourhood School pricing applies to:
- Donald R. Getty School
- Garth Worthington School
All other schools receive the Non-Neighbourhood School rate.
Neighbourhood pricing does not provide priority access to June dates.
What are the June Splash Park rates?
| Booking | Neighbourhood | Non-Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Full Day, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | $450 | $525 |
| Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | $375 | $435 |
Half-day bookings are not available in June.
June pricing is per booking, not per student.
What are the May and September Splash Park rates?
Up to 60 Students
| Booking | Neighbourhood | Non-Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Half Day | $100 | $125 |
| Full Day* | $175 | $200 |
*For groups of up to 60 students, the Full Day rate also applies to Thursday bookings.
61 to Approximately 150 Students
| Booking | Neighbourhood | Non-Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Half Day | $200 | $230 |
| Full Day | $360 | $400 |
| Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | $300 | $350 |
What are the Winter Skating rates?
Up to 60 Students
| Booking | Neighbourhood | Non-Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Half Day | $50 | $75 |
| Full Day* | $100 | $125 |
*For groups of up to 60 students, the Full Day rate also applies to Thursday bookings.
61 to Approximately 150 Students
| Booking | Neighbourhood | Non-Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Half Day | $125 | $150 |
| Full Day | $225 | $275 |
| Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | $200 | $250 |
What are the booking times?
Full Day
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Half Day
Available in May, September and Winter:
Morning: 9:00 am to 11:45 am
Afternoon: 12:15 pm to 3:00 pm
Half-day bookings are not available during June.
Why are Thursdays shorter?
Thursday school bookings end at 2:00 pm to accommodate Edmonton Public Schools’ early dismissal schedule.
The applicable Thursday rates have been adjusted accordingly.
If your group requires additional time on a Thursday, please contact us. Adjustments may be possible depending on facility availability.
Do we have to stay for the entire booking?
No.
Your booking reserves the applicable time period, but your school can choose arrival and departure times that work for your schedule.
The rate remains the same if you arrive later or leave earlier.
Groups must leave by the end of their reserved booking period.
Booking a May, September or Winter Visit
How do we book an off-peak School Group visit?
May and September Splash Park bookings and Winter Skating bookings are first-come, first-served.
Submit the applicable School Group Booking Request Form with:
- your school and contact information
- grade(s) or classes attending
- estimated number of students and supervising adults
- preferred date and alternate dates
- preferred booking length
Submitting a request does not confirm your booking. CGRA will review availability and contact you with confirmation and next steps.
REQUEST AN OFF-PEAK SPLASH PARK VISIT
REQUEST A WINTER SKATING VISIT
Booking a June Splash Park Visit
When can we request a June booking?
The 2027 June Booking Request Period is:
January 15 to January 30, 2027
June bookings are not first-come, first-served.
There is no advantage to submitting earlier within the request period. A request submitted on January 30 receives the same consideration as one submitted on January 15.
REQUEST A JUNE SPLASH PARK VISIT
Why aren’t June bookings first-come, first-served?
June is our busiest period for school field trips, and demand can exceed the number of dates available.
Using a defined request period gives schools time to coordinate their plans without needing to race to submit a form as soon as bookings open.
All eligible requests received during the January 15 to January 30 request period receive equal consideration.
How many June dates should we provide?
Please provide at least three dates that genuinely work for your group.
You may provide additional options to increase our ability to accommodate your request.
You’ll also be able to tell us whether you would accept another available June date and whether there are dates that absolutely cannot work for your group.
Can more than one teacher from our school submit a request?
Yes, if the requests are for different groups of students that genuinely intend to visit on different dates.
Only one request should be submitted for a group of students that intends to attend together.
For example, if all Grade 5 classes plan to attend together on the same date, one request should be submitted on behalf of the full Grade 5 group.
If Grade 2 and Grade 5 are planning separate field trips on different dates, each group may submit its own request.
Submitting duplicate requests for the same visiting group will not increase your opportunity to receive a preferred date. Duplicate submissions may be combined and treated as one request during the allocation process.
Should we combine classes or grades?
Where it works for your school, we encourage you to consider combining classes or grades to make use of the approximately 150-student capacity.
This is encouraged, but not required.
Because June uses a flat booking rate, the rate does not decrease if fewer students attend.
How are June dates assigned?
After the January 30 deadline, CGRA uses a randomized rotating allocation process designed to give participating schools a fair opportunity to receive a date.
Participating schools are placed in randomized order, and legitimate visiting-group requests within each school are also randomized.
During the first round, one request from each school is considered and assigned the highest-preference available date possible.
The starting school rotates in subsequent rounds. Schools with no remaining requests drop out of the rotation, and the process continues until all possible requests have been accommodated or the available June dates have been filled.
This prevents a school with several requests from receiving multiple dates before other participating schools have had an opportunity to receive one.
What if none of our preferred June dates are available?
If another June date is available and you’ve indicated that you’re flexible, we may be able to offer an alternative.
Requests that cannot initially be accommodated may be placed on the June waitlist.
You can also let us know if you would be interested in a discounted May or September Splash Park visit instead.
If we’re offered a June date, how long do we have to confirm?
You’ll have five business days to accept your allocated date and complete the required booking documentation.
If we don’t receive confirmation within that period, the date may be offered to another group.
If you are later offered a date from the June waitlist, you will generally have two business days to respond.
Will another school be booked on our June date?
No.
CGRA books only one school per June date.
Your school may bring multiple classes or grades as part of your booking, but we will not schedule another school group on the same date.
