Due to the interest shown in running this program in person and its smaller size, we have decided to continue our Urban Naturalists nature club in person. Staff and participants in these programs will continue to maintain physical distancing, practice masking while outdoors and follow any additional COVID-19 related safety measures. In-person programming is contingent on the continued health of staff and their families.
Click here to view all our COVID-19 related updates.
Our Urban Naturalist club is for adults who want to develop their naturalist skills, learn more plant and animal identification, and bond with other nature lovers!
Late-Fall 2021 Urban Naturalists
Winter 2022 Urban Naturalists
COVID-19 Vaccination requirements:
Please see our FAQs for more details about in-person adult programs.
Registration for winter programs opens Thursday, December 9 at 12:00 noon.
To check out our Kids' Nature Clubs, click here.
We want everyone to have an opportunity to explore nature with us! If cost is prohibitive to you, please check out our Happy Camper Fund Bursary (which can be applied to children's programs or adult programs, like Urban Naturalists).
Please note, High Park is closed to cars on the weekends. You will need to park outside the park and walk in, or take transit (we are just south of High Park subway).
Participant Testimonials
What did you enjoy most about Urban Naturalists?
“All of it. It was an absolute joy to spend every second Saturday morning learning about birds, trees, fungi, edible/medicinal plants, park history, etc. Julie [the Nature Centre leader] was fabulous: knowledgeable, generous, curious, and with an infectious enthusiasm for the park and for the natural world in general. Although the fungi were my absolute favourites (which involved a lot of looking down and closely), I loved that each week asked us to use our eyes — and other senses — differently. Thank you so much for such an amazing experience, and I will definitely be back.”
“Everything! The hikes, learning about different things I didn’t even know to be curious about before, looking at & experiencing the park in new ways, benefiting from the interests & curiosity of other participants and Julie’s [the Nature Centre Leader] enthusiasm & encouragement. Participating in Urban Naturalists has been one of the highlights of the year & I’m excited to return in the fall. The highlight of this season for me was making garlic mustard pesto – delish!”
“Walking around High Park with an exceptionally knowledgeable and generous guide. Focus on parts of the park that are not as easily seen: small details, histories, etc. Conversation with other members of the group who are also keepers of important knowledges.”
Urban Naturalists will take place at the High Park Nature Centre Forest School located at 375 Colborne Lodge Drive.
Please note, High Park is closed to cars on the weekends. If your program is on a weekend, you will need to park outside the park and walk in, or take transit (we are just south of High Park subway).
To see a chart showing our vaccination policy for each program, click here.
To view our COVID-19 policies and FAQs, click here.
Please ensure you’ve read and understood our registration policies:
