Upcoming Events

Instructor: Joseph Langlois Dates: Thursday OR Friday, April 9 OR 10, 2026 Time: 7:30 to 8:30 PM Fee: $12 (plus HST) per person A breathtaking ascent to the skies, a graceful fall to the ground, and a mesmerizing, yet quirky, call… PEENT. The sky dance of the American Woodcock is a truly incredible spectacle, and we at The Arboretum invite you to join us in a search for this captivating display! Our Woodcock Walk begins at the Nature Centre, where we’ll unveil some of the mystery behind these aerial acrobats before heading into the field...

Instructor: Trevor Chandler and / or Michael Wright Fee: $19 (plus HST) per person, per session. Please note these programs are non-refundable once you register and pay for them. Come, brave the cold, and see the stars! Members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be setting up astronomical telescopes for private viewings. Come see winter constellations like Taurus, Gemini, and Orion, as well as star clusters, nebulae, and many other curious objects in the beautiful winter Milky Way. Later, as winter melts into spring, we may...

Instructor: Giulia Pozzi Dates: Fridays, April 24, May 1, 8, 15 & 22 Fee: $60 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of April 16, 2026. After April 16 the fee is $70 plus HST. Registration is for all 5 sessions.  Giulia, is a mother, artist, and certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. This is an invitation to grab your kid and join us for a restorative, playful series of experiences on the beautiful Arboretum grounds as nature wakes up after the winter! Forest Therapy originated in Japan in the 80s. Today it...

Instructor: Cara Loft Fee: FREE (Registration Required) Cara Loft is a Haudenosaunee Woman and staff member in the Office of Teaching and Learning at the University of Guelph. We are so grateful for her coming back to enrich our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits throughout story this winter.  Friday January 30th - Story of the Little People Friday February 27th Friday March 27th - Story of the Maple (Instructors: Cara Loft and Melissa Ireland) Friday April 24th - Mohawk Creation Story We will start...

Instructor: Giulia Pozzi Fridays, April 24, May 1, 8, 15, & 22, 2026 Fee: $50 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of April 16, 2026. After April 16 the fee is $60 plus HST. Registration is for all 5 sessions.  Join Giulia, a mother, artist, and certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide in a series of low-key, restorative Forest Therapy events, as we witness the land waking up from winter! It can feel hard to leave the house when sleep isn't good or your baby is fussy. These sessions are tailored to the needs...

Instructor: Christa Wise Fee: $90 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of April 23, 2026. After April 26 the fee is $100 plus HST. It’s that time of year again, the spring wildflowers are beginning to bloom! Our flowers like the trout lily, bloodroot, and trilliums only flower for a brief window in early spring, finishing all of their above-ground activity in a few short weeks. Join Christa Wise, Interpretive Naturalist at The Arboretum, to explore the fascinating world of our small but mighty spring wildflowers! This...

Join Artist Candice Leyland for an inspiring and immersive plein air watercolour class, where The Arboretum becomes your studio! Whether you're a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, this class offers a unique opportunity to capture the beauty of the outdoors with vibrant watercolours. Rain Date: June 26, 2026 Registrants must be age 14+. Fee: $65 (plus HST) per person if you register before the early bird deadline of May 16, 2026. After that date the fee is $75 (plus HST) per person. What to Expect: Expert Instruction: ...

Instructor: Trevor Chandler and / or Michael Wright Fee: $19 (plus HST) per person, per session. Please note these programs are non-refundable once you register and pay for them. Come, brave the cold, and see the stars! Members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be setting up astronomical telescopes for private viewings. Come see winter constellations like Taurus, Gemini, and Orion, as well as star clusters, nebulae, and many other curious objects in the beautiful winter Milky Way. Later, as winter melts into spring, we may...

Instructor: James McKenna Fee: $15 (plus HST) per person. Explore the complex relationship between nature and literature in this guided walk. We will look at the interaction between trees and books through a scientific and cultural lens. Learn about the role trees have played in storytelling, through their role in printmaking and how humans understand themselves and tell their stories. Gain a better understanding of biological concepts in arboriculture to help you "read" a tree and see how the characters of wind, sunlight and rain act as characters in each...