Upcoming Events

Get hands-on and explore a hidden world beneath the water’s surface. Participants will use nets and observation tools to discover the diverse community of aquatic insects and other organisms that call our ponds home. This free, outdoor program is part of The Arboretum’s Summer Nature Series, generously supported by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. Programs are designed for all experience levels. Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear for uneven trails. Fee: FREE (Registration required)

Instructor: Shelley Hunt Dates: Tuesdays, June 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2026 Fee: 50 (plus HST) per person for the 4 session program. 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,...

Instructor: Shelley Hunt Dates: Tuesdays, June 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2026 Fee: 50 (plus HST) per person for the 4 session program. 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,...

Join us for a guided hike to meet the birds of the Arboretum and learn how to identify common local species by sight and sound. This program introduces the basics of birdwatching and helps participants connect with the wildlife around them. Binoculars will be available to borrow. This free, outdoor program is part of The Arboretum’s Summer Nature Series, generously supported by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. Programs are designed for all experience levels. Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear for uneven trails. Fee: FREE (Registration...

Instructor: Shelley Hunt Dates: Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2026 Fee: 50 (plus HST) per person for the 4 session program. Ontario has dozens of native shrub species, from dogwoods to viburnums, blackberries to spicebush, and everything in between. Where to start in learning to identify them? In this workshop, spread over 4 zoom sessions, we will cover basic shrub morphology and learn the key ID features of a wide variety of these diverse woody plants. The 4th session will include a virtual tour of shrubs in the Arboretum's collections....

Instructor: Chris Earley Fee: Fee: $97 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of June 30, 2026. After June 30 the fee is $107 plus HST. 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...

Instructor: D'Arcy Meloche Fee: Fee: $65 (plus HST) per person, per session if you register by the early bird deadline 8 days prior to the workshop (ie. May 21 / July 2 / September 18). After the early bird deadline the fee is $75 plus HST. Step into the healing power of nature with a guided Shinrin Yoku session at the Arboretum in Guelph. Also known as “forest bathing,” Shinrin Yoku is a gentle, meditative practice that originated in Japan, inviting you to slow down, awaken your senses, and deepen your connection to the natural world. Over the course of...

Instructor: Joseph Langlois & Christa Wise Fee: FREE Join us for our second annual Odonate Count at The Arboretum! We will spend the day out on the Arboretum grounds searching for, catching, and identifying the Dragonflies and Damselfishes (Odonates) found here. As an inventory project, we will be using iNaturalist to document our findings, so please come with an iNaturalist account and have it downloaded on your phone. This is a free event for those interested in helping us inventory the diversity of these incredible insects that call The Arb...

Instructor: Andalyne Tofflemire Fee: $94 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of July 5, 2026. After July 5 the fee is $104 plus HST. This workshop introduces participants to all the major groups of insects in Ontario with a focus on how to recognize major groups or families, with special reference to the common species one is likely to encounter in both the backyard and in the field. This is a great introductory course for educators, field researchers, and those who wish to simply become familiar with the mini-wildlife of Ontario...

Instructor: Andalyne Tofflemire Fee: $94 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of July 6, 2026. After July 6 the fee is $104 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. Registrants in attendance will receive...