See the drop-down menu below for details.
Registration is required for all workshops. If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions regarding registration you can reach us at info@highparknaturecentre.com or by calling 416-392-1748. Our Office Hours are between 9am – 4pm, Monday – Friday.
Please note: if cost is prohibitive we ask that you reach out at the above phone number or email address. Thank you!
We are thrilled to be back at it with in person adult workshops this fall! We've missed our adult learning community and we hope you can join us and our phenomenal workshop leaders to dive into some truly wonderful topics!
Have questions about attending in person programs? Check out our FAQ!
With Katrina Maurer and Jon Hayes
Saturday, October 17th @ 9:30 - 12:30 pm
*Please note that we have extended the length of this workshop by 30 minutes to better reflect the time needed to fully explore all topics and activities. The price remains the same as originally listed.
Location: 375 Colborne Lodge Drive
$45
Workshop Bundle: 15% off when you register for 2 or more workshops
The teaching needs of this year have changed (and changed, and changed!). Taking your students outside this year will be more important than ever! This small, safely distanced workshop will be an introduction to getting your students outside and making nature your classroom! The 2.5 hour program will cover risk assessment, how to keep kids happy, safe and engaged outside, nature etiquette (leave no trace teaching) as well as nature themed games & activities to add to your teaching toolkit. This program will end with a campfire with time for participants to respond to discussion questions related to the current teaching situation.
You will leave the program with our NEW How to Make Nature Your Classroom booklet that includes a wealth of information and activities adaptable for all ages and across subjects. The booklet will outline natural areas all over the city and summarizes the tips and tricks we’ll share to make your outdoor teaching safe and fun for students!
The program will be run entirely out of doors in High Park
Camp fire: Bring something to roast!
Katrina Maurer
Katrina Maurer has been with the High Park Nature Centre since 2011. She stumbled across the Nature Centre through an internship while completing her B. Ed. at OISE. Kat is a nature lover and maker. She loves to help people make connections to nature through games and crafts.
Jon Hayes
Jon Hayes joined the HPNC team in 2006. After receiving his Bachelor of Education at OISE/UofT, Jon fell in love with teaching in an outdoor setting and has been doing it ever since. Jon looks for ways to connect people of all ages with their local ecology through immersive, hands-on experiences. Jon has also taught at Toronto Botanical Garden.
With Katrina Maurer and Jon Hayes
Saturday, October 17th @ 1:30 - 4:30 PM*
*Please note that we have extended the length of this workshop by 30 minutes to better reflect the time needed to fully explore all topics and activities. The price remains the same as originally listed.
Location: 375 Colborne Lodge Drive
$45
Workshop Bundle: 15% off when you register for 2 or more workshops
Are you homeschooling your children for the first time this year? Taking your children outside will be more important than ever! This small, safely distanced workshop will be an introduction to getting your children outside and making nature your classroom! The 2.5 hour program will cover risk assessment, how to keep your kids happy, safe and engaged outside, nature etiquette (leave no trace teaching) as well as nature themed games & activities to add to your teaching toolkit. This program will end with a campfire with time for participants to respond to discussion questions related to the current parenting-teaching situation.
You will leave the program with our NEW How to Make Nature Your Classroom booklet that includes a wealth of information and activities adaptable for all ages and across subjects. The booklet will outline natural areas all over the city and summarizes the tips and tricks we’ll share to make your outdoor teaching safe and fun for students!
The program will be run entirely out of doors in High Park
Camp fire: Bring something to roast!
Katrina Maurer
Katrina Maurer has been with the High Park Nature Centre since 2011. She stumbled across the Nature Centre through an internship while completing her B. Ed. at OISE. Kat is a nature lover and maker. She loves to help people make connections to nature through games and crafts.
Jon Hayes
Jon Hayes joined the HPNC team in 2006. After receiving his Bachelor of Education at OISE/UofT, Jon fell in love with teaching in an outdoor setting and has been doing it ever since. Jon looks for ways to connect people of all ages with their local ecology through immersive, hands-on experiences. Jon has also taught at Toronto Botanical Garden.
With Kami Valkova
Saturday, October 3rd @ 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: 375 Colborne Lodge Drive
$52.00 (Regular)
$44.00 (Seniors 60+)
Workshop Bundle: 15% off when you register for 2 or more workshops
Are you interested in learning about the fantastic world of fungi but not sure where to start? Join High Park Nature Centre naturalist Kami Valkova this fall for a workshop that will introduce you to the world of mycology! In this workshop we will explore:
We will begin indoors for an introduction, then head outside for a guided hike through High Park! We will search for fungi, practice our ID skills, and delve into the connection between fungi and the rest of the forest. The hike will be approximately 2 hours long, and of moderate difficulty. Please note that this is not a foraging workshop. We will not be collecting or consuming any fungi on our hike.
