Workshops

The Arboretum offers workshops all year round covering a wide variety of topics from birds to mushrooms to gardening to art. Virtual programs are offered live on Zoom, and recordings are made available for registrants to access for a limited time. Details on registration policies can be found on our Registration Information page. View a complete list of The Arboretum's programs on our Workshop Descriptions page.

Upcoming & Current Workshops

 

Virtual Bird ID 

Bird ID graphic
Mondays and Wednesdays, November 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, and 27, 2024
12 Noon - 1 PM
Format:
Online on zoom
Instructor: Chris Earley

Why not take your birding to the next level? Join Chris Earley, Arboretum Interpretive Biologist and author of 5 bird field guides, for a series of eight virtual noon-hour lectures on eight different bird groups. ID techniques, field marks, shapes, behaviour clues and more will all be covered. Each course will finish with a 10 - 15 minute discussion period so you can ask all your bird-related questions.  All eight programs cost $70 (plus tax) - that's less than $10 per program! Bird groups covered include: Hawks, Ducks, Sparrows, Sandpipers, Gulls, Spring Warblers, Fall Warblers and Spring Migrants (presentation dates listed below). Recordings of each will be sent to all participants the next day.  The recordings will be available for one month after the last program.


HawkHawks - Monday, November 4, 12 NOON - 1:00 PM 

Everyone loves raptors but they can be a bit challenging as they fly by overhead.  We will be covering what to look for to ID our 16 regular species.  A special emphasis will be learning how to tell Cooper's Hawks from Sharp-shinned Hawks as they are common backyard predators that can be confusing! 

 

duckDucks - Wednesday, November 6, 12 NOON - 1:00 PM

This colourful group of waterfowl is full of interesting shapes, patterns and lifestyles.  And, while the males are usually pretty straightforward to identify, the females can be quite challenging!  We will dabble with dabblers and dive into divers in this web-footed workshop. 

 

sparrowSparrows - Monday, November 11, 12 NOON - 1:00 PM

"Uh oh, a sparrow!"  If this statement has ever left your lips, then this talk is for you!  They may seem drab and dull at first, but these LBJs (little brown jobs) really aren't that hard once you know what to look for.  And since there are different species depending on the season, they are really worth knowing! 

 

sandpiperSandpipers - Wednesday, November 13, 12 NOON - 1:00 PM

There's nothing like looking at a bird that is standing right out in the open and still not being able to identify it.  Sandpipers definitely fall into this category.  We will cover beak and body shape, leg and neck length, colour placement and behaviour so you will have a better chance to id that shorebird the next time you see it. 

 

gullGulls - Monday, November 18, 12 NOON - 1:00 PM

Did you know that southern Ontario (and specifically the Niagara River) is often considered the Gull Capital of the World?  In late fall/early winter, we can find many species of gull in this region, so it is time to get to know our french fry-loving friends.  We will focus on adults but also cover some immature stages to try and get a handle on this interesting group of birds.

 

warblerSpring Warblers - Wednesday, November 20, 12 NOON - 1:00 PM

Mention the words "spring warblers" to birders in the depths of February and you'll see longing, wistful looks on their faces.  That's because spring warblers rock!  And southern Ontario in spring is an amazing place to see over 30 species of these colourful little rays of sunshine.  But this abundance of species does mean a lot to remember, so we will be covering ways to help with that. 

 

warblerFall Warblers - Monday, November 25, 12 NOON - 1:00 PM

While "spring warblers" will bring a smile to a birder's face, "fall warblers" might turn that smile upside down.  This bird group is especially tricky during their fall migration when some species transform miraculously into seemingly different birds altogether!  But don't worry, we will get them sorted out. 

 

Baltimore OrioleSpring Migrants - Wednesday, November 27, 12 NOON - 1:00 PM

This hodge podge of bird groups makes May migration a special time for nature lovers.  We will cover some easy to id species (male Baltimore Oriole!) and some not-so-easy ones (ack, a little greenish flycatcher!) to help you be prepared for next spring. 

 

 


Virtual Cottage Birds Series

Common Loon

Mondays and Wednesdays, January 20, 22, 27, 29, February 3, 5, 10, and 12, 2025
12 Noon - 1 PM
Format:
Online on zoom
Instructor: Chris Earley

While sitting on the dock, have you ever asked "Did that loon just attack that duck?" or "How can that Pileated Woodpecker peck such big holes without hurting its brain?" or "Which hawk is that flying overhead?" The answers to these and many other bird-related questions will be covered in this series of eight one-hour sessions on the birds you notice while visiting a cottage, hiking in a northern park or tenting at your favourite campsite. We will cover identification clues, behaviour, nesting info, habitat, foraging techniques and more. Cottage projects and activities that help birds will also be a part of each session as well as a 10-15 minute discussion period for bird-related questions.   All eight programs cost of $70 (plus tax) - that's less than $10 per program! 

Fee: $70.00 + H.S.T.  This event will take place on Zoom. The list of topics with the presentation date is listed below.  If you miss any of the programs, each one is recorded and the recording will be sent to you the next day.  The recordings will be available for one month after the last program.

click here to register for a workshop

 

 

 

 


In-Person Introduction to Animal Tracking

fox track in snow photo by Tamara Anderson

Friday, February 7, 2025 
9 AM - 4 PM

Format: In-Person
Instructor: Tamara Anderson

Have you ever wondered what made those marks in the snow? In this full day program we will be learning how to track animals. We will be studying the tracks and signs of Ontario mammals and other types of wildlife. By the end of the day you will learn to identify and interpret animal tracks by looking at track patterns and gait analysis. The workshop will also include an introduction to scat identification. There is an outdoor component that will have us looking for and following animal tracks and trails. Please dress in layers to be outdoors and wear comfortable, warm boots. Recommended: Bring a notebook and a measuring tape to help with track identification.

