Workshop: Ferns and Grasses
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jun 23 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
This full-day session will be split between the study of ferns and grasses. Ferns are an ancient species of vascular plant. Their history long precedes seed plants and they rely on minute spores to reproduce. Learn the biology, habitat requirements and characteristics of ferns necessary to identify them in the field. Grasses are an abundant species in ecosystems throughout Ontario.[...]
Workshop: Spring Wildflowers
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jun 23 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
Hands on learning with an expert will teach you to identify many Ontario spring wildflowers, including trout lily, trilliums, bloodroot, mayapple, hepatica and dutchman’s breeches. Guest Instructor: Brian Ford Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course Level I.
Workshop: Wildflowers – Beyond the Field Guide
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jun 24 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
Further develop your wildflower identification skills as we focus on the vast array of wildflowers in bloom at this time of year, including time devoted to more-difficult-to-ID species. In addition, we will discuss topics that are “beyond the field guide,” such as the meanings behind some of the Latin names, plus various strategies wildflowers use to get pollinated, disperse their[...]
Workshop: Dragonflies and Damselflies
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 14 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
12:00 pm
Learn about the fascinating biology and migration of some of the world’s most ancient flying animals: the dragonflies and damselflies! Join Odonata expert David d’Entremont for a whirlwind tour of these strikingly beautiful insects and venture outdoors to learn some in-the-field identification while observing dragonflies and damselflies in their natural habitats. Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification[...]
Naturally Mindful: Forest Therapy Walk
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 15 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
10:00 am
Each 2.5 hour Forest Therapy Walk is a gentle experience in nature, led by Ameeta Dudani, mindfulness teacher and mental health practitioner. The aim is to get you out of your head, to get to know yourself better and learn to switch from the busy, reactive state to a more relaxed being state. In Forest Therapy, the guide opens the[...]
Workshop: Bat ID and Survey Methods
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 17 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
7:00 pm
Learn about the only mammals that can fly, and discover how their incredible echo-location system works! The evening will begin with a presentation covering a wide variety of bat-related topics, including the species native to Ontario and threats such as White-nose Syndrome. The participants will then go out onto the Kortright Centre property to view live bats as they forage[...]
Workshop: Midnight Astronomy
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 18 @ 8:30 pm – Jul 19 @ 12:00 am
8:30 pm
First, receive a detailed introduction to the basics of astronomy through an indoor presentation. Learn your way around the night sky in an amazing portable planetarium. Next, we’ll venture out into the darkness for naked-eye viewing of constellations, more detailed observations with binoculars (provided) and viewing planets and deep-sky objects through telescopes of amateur astronomers.
Workshop: Butterflies of Ontario
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Aug 11 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
This workshop will give you a close-up look at these beauties of nature. Learn all about butterfly biology and identification, their amazing knack for mimicry and their role in our environment. Then go out and look for these incredible insects in the field. Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course Level I.
Workshop: Buzz on Bees
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Aug 25 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9:00 am
This workshop will give you an up-close and personal look into the lives of these incredible insects. Learn all about bee biology and identification, their role in our environment, and the threats to their health. We will also tour the active hives and bee education centre at the Kortright Centre. Build a native bee habitat to take home! Also offered[...]
Workshop: Introduction to Birding
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 8 @ 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
9:00 am
Join Kristen Martyn, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited Barrie and expert birder, to learn the basics of birding. Bird watching is one of the most popular hobbies in North America — and with a wide variety of birds living in our backyards, nearby parks and outdoor spaces, it’s easy to understand why. This workshop is a fun and educational introduction[...]
Workshop: Birding Tour of Kortright
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 9 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
9:00 am
Join expert birder Kristen Martyn and Wild Birds Unlimited Barrie for a day exploring the Kortright Centre property. The Kortright Centre is a local hotspot for bird activity. In addition to our resident bird species, we’ll watch for fall migrants, including warblers and other songbirds and raptors. Binoculars will be provided, but please bring your own if you have them.[...]
Run for the Bees 2018
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 15 @ 7:45 am
7:45 am
Kick off the Honey Harvest Festival with the 1st Annual Run for the Bees! Join the Run for the Bees and enjoy a day of fun and fitness in support of bee habitat conservation, educational programs and camp bursaries for low-income children. Everyone is welcome! Bring the whole family and run, jog or walk to support education programs and conservation[...]
Sep 15 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Did you know that bees pollinate approximately 1/3 of the food we eat? Did you know that a honey bee produces roughly one teaspoon of honey in its lifetime — and is the only insect that makes food for human consumption? Join us at Kortright’s Honey Harvest Festival to learn about and celebrate the life of these incredible insects! Enjoy[...]
Sep 16 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Did you know that bees pollinate approximately 1/3 of the food we eat? Did you know that a honey bee produces roughly one teaspoon of honey in its lifetime — and is the only insect that makes food for human consumption? Join us at Kortright’s Honey Harvest Festival to learn about and celebrate the life of these incredible insects! Enjoy[...]
Course: Ancient Technologies II
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 22 @ 9:00 am – Sep 23 @ 2:00 pm
9:00 am
This two-day follow-up to Ancient Technologies I includes an overnight in your self-built shelter. In this class, we take the topics introduced in Ancient Technologies I and apply them to a real survival situation. You’ll need to build your shelter for the night, start your own fire (or eat a cold dinner!), harvest wild-edible plants, and live a full-immersion survival[...]
