Owl Prowl

In this interactive hike, enhance your senses and get to know a few of High Park’s owl friends! Enjoy a nighttime educational hike and learn what makes owls such amazing creatures!

• Experience a nighttime hike to learn about owls
• Witness an owl’s meal through dissecting an owl pellet around a fire
• Learn about the physical and behavioural adaptations of our owl friends
• Get to know the preferred habitat, food, habits, and vocalizations of owls (Practice hooting like an owl!)
• Gain a greater respect and understanding for owls in the wild and how we can support them
• Leave with all the tools you need to go owl prowling on your own!

Tracking through the seasons

In this exploratory hike, expand your tracking knowledge! Enjoy a night-time educational hike.

• Engage your senses and enhance your awareness to tap into your tracking mindset
• Discover traits of different animal tracks
• Learn about all that tracking can entail (Hint: It involves more than just animal prints!)
• Collaborate to find clues hidden on a guided hike
• See the world through an animal’s point of view to sharpen your tracking skills
• Leave with a new perspective and tools for tracking in the wild!

Fire Skills

Connect back to the land and learn about High Park ecology through this action-packed program which will explore how storytelling and fire have shaped humanity.

• Learn new naturalist and survival skills through working together
• Learn about the history of fire and how it influenced human development and society
• Work in teams to make tinder bundles out of natural materials
• Practice using flint and steel to light tinder
• Share warmth and stories around a fire
• End the day by roasting a tasty snack over the flames!

*NEW* Nighttime nature

Bats and mice and moths, oh my! While humans turn in for the night, High Park stays awake and alive. In this fun and energetic program, hike, play games and learn about the nocturnal animals of the park.

• Adapt to the night by following the example of incredible nocturnal creatures
• Learn how the bodies and behaviours of nocturnal animals help them thrive in the dark
• Play games to have fun and learn about nature
• Communicate and work together with peers in fun challenges
• Listen and look for real nocturnal animals in the park
• Gain confidence in exploring new areas at night!

Snowshoeing by moonlight (available December 2022-end of snowfall)**

Ignite your sense of wonder by experiencing the unique serenity of snowshoeing through High Park by moonlight.

• Go on a unique and educational snowshoe hike in High Park, guided by the moon!
• Interactively discover the history of snowshoeing
• Learn how to properly wear snowshoes and ensure safety
• Practice snowshoeing with techniques for travelling different terrains
• Play games on the trail
• Learn about changes in the park in winter

** This program is dependent on the amount of snow and will not run if snowfall is too thin. Leaders booking this program are encouraged to choose an alternative program (Fire Skills, Owl Prowl, Tracking through the Seasons or Nighttime Nature) that will run in warmer weather.

Up to 30 child/youth participants per visit

In addition to the HPNC instructors, we require the below supervision ratios from group leaders / volunteers:

• 4-5 year olds: 1 adult : 2 child/youth
• 6-7 year olds: 1 adult : 6 child/youth
• 8+ year olds: 1 adult : 8 child/youth

For the hike portion of the experience, we may separate into two groups.

Program Length

• 1.5 hours

Weekly availability

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
  7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
  See registration link for availability
  

For special requests of alternate dates and times, please email info@highparknaturecentre.com and include 2-3 dates and times that you are available.

$275 for up to 30 participants (+ group leaders & volunteers)