Programs take place at the High Park Nature Centre located at 375 Colborne Lodge Drive, just south of the main entrance to the park at Bloor St. W. and High Park Ave.

For all programs, children MUST be of the minimum age of the program on or before the start of the program.

Campers will be divided in groups according to age. JR campers are 4-6 years old, SR campers are 7-10 years old. Please note that JR and SR groups will spend lunch together, but for many of the camp activities throughout the day the groups will be out exploring separately.

At the High Park Nature Centre, we want all kids to experience the joy that time in nature can bring and grow up with a connection to the natural world.

Given the High Park Nature Centre's desire to ensure that all kids get the chance to experience the joy that nature can bring we've launched a new pilot program called the Happy Camper Fund Bursary. This pilot program has been made possible thanks to a generous donor (that wishes to remain anonymous).

Click here to apply to the Happy Camper Fund Bursary.

Click here to donate to the Happy Camper Fund.

Requests for cancellations or refunds must be made in writing and submitted to the High Park Nature Centre at info@highparknaturecentre.com.

• 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 a 50% refund.
• Requests made less than 7 days before the start of the program will receive no refund.
• A doctor’s note may be required for cancellations due to medical reasons.
• Refunds are not granted for inclement weather.

If a program is full, you may choose to be added to the waitlist through our online system. When a space becomes available in a camp we will contact those on the waitlist by phone or email.

Programs will proceed rain, snow or shine. Please be sure to dress your child appropriately for the weather as we will be outdoors for most of the activities. Indoor programs will be run in the case of severe inclement weather such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, snowstorms or high winds over 35 km per hour. If you have any questions please call our office at 416-392-1748.

The High Park Nature Centre promotes awareness and respect for nature through year-round, hands-on outdoor nature education and park stewardship activities. We strongly believe that an important part of connecting with nature involves responsible, active outdoor play.

At Nature Centre programs, we do engage in activities such as playing in soil and getting dirty, climbing trees and balancing on logs. Our staff prioritizes safety by establishing clear guidelines with all participants. Children are encouraged to decide if/when they are ready to participate in these activities and are supervised throughout.

If you have questions or would like to talk with staff about your child's participation in active outdoor play, please talk with us.

At the High Park Nature Centre we strive to create a safe, inclusive environment for everyone. We want to work with children and parents/guardians to overcome challenging behaviours. Our staff use positive reinforcements, empowering language, and friendly reminders of what appropriate behaviour looks like, sounds like, and feels like. When conflicts arise, we guide children through conflict resolution discussions so they can develop empathy and interpersonal skills. When necessary, staff will discuss with parents/guardians strategies for improving behaviour.

However, in some cases a Program Coordinator may need to remove the child from the program. Parents/guardians will be asked to pick up the child immediately. A refund will not be given in this event. Examples of behaviour that will result in removal include (but are not limited to):

• violence to themselves or others,
• bullying,
• damaging property,
• refusing to follow safety rules,
• repeatedly running out of sight, or
• continued disruption of the program.

Extended care is offered from 8:30-9:00 am and 3:30-5:00 pm each day for $10 per day. Extended care can be paid for at the time of registration, or paid in cash on the day in which extended care is required.