The program will begin indoors and will then move outside for the hike
Kami Valkova
Kami Valkova joined the Nature Centre team in 2017 and has since been putting her background in ecology, psychology, and education to good use! At the HPNC Kami is a naturalist teacher and she also coordinates the Nature Clubs programs. Her favourite part about working at the HPNC is getting to share her enthusiasm for nature with program participants, and encouraging them to ask questions. Kami’s interest in fungi began in high school biology, when she first learned about their astounding biodiversity and important role in forest ecosystems. Being surrounded by other nature enthusiasts has only intensified that interest; follow Kami on Instagram (@thefungalnaturalist) to find out more about her nature adventures!
With Alan Li
Saturday, November 7th @ 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: 375 Colborne Lodge Drive
$55.00 (Regular)
$47.00 (Seniors 60+)
Workshop Bundle: 15% off when you register for 2 or more workshops
Please join us for a delightful afternoon of printmaking! In this 3 hour workshop you'll learn how to make original handmade prints using native tree leaves found in High Park.
Each participant will take home six beautiful prints, plus the knowledge of how to set up your printmaking workspace at home.
All materials are provided. It's highly recommended that you wear old clothes or bring an apron. Beginners welcome.
The program will be run entirely indoors in the HPNC Forest School
Alan Li
Alan Li is a visual artist focused on nature. He supports conservation efforts through the sale of his artwork and through volunteering. Alan believes that the act of drawing can open people’s eyes to the planet’s wondrous diversity, and show them that it matters. Alan currently pursues his own projects, teaches workshops, and collaborates with grassroots environmental groups. He founded the League of Urban Nature Artists (LUNA) in 2019.
Join our fantastic team of naturalists and dive into interactive online learning experiences! Take courses individually or do all 3 together!
By registering for our Online Naturalist Courses, you are actively helping to support the Nature Centre during this difficult time - THANK YOU! We love our community of adult learners and we are so excited to be able to help you connect with nature in-person and now online as well!
Programs take place at the High Park Nature Centre located at near the High Park Avenue main gates at 375 Colborne Lodge Drive (also known as the Forest School).
Pre-registration is required for all programs. Registration cannot be confirmed until payment has been received.
Programs are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Requests for refunds made 14 or more days before the start of the program will receive a 90% refund (10% will be retained as an administration fee). Requests for refunds made less than 14 days before the start of the program will receive no refund. Requests for cancellations or refunds must be made in writing and submitted by email to info@highparknaturecentre.com. A doctor’s note may be required for cancellations due to medical reasons. Refunds are not granted for inclement weather.
Please note, the High Park Nature Centre may cancel any event if the minimum number of participants is not achieved 7 days prior to the date of the workshop. We will notify registered participants of cancellation at that time and provide a full refund.
Programs will proceed rain, snow or shine. Please be sure to dress appropriately for the weather as workshops include outdoor time. In the case of severe weather such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, snowstorms or high winds over 35 km per hour, the workshop may take place indoors.
We have set an Inclement Weather Date for some workshops that take place entirely outdoors or when weather would greatly affect the program (ie a birding hike). If there is an Inclement Weather Date set, our policy is as follows: At the discretion of the workshop leader, the outdoor portion of this workshop may need to be rescheduled due to severe weather such as a snowstorm, thunderstorm, extreme cold alert or high winds. In this situation, the Nature Centre will email participants at least one and a half hours prior to the program start time.
Lastly, we advise wearing long pants, socks and long sleeved tops to protect against poison ivy. If you have any questions please call our office at 416-392-1748.
New Year Nature: An Outdoor Winter Retreat - January 4
High Park Lichens: Discover the "Corals" of the Forest - February 22
Fall Birding for Beginners - September 18 & 21
Savannah Sketchbook - September 28
Fantastic Fungal Friends: Mushrooms and Other Fungi of High Park - October 6
Summer Wildflower ID - July 22
Summer Tree ID - August 12
From Houndstongue to Shepherd's Purse: Wildflower Names and Their Meanings - August 19
Spring Birding for Beginners - May 8 & 11
Spring Wildflower ID - May 26
Teachers in Nature - January 26
Winter Bird Photography - February 2
Winter Tree ID for Beginners - February 3
Nature Journaling: Origins of Citizen Science - March 2
Birds of Prey - September 27 & 29
Making Friends with Places: A Passage de Toronto - October 9 & 11
Fall Wildflowers - October 13
Autumn Tree Drawing - October 21
An Introduction to Mushrooms and Other Fungi - October 27
Poisons, Spines & Blisters: Plants with a Dark Side - July 12
Dragonflies and Damselflies 101: Biology and Identification - July 28
Friend or Foe: The Intriguing World of Weeds - August 9
Butterflies 101: Biology and Identification - August 18
Outdoor Play in the Early Years - April 21
Spring Birding for Beginners - May 3 & 5 (Two-Part Beginner Workshop)
Spring Songbirds - May 24 & 26 (Two-Part Intermediate Workshop)
Intro to Landscape Drawing in the High Park Savannah - June 17
High Park Lichens - Feb. 10
Winter Landscape Photography – Mar. 3
Birds of Prey – Mar. 4
Winter Tree ID for Beginners - Mar. 24
