The Nature School: Information Night
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Apr 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
7:00 pm
Families are invited to join us at our information nights to learn about The Nature School at Kortright. Children are welcome to attend. The Nature School offers school programming for children ages 2.5 to 5 years through our Pre-school program, for and students in SK- Grade 3 through our Primary School. NEXT DATE: April 24, 2019 | 7:00 pm to[...]
SOLD OUT! Workshop: Methods in Environmental Education
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Apr 27 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 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[...]
SOLD OUT! Forest Therapy Walk
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Apr 28 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
10:00 am
Forest therapy is a concept based upon the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku (“forest bathing”): the practice of immersing yourself in nature — or more specifically the forest — and connecting with the forest in a deep, mindful way that allows for inner and outer healing. Each 2.5 hour Forest therapy walk, led by Ameeta Dudani, is a gentle experience[...]
Course: Ancient Technologies I
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
May 4 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
9:00 am
This four-part course will take you back in time to the ancient woodland setting of the Kortright Centre. Join expert outdoorsman Jonathan Thompson to learn about the four essential elements of survival: fire, shelter, water and food. Learn the art of fire by friction and make your own fire-bow kit to take home. This course will cover a variety of[...]
Workshop: Spring Wildflowers
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
May 4 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9:00 am
April showers bring May flowers. Spring is a fantastic time for a walk in an Ontario park, especially before leaf-out. 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. * Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course Level I. WORKSHOP DATE Saturday[...]
May 4 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Come Fly With Us! It’s time to look up … way up … and watch fascinating, fabulous kites take flight. Take part in this great family outing where you can see professional kite flying demonstrations, make a kite, enjoy pond dipping, have a picnic and take a self-guided hike to see nature blooming in the spring. Launched in 1989, the[...]
May 5 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
10:00 am
Come Fly With Us! It’s time to look up … way up … and watch fascinating, fabulous kites take flight. Take part in this great family outing where you can see professional kite flying demonstrations, make a kite, enjoy pond dipping, have a picnic and take a self-guided hike to see nature blooming in the spring. Launched in 1989, the[...]
SOLD OUT! Silent Retreat
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
May 5 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
10:00 am
This five-hour silent retreat will give you the opportunity to experience mindfulness-in-nature practices that allow you to rest your mind, connect with yourself and your body, and deepen your relationship to nature. The retreat will consist of guided meditation and nature connection practices, indoors and outdoors, with the majority of the day spent outdoors. Dressing in layers, appropriate to the[...]
SOLD OUT! Birding by Ear: Learning to Hear the Avian Landscape
@ Tommy Thompson Park
May 23 @ 6:00 pm – May 25 @ 10:00 am
6:00 pm
BIRDING AT TOMMY THOMPSON PARK Birdwatching might as well be called “bird-listening”, so important are audio cues in identifying and finding birds! Learn all about this crucial, but under-emphasized, aspect of observing bird life. We will cover all the different ways that birds communicate by sound, as well as the techniques you can use to identify birds by their vocalizations.[...]
Forest Therapy Walk
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
May 26 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
10:00 am
Forest therapy is a concept based upon the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku (“forest bathing”): the practice of immersing yourself in nature — or more specifically the forest — and connecting with the forest in a deep, mindful way that allows for inner and outer healing. Each 2.5 hour Forest therapy walk, led by Ameeta Dudani, is a gentle experience[...]
Silent Retreat
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jun 2 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
10:00 am
This five-hour silent retreat will give you the opportunity to experience mindfulness-in-nature practices that allow you to rest your mind, connect with yourself and your body, and deepen your relationship to nature. The retreat will consist of guided meditation and nature connection practices, indoors and outdoors, with the majority of the day spent outdoors. Dressing in layers, appropriate to the[...]
Workshop: Tree Identification
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jun 22 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9:00 am
Join an experienced urban forester for an interactive, hands-on training session to increase your Tree ID skills. This workshop will cover common tree species found in Ontario, natural history knowledge, keys and tips and tricks for identifying tree species. * Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course Level I. WORKSHOP DATE Saturday June 22, 2019 9:00 am[...]