Chappelle Gardens will still remain open to residents and their guests, and your booking does not provide exclusive access to the amenities.
Payment & Invoicing
Do we pay when we book?
No.
Payment is not required when you submit your booking request or when your booking is initially confirmed.
CGRA invoices School Group Bookings twice per year.
June Billing Cycle
Bookings occurring from December 18 through June 30 are invoiced on June 30.
December Billing Cycle
Bookings occurring from July 1 through December 17 are invoiced on December 17.
Each booking receives its own invoice.
If your school has multiple bookings during the same billing period, all of those individual invoices will be issued at the same time.
This allows teachers and classes to arrange their visits independently while making it easier for school administration to receive and process the invoices together.
Normal invoice payment terms apply.
Can Rental Enhancements or Snack Shack preorders be added to our invoice?
Yes, where applicable.
Approved Rental Enhancements and Snack Shack preorders may be included on the invoice for the applicable booking.
Please arrange these options in advance so our team has time to prepare.
Weather, Seasonal Conditions & Cancellations
What happens if the weather is bad?
Splash Park and skating bookings are weather dependent.
If weather is expected to affect your visit, please contact CGRA rather than simply not attending.
What if our school decides to cancel because of weather?
If your school chooses to cancel because of weather while CGRA remains open and the booked amenity remains available:
- your rental charge will be cancelled
- a $25 administrative fee will apply
- where availability permits, we may be able to offer an alternate date
The $25 weather administrative fee applies consistently regardless of booking size or season.
What if CGRA closes the amenity?
If CGRA closes the booked amenity or determines that your visit cannot safely proceed, there is no cancellation fee.
Where availability permits, we may be able to offer an alternate date.
What if the rink or Splash Park hasn’t opened for the season?
Opening dates for our outdoor amenities are weather dependent and cannot be guaranteed.
The Splash Park typically opens around Victoria Day, depending on temperatures and facility readiness.
Our outdoor skating rinks require sustained cold temperatures of approximately -10°C or lower before they can be safely prepared and opened.
If seasonal conditions are expected to prevent your scheduled visit from proceeding, CGRA will contact the booking teacher.
What if we cancel for a reason unrelated to weather?
Our standard cancellation policy applies:
More than 14 days before your booking:
The rental charge will be cancelled, less a $25 administrative fee.
7 to 13 days before your booking:
50% of the rental charge remains payable, plus the applicable administrative fee.
Less than 7 days before your booking:
The full rental charge remains payable.
If your booking has not yet been invoiced, the applicable cancellation charge will appear on that booking’s invoice.
If it has already been invoiced, CGRA will process the applicable adjustment.
What happens if we don’t show up?
Please contact us if your group will not be attending.
A no-show without notice does not automatically qualify as a weather-related cancellation. Regular cancellation and no-show provisions may apply.
Preparing for Your Visit
Do you provide skates, helmets or Splash Park equipment?
No. CGRA does not provide rental equipment for School Group Bookings.
For skating visits, students must bring their own skates. CSA-approved helmets are strongly encouraged for all skaters.
For Splash Park visits, students should bring appropriate swimwear, towels, sunscreen and any other personal items they may need.
Is insurance required?
Schools must provide proof of insurance coverage or third-party event insurance if requested by CGRA.
Schools that are part of Edmonton Public School Division do not need to submit separate proof of insurance because the division has already provided the required coverage documentation to CGRA.
If documentation is required from your school, we’ll let you know during the booking process.
Can students bring their own food?
Yes.
Schools are welcome to bring lunches, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
Glass is not permitted anywhere in the park.
Schools are responsible for cleaning up food, packaging and garbage before leaving.
Can students buy snacks during their visit?
Snack Shack options are available to School Groups by preorder only.
Orders must be arranged in advance. Same-day group orders cannot be accommodated.
We are unable to accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions through School Group Snack Shack orders. Students with specific dietary needs are welcome to bring their own snacks.
Available options and ordering information can be provided after your booking is confirmed.
Can we add Rental Enhancements?
Yes.
Optional Rental Enhancements may be added to confirmed School Group Bookings where available.
Available options can be discussed after your booking is confirmed.
During Your Visit
Will Chappelle Gardens be open to residents while we’re there?
Yes.
Chappelle Gardens remains open to residents and their guests during School Group visits.
Your School Group Booking does not provide exclusive access to the Splash Park, playground, green space, skating rinks or other amenities.
For June visits, CGRA will not schedule another school on your date, but residents and their guests may still use the facility.
What facility rules do we need to follow?
To help keep Chappelle Gardens safe and enjoyable for everyone:
- Keep the Skate Change Room tidy and store belongings neatly.
- Avoid tracking excessive snow, dirt or water into indoor spaces.
- No glass is permitted in the park.
- No confetti, glitter, smoke bombs, silly string, rice, birdseed or similar materials.
- No smoking, vaping, alcohol or open flames.
- Respect all playground, rink, Splash Park and facility equipment.
- Students must remain appropriately supervised.
- Clean up all food, garbage and personal belongings before leaving.
- Groups must leave by the end of their reserved booking time.
A complete guideline sheet will be provided with your booking information.
What happens if our buses are late picking us up?
Please plan transportation so your group can leave by the end of its reserved booking period.
Groups remaining beyond their reservation may be charged a late fee of $50 per 15 minutes.
If you become aware of an unexpected transportation delay, please contact CGRA as soon as possible.
Still Have Questions?
We’re happy to help you plan your visit.
Contact our Events Coordinator:
events@chappellegardensra.ca
780-705-1815
