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 even view a few distant galaxies.

Our goal is to run 2 of the following programs:
Thursday, November 27, 2025, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 26, 2026, 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 28, 2026, 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.

The weather makes stargazing very unpredictable and therefore hard to schedule. Instead of opening up registration for all of these dates and having to cancel some of them, we are instead going to have everyone who is interested sign up on a list (there is no fee to do this). To sign up on the list click on the link to register for workshops and you will find the link for the list in the list of workshops.

The morning of each of the above listed dates we will send an email out by 10:30 AM to let you know whether the instructors are going to run the program or not. Their decision will be based both on the sky and the weather (ie. if it is forecasted to be excessively cold the program will not run). The registration will open when we send the email out. Anyone can register for the program regardless of whether they are on the sign up list or not.

Fee: $19 (plus HST) per person, per session. Please note these programs are non-refundable once you register and pay for them.

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Mohawk Creation Story - Friday, September 26, 2025
The Story of the Flying Head (Scary) - Friday, October 31, 2025 
Story of the Three Sisters - Friday, November 28, 2025
Story of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy - Friday, December 12, 2025

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 heart, minds, bodies and spirits through story this fall. This 4-Part series will take place the last Friday of September, October and November and the Second Friday of December.

We will start in a good way with song and smudge, moving into story and some land based learning. We will end in a good way with a closing song. Tea will be provided. .

This program is FREE. We do ask that if you register and can't make it that you notify us so that someone else can have your spot as space is limited. You can register for one or more of the sessions.

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Unravel the mysteries of the Orchid. Orchids are considered to be hard to grow, and a plant that only an expert should tackle. Nothing is further from the truth – they are some of the easiest house plants to grow and some will flower for 10 months non-stop. This presentation will help you understand these beautiful plants and show you how to take care of them so that they bloom year after year.

Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person.

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Garden Fundamentals will focus on ornamental gardens including trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and grasses. You will gain a good understanding of how these plants grow and their relationship with the soil. We’ll cover lots of practical topics such as planting, maintenance, plant selection, sun/shade requirements, and Robert will give you some of his top picks. This course is suitable for the beginner and intermediate gardener.

Week 1: Techniques - Gardening techniques will be discussed including making new beds, raised beds, composting, crop rotation, mulching and cover crops.
Week 2: Vegetables - This week Robert will discuss growing vegetables from seed including how to start them indoors, transplanting, selecting the right kind, summer care and harvesting.
Week 3: Starting from Seeds - This session is about more advanced topics on seeds including collecting, cleaning, storing, stratification etc. He will also provide the all the information you need to start any seed you want including trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials.
Week 4: Trees and Shrubs - An introduction to trees and shrubs. Selecting, planting, growing them for success. As well as an introduction to pruning them.
Week 5: Perennials - This will be a start to finish course of perennials including selecting, growing planting, dividing. Robert will discuss different types of perennials and how to design with them.
Week 6: Bulbs and Grasses - Spring bulbs, summer bulbs and perennial grasses. They are all essential for a garden that flowers all season long.
Week 7: Pests, Diseases and Garden Myths - This will be a short introduction to pests and diseases, explaining how Robert handles problems in the garden. The second half of the night will look at a wide range of garden myths.

Robert is a Master Gardener and garden writer who publishes two popular gardening blogs and has published several gardening books. He owns and operates a private botanical garden where he grows over 3,000 different varieties of plants.

Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person, per session or sign up for all 7 and get one free ($60 instead of $70). Please note: You must sign up for all 7 at once in a single transaction to receive the discount.

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Capture the quiet magic of snow-covered scenes in this cozy watercolour class. Learn how to paint frosty forests, glowing winter skies, and shimmering snow using simple techniques that bring seasonal serenity to life. Whether you're new to watercolour or looking to refine your landscape skills, this class will guide you through layering washes, creating atmospheric depth, and adding delicate winter details.

Registrants must be age 14+.

Supplies:
Please bring whatever watercolour supplies you enjoy using. Here is a suggested list:

• Watercolour Paints:Choose artist-grade or student-grade watercolours in pans or tubes. Recommended winter palette:
  • Ultramarine Blue
  • Payne’s Grey
  • Burnt Sienna
  • Raw Umber
  • Alizarin Crimson
  • Cerulean Blue
  • Indigo
  • Titanium White (gouache or watercolour for highlights)
• Paper
  • Cold press watercolour paper (140 lb / 300 gsm): Textured surface ideal for landscapes
• Other Tools
  • Palette for mixing
  • Two water containers (one for rinsing, one for clean water).
  • Paper Towels or Cloths
  • Masking tape or washi tape (to secure paper edges).
  • Pencil and kneaded eraser (for sketching).
  • Optional: Masking fluid for preserving snow areas

  Fee: $65 (plus HST) per person if you register before the early bird deadline of January 23, 2026. After that date the fee is $75 (plus HST) per person.

  
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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, 2026. After January 30 the fee is $107 plus HST.

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This single-session program will provide a basis on understanding the anatomy of birds through illustration. The program will not only provide attendees with the background to illustrate anatomically correct birds of any family, but will also provide a basic understanding of bird anatomy for introductory birders. It is my goal to increase the appreciation of the public towards these beautiful creatures, and encourage us to work collaboratively to preserve the natural world. 

This program will be broken into 5 sections: anatomy of the head, body, wings, and tail, and then a final section covering the bird as a whole. In each of the first 4 sections, I will go over the basic features that all birds share including the different groups of feathers and structures, and then outline how those structures differ between a few well known orders of birds. After the first 4 sections of this workshop are complete, we will then put it all together to illustrate an entire bird, highlighting each of the different feather groups and structures covered from earlier.

The workshop will be 2.5 hours in length. Each section will be approximately 20 minutes in length, giving enough time for a brief demonstration, practice, and questions. The remaining time after the 5 sections are completed will provide an opportunity for further practice, Q&A, and to finish off any material that was not covered in its entirety in its respective 20 minute segment.

Materials: Please bring a sketch book, pencil (mechanical recommended), eraser, and a black or blue pen. A portable chair may also be beneficial, as it is more comfortable to sit on.

*Maximum 15 adults. 

Fee: $40 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of February 13, 2026. After February 13 the fee is $50 plus HST.

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Join Robert Pavlis as he discusses how to create Healthy Soil. Below is a description of what he will discuss each week. You can sign up for one, two or all three of the workshops.

Week 1 - Soil Basics - What is soil and how do the basic components work together to provide a plant's needs? How do various gardening techniques affect soil and what is good soil?
Week 2 - Nutrients and Fertilizers - The role nutrients play in plant health and how plants get their nutrients. The role of the rhizosphere. How and when to use synthetic and organic fertilizers.
Week 3 - The Secret to Healthy Soil - What is healthy soil and how does a gardener develop the best soil in the neighborhood to grow great plants.

Robert is a Master Gardener and garden writer who publishes two popular gardening blogs and has published several gardening books. He owns and operates a private botanical garden where he grows over 3,000 different varieties of plants.

Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person, per session. The cost for all 3 sessions is $30 (plus HST)

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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 [4] to learn more and register for upcoming dates. Please note that at this time this program is being offered to a special group instead of as a public program. If you are part of a group that is interested, please contact us for further information.