Workshop: Wildflowers – Beyond the Field Guide
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jun 23 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
Develop your wildflower identification skills as we focus on the vast array of wildflowers in bloom at this time of year — including some 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 seeds, and[...]
SOLD OUT! Workshop: Dragonflies and Damselflies
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 13 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
12:00 pm
DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES* Learn about the fascinating biology and migration of some of the world’s most ancient flying animals: the dragonflies and damselflies! Join an Odonata expert 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[...]
Workshop: Midnight Astronomy
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 17 @ 8:30 pm – Jul 18 @ 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 DATE Wednesday July 17,[...]
Workshop: Bat ID and Survey Methods
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 18 @ 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. The participants will then go out onto the Kortright Centre property to view live bats as they forage for insects overhead and will try to identify them using sophisticated audio[...]
Workshop: Butterflies of Ontario
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 20 @ 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 DATE Saturday July[...]
Introduction to Macro Photography
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Jul 21 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
1:00 pm
Learn the basics of nature photography under the tutelage of a professional photographer. This in-depth photography workshop will consist of instruction and practice on macro photography and in the field landscape photography. Cameras and tripods not provided; please bring your own. WORKSHOP DATE Sunday July 21, 2019 1:00 to 4:00 pm PRICING $59 + HST
Forest School Camp at Swan Lake
@ Swan Lake Outdoor Education Centre
Aug 19 @ 9:00 am – Aug 23 @ 3:00 pm
9:00 am
The Kortright Forest School team is excited to offer a one-week Forest School Camp at Swan Lake Outdoor Education Centre in Richmond Hill this summer! This camp follows a child-led approach to learning. Children will interact with the natural environment through loose parts play, shelter building, wood whittling, unstructured and creative forest play, magic spots, water exploration, forest loom weaving,[...]
Workshop: Buzz on Bees
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Aug 24 @ 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[...]
Workshop: Introduction to Birds
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 8 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
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 to birding, covering topics such as bird identification, bird anatomy, how to choose and use binoculars and where/when[...]
Workshop: Ferns and Grasses
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 14 @ 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: Birding Tour of Kortright
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 15 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
9:00 am
Join us 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 available to borrow, but please bring your own if you have them. WORKSHOP DATE Sunday, September 15, 2019[...]
Course: Ancient Technologies II
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 21 @ 9:00 am – Sep 22 @ 2:00 pm
9:00 am
Think you have the skills to survive in nature? Want to put those skills to the test? Register for our Ancient Technologies II class which includes an overnight in your self-built shelter. In this class, we’ll 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[...]
Workshop: Reptiles of Ontario
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 28 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9:00 am
A hands-on workshop featuring live reptiles from around the province! Learn from Jeff Hathaway of Scales Nature Park how to identify and conserve Ontario’s snakes, turtles, and lizards. Learn about 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[...]
Workshop: Invertebrate Identification
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Sep 29 @ 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 purposes of this course we will focus on the Mollusca (snails, slugs, etc.), Annelida (earthworms,[...]
Workshop: Mosses and Liverworts
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Oct 5 @ 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. ** Also offered as part of the[...]
Workshop: Animal Tracking (Intermediate)
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Oct 6 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9:00 am
Think you know what made that mark in the snow? Join us for a half-day workshop to learn to identify the tracks and sign of Ontario’s wildlife. PLEASE NOTE: Previous tracking experience or participation in our online Introduction to Mammal Tracking course is a prerequisite. ** Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course Level II. WORKSHOP DATE[...]
Workshop: Fungi
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Oct 6 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
12:00 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. ** Also offered as part of the Ontario Naturalist Certification Course Level II. WORKSHOP DATE[...]
Workshop: Birds of Prey
@ Kortright Centre for Conservation
Nov 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
7:00 pm
Join Wild Ontario’s naturalists for an evening all about birds of prey! In the first part of this program we’ll cover the basics of biology, natural history and identification. Then meet some of Wild Ontario’s special (feathered) guests, up close and personal. Finally, head out for a walk on the trails as we try to hear, or maybe even see,[...]
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