The Arboretum Mammal booklet is included in the registration fee.

Fee: $97 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of January 30, 2025. After January 30 the fee is $107 plus HST.

*REGISTRATION COMING SOON.

click here to register for a workshop

 

 

 


Virtual Bird Sounds Series

collage of 8 birds representing bird groups in workshop series

Mondays and Wednesdays, March 17, 19, 24, 26, 31, April 2, 7 and 9, 2025
12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM

Format: Online on Zoom
Instructor: Chris Earley, Arboretum Interpretive Biologist

Learn more about our Virtual Bird Song Programs

Into birding but the songs have you stumped?  Whether you are new to learning bird sounds or you want a good refresher, this course is for you. Join Chris Earley, Arboretum Interpretive Biologist and author of 5 bird field guides, for a series of eight virtual noon-hour lectures that cover over 150 bird species!  We will focus on songs and some common, distinctive calls and will apply different methods to remember them. Each course will start with a short intro topic about birding by ear before we dive into the bird species. Learn how to make your own calls, read a sonogram, make up your own memorable bird song sayings, and more!  Each class will finish with a 10-15 minute discussion period so you can ask all your bird-related questions.  See the descriptions below to find out which bird groups are covered in each class. All eight programs cost of $70 (plus tax) - that's less than $10 per program!  This fund-raising initiative will help support other Arboretum educational programs.

Fee: $70.00 + H.S.T.  This event will take place on Zoom. The list of topics with the presentation date is listed below.  If you miss any of the programs, each one is recorded and the recording will be sent to you the next day.  The recordings will be available for one month after the last program.

click here to register for a workshop

saw-whet owl Owls and Wetland Birds - Day 1 - Monday, March 17, 12 noon – 1:00 PM 
Whooooooo was that? Owls always grab our nightly attention but many wetland birds are also evening singers. We will cover a selection of rails, coots, bitterns, loons, grebes, and more. And don't forget a couple of glorious goatsuckers (whip-poor-wills and nighthawks)! This course will include teaching you how to speak "owl."

GrackleBlackbirds and Hawks - Day 2 - Wednesday, March 19, 12 noon – 1:00 PM
These two groups include some early migrants and now is the time we get to see them after a long absence! We will cover the whole blackbird family including meadowlarks, bobolinks, and orioles. We will also study some raptor calls so you can figure out who might be flying through or maybe nesting in your local forest.

Black-throated Blue WarblerWarblers I - Phrasers and Buzzers - Day 3 - Monday, March 24, 12 noon – 1:00 PM 
Knowing warbler song is a key element for finding these tiny trinkets of the treetops. The males will even sing during migration so knowing their voices is important. In this course we will start with the species that sing distinctive phrases or use a buzzy texture in their songs.

Pine WarblerWarblers II - Trillers and Thrillers - Day 4 - Wednesday, March 26, 12 noon – 1:00 PM
So, this time things might be a bit more, um, difficult. Trilling birds are tricky but we will go through them and study the differences in these similar songs. We will also cover some other warblers that are a bit more musical and easier to figure out!
 

Savannah SparrowSparrows - Day 5 - Monday, March 31, 12 noon – 1:00 PM 
They may be a lot duller to look at than warblers but most sparrows are much better singers! Sometimes it is easier to tell them apart by song than by sight. We will study who says "Home Sweet, Canada, Canada, Canada", "I gotta go wee wee now!" and "Won't you come sit down besiiiiiide meeeee?"

Rose-breasted GrosbeakFinches and Thrushes - Day 6 - Wednesday, April 2, 12 noon – 1:00 PM 
Finches, including grosbeaks, redpolls, and crossbills, can be sparrow-like but are even better songsters. But some of them sound the same so we will figure out ways to tell them apart. Their call notes can be important during bird surveys so we will cover some of them, too. Thrushes have lovely voices and one was once voted as the best singing bird in North America! Find out which one at this workshop.

Pileated WoodpeckerWoodpeckers and Flycatchers - Day 7 - Monday, April 7, 12 noon – 1:00 PM
Sometimes you have to know mechanical sounds to figure out a nearby territorial bird - woodpecker drumming is a prime example. They also make some distinctive calls. And speaking of distinctive, some flycatchers can only really be identified by their songs, not by sight! We will listen to these and get a handle on this confusing group.

House Wren Wrens and Friends - Day 8 - Monday, April 9, 12 noon – 1:00 PM 
We will finish off with a hodge podge of species such as wrens, vireos, jays, nuthatches, kinglets, and more! Many of these live in forest habitats and could all be singing or calling at the same time so learning to differentiate them is an important skill. Are you ready for the challenge?

click here to register for a workshop

 

 

 

 

 

 


Nature Throughout the Seasons for International Students and New Canadians Series

aerial of Arboretum

Facilitated quarterly (12 NOON - 1:00 PM)
Format:
Online via Zoom 
Instructors:  Arboretum Interpretive Interns

This program is offered to specifc groups. If you would like more information please contact us.
Fee: FREE!
This online series is catered to University of Guelph international students and other community members new to Canada. New to the area? Come with us to explore The Arboretum and learn about what you can find in nature throughout the winter, spring, summer, and fall!
Visit the Nature Throughout the Seasons for International Students and New Canadians Series program page to learn more and register for upcoming dates. Please note that at this time this program is being offered to special group instead of as a public program. If you are part of a group that is interersted please contact us for further information.