Little Saplings Parent & Tot Program – Fall
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 22 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
9:00 am
Recommended for children ages 1-5. In this weekly program, youngsters will explore a new nature theme each week. The format allows for consistent structure with flexible content. Parent or caregiver participation is required. HIGHLIGHTS: Outdoor activities such as collecting, hiding, piling, catching and exploring nature. Indoor activities including fun crafts, hands-on experiments and sensory games. Circle time with structured sharing,[...]
Little Saplings Parent & Tot Program – Fall
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
10:00 am
Recommended for children ages 1-5. In this weekly program, youngsters will explore a new nature theme each week. The format allows for consistent structure with flexible content. Parent or caregiver participation is required. HIGHLIGHTS: Outdoor activities such as collecting, hiding, piling, catching and exploring nature. Indoor activities including fun crafts, hands-on experiments and sensory games. Circle time with structured sharing,[...]
Little Saplings Parent & Tot Program – Fall
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 24 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
10:00 am
Recommended for children ages 1-5. In this weekly program, youngsters will explore a new nature theme each week. The format allows for consistent structure with flexible content. Parent or caregiver participation is required. HIGHLIGHTS: Outdoor activities such as collecting, hiding, piling, catching and exploring nature. Indoor activities including fun crafts, hands-on experiments and sensory games. Circle time with structured sharing,[...]
Workshop: Reptiles of Ontario
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 29 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9:00 am
A hands-on workshop featuring live reptiles from around the province! Learn how to identify and conserve Ontario’s snakes, turtles, and lizard from Jeff Hathaway of Scales Nature Park. Learn threats and conservation issues key identification features, distribution, handling techniques, and much more! Participants will have the opportunity to handle various live species. Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist[...]
Workshop: Sparrows
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 29 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
In this module we will study the 19 species of sparrows found in Ontario. Using field markings, habitat, song and behaviour as a guide, this module will help you become more confident in your sparrow ID abilities. At the end of this workshop you will no longer need to call them “those little brown jobs”. Also offered as part of[...]
Workshop: Invertebrate Identification
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 30 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
Invertebrates make up about 97% of the world’s species — and yet they seem to attract the least attention from naturalists. This session will move beyond “charismatic” invertebrate species and delve deeper into their world. There are approximately 30 phyla of invertebrates, but for the sake of this course we will focus on the Mollusca (snails, slugs, etc.), Annelida (earthworms,[...]
Workshop: Mosses and Liverworts
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Oct 6 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
Bryophytes are a group of small herbaceous non-vascular land plants that includes mosses, liverworts and hornworts. Mosses and liverworts share the same habitat and can be often found growing together. In this module we will take a closer look at these species and begin to learn how to identify them in the field. Instructor: David Bradley Also offered as part[...]
Oct 6 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Experience autumn’s beauty with guided fall colours walks, self-guided tours, and more. Join our knowledgeable staff for a tour of the Archetype Sustainable House, a model home with state of the art sustainable technologies throughout. Enjoy our crackling campfire and bring some food to cook over it! Hikes: 11:00 am and 1 pm House Tour*: 2:30 pm *Space is limited[...]
Workshop: Animal Tracking
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Oct 7 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9:00 am
Building upon the animal tracking unit in Level I of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course, we will look at sign and tracks in the field to increase proficiency in animal tracking. Additionally, we will work with tracking tools to learn techniques hands-on. Instructor: Lee Earle Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course Level II.
Oct 7 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Experience autumn’s beauty with guided fall colours walks, self-guided tours, and more. Join our knowledgeable staff for a tour of the Archetype Sustainable House, a model home with state of the art sustainable technologies throughout. Enjoy our crackling campfire and bring some food to cook over it! Hikes: 11:00 am and 1 pm House Tour*: 2:30 pm *Space is limited[...]
Workshop: Fungi
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Oct 7 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
1:00 pm
Fungi (mushrooms) have long been prized in the culinary world. Lesser known is their important ecological role as decomposers that recycle dead plants into nutrients used by other plant life. This module will look into the ecosystem role, biology and identification of these great decomposers. Instructor: Katherine Vatcher Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course Level II.[...]
Oct 8 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Experience autumn’s beauty with guided fall colours walks, self-guided tours, and more. Join our knowledgeable staff for a tour of the Archetype Sustainable House, a model home with state of the art sustainable technologies throughout. Enjoy our crackling campfire and bring some food to cook over it! Hikes: 11:00 am and 1 pm House Tour*: 2:30 pm *Space is limited[...]
Oct 13 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Experience autumn’s beauty with guided fall colours walks, self-guided tours, and more. Join our knowledgeable staff for a tour of the Archetype Sustainable House, a model home with state of the art sustainable technologies throughout. Enjoy our crackling campfire and bring some food to cook over it! Hikes: 11:00 am and 1 pm House Tour*: 2:30 pm *Space is limited[...]
Oct 14 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Experience autumn’s beauty with guided fall colours walks, self-guided tours, and more. Join our knowledgeable staff for a tour of the Archetype Sustainable House, a model home with state of the art sustainable technologies throughout. Enjoy our crackling campfire and bring some food to cook over it! Hikes: 11:00 am and 1 pm House Tour*: 2:30 pm *Space is limited[...]
Workshop: Methods in Environmental Education
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Oct 20 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
9:00 am
An important part of being a naturalist is sharing your knowledge with others. This full-day session will cover the current methods and practices in environmental education. You will gain hands-on experience in delivering environmental education programming and work with an experienced outdoor educator to learn the principles of environmental education. Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course[...]
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