Workshops

Do you love trees but can’t tell an Ash from a Walnut, a Birch from a Beech, or a Spruce from a Fir? Are you looking to connect more with the natural world around you? Join Shelley Hunt, U of Guelph course instructor and former Arboretum Director, for a virtual, interactive tree identification workshop. Over the course of 4 Zoom sessions, with hands-on challenges to complete in between, you will learn the basics of tree ID, with a focus on native Ontario species (and their look-alike non-native counterparts). You will learn about the important features to look for (e.g. leaf shape and arrangement, bark characteristics, fruits and cones), as well as the details that help us to distinguish between species in the same group (e.g. Ashes, Pines, Maples). You will practice your skills on trees that you can find in your local area, and get feedback on your ‘homework’. The fourth session will include a virtual tour of trees in The Arboretum's collections. Sessions will run from 8:00 -9:00 PM (one hour of instruction, and up to 30 minutes of optional questions/discussion) on Tuesdays from June 6th through to June 27th.

Fee: $50 (plus HST) per person.

Join us over the lunch hour for the eighth and final session in this wildlife education series! How to handle finding a baby white tailed deer. Learn how to detect if they need your help, and the proper precautions when you come across this special species. We will go through their natural history (note – this animal is especially vulnerable when it comes to imprinting), what a healthy versus unhealthy baby looks like, some common illnesses, and how you can help! This is a new addition to the series this year! No prior wildlife knowledge required. 

Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person, per session.

Join Architect and Educator Sandra Iskandar to explore various techniques for sketching the gestures drawing and capturing the energy of specific botanical specimens in your journal through hands-on exercises that help simplify them while maintaining their individual characteristics. We’ll start indoors then take a walk-through The Arboretum to practice the craft of deep and mindful observation, quick field sketching, and careful drawing techniques to understand the structure as well as the gestures of the natural seting. In poor weather, this program will take place indoors. Bring a stool for outdoor drawing. Sessions swill run a on bi-weekly basis from 1:00 to 4:30: June 10th, June 24th, July 8th. You are encouraged to take the whole series, however you can just book individual sessions if you prefer.

All levels welcome.

Please bring the following materials with you:
Must Haves:
Sketch book: Medium spiral sketchbook
Graphite Pencils; HB, 3B, 8B
2 Conte sticks: 2B
Sharpener
Stool

Nice to Haves:
Coloured Pencils
Chalk
Watercolours
Fineliners of various thickness: 0.3,0.5,1.0

Sandra holds a professional bachelor’s in architecture which has aided her to become an expansive and critical thinker who blurs the lines between capacities and thinking outside the box. Her career straddles the fields of Architecture, Heritage, Art and Biodiversity. As an educator, she strives to empower her students to have a voice and encourages an open dialogue to promote ideas for constructing healthy inclusive communities. She is bilingual and has her own architectural practice. Sandra is currently a naturalist educator at other organizations as well. Through her mindful and engaging nature journaling workshops, Sandra encourages exploration, mistakes, thinking outside the box and relaxation, while ensuring a nurturing and always constructive setting.

Fee: $65 (plus HST) per person, per session if you register before the early bird deadline of June 2, 2023 (or June 16 and July 1 respectively). After that date the fee is $75 (plus HST) per person, per session. If you book all 3 sessions at once you will receive a $18 discount.

If you have ever wondered about the close cousins of butterflies, this introductory workshop will open your eyes to the amazing and mysterious world of moths. Participants are introduced to the "moth world" and what makes a moth so unique; learn about the families or groups of moths that you are most likely to encounter in the Guelph area; and how to find, identify, and appreciate moths. The workshop includes exploration of the outdoors to search for roosting moths, day-flying moths, and moth caterpillars.
*Maximum 18 adults.

Fee: $95 (plus HST) per person if you register before the early bird deadline of June 11, 2023. After June 11 the fee is $105 (plus HST) per person.

This full-day program helps participants refine their skills to identify trees in Ontario. The focus of the workshop is on learning the important identification characteristics of difficult tree groups such as the cherry, oak and walnut families as well as the easier groups such as ash and maple. The afternoon is spent outside identifying trees in the forest as well as young cultivated trees with their Eurasian counterparts in the World of Trees collection. Participants are encouraged to bring their field guides and binoculars.

Fee: $90.00 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of June 29. If you register after June 29 the fee is $100 (plus HST).

REGISTRATION COMING SOON.

The hot, hazy days of summer are great for bugs, and we're not just talking about mosquitoes and black flies! Our biggest and most beautiful insects - like the butterflies and dragonflies - are on the wing in our warmest season, and the Arboretum is a perfect place to see them. Bring your binoculars or borrow ours for this 2-hour walk in search of some spectacular six-legged creatures, and learn a little about their fascinating biology along the way.

*Maximum 18 adults.

Fee: $12 (plus HST) per person, per day.

DATE AND REGISTRATION COMING SOON.

Ontario is home to over 150 species of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), many of which are common in the Guelph area. Most species can be identified with a field guide and pair of binoculars. Participants learn about these beautiful creatures, their fascinating lives, and see why they are an important part of our local ecosystems. This workshop includes an outdoor component of catching and identifying the dragonflies of The Arboretum.
*Maximum 18 adults when held in person.

Fee: $95 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of July 4, 2023. After July 4 the fee is $105 plus HST.

This workshop has been designed to educate participants about butterflies and how to identify them in the wild. Topics covered include, butterfly natural history, capture techniques, field identification, tagging, migration, and creating and maintaining butterfly habitat. The workshop concludes outside catching and identifying the butterflies of The Arboretum.
*Maximum 18 adults.

Fee: $95 (plus HST) per person if you register before the early bird deadline of July 10, 2023. After July 10 the fee is $105 (plus HST) per person.

In this day-long workshop, participants learn about the fascinating life stories and identification tips about our most important invertebrate predators, the spider. Participants will venture outside for part of the day learning how to find and identify some of our amazing local arachno-fauna, discover first-hand why most insects are arachnophobic, and how we can (and should) help our local spider population.
*Maximum 18 adults.

Fee: $95 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of August 31, 2023. After August 31 the fee is $105 plus HST.

Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, a Japanese term that translates into “Forest Bathing” in English, discover a gentle way of moving mindfully through nature. Led by Canada's Forest Therapy Guide and Trainer, participants experience a walk intended to open the senses, deepen a connection with the natural world, and enhance wellbeing.

Ben Porchuk is the co-founder of the Global Institute of Forest Therapy. He has led over 250 forest therapy walks in several countries around the world.

Fee: $60 (plus HST) per person if you register before the early bird deadline of September 12, 2023. After September 12 the fee is $70 (plus HST) per person.

REGISTRATION COMING SOON.

The course will consist of a brief introduction, a short foray through the Arboretum; then sorting, tabulation and identification of the mushrooms found. Bring a field guide and basket. The course will be taught by local mushroom enthusiast, Tim Myles. Maximum 18 adults.

Fee: $60 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of September 22, 2023. After September 22 the fee is $70 plus HST.