The Nature Centre at Bruce’s Mill is located within Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park in Whitchurch-Stouffville in York Region.
The Nature Centre offers a variety of nature-based educational programs and events for children, families, students, and teachers such as field trips, camps, family-friendly programs, festivals, and engaging workshops for adults.
About Us
The Nature Centre at Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park is located at 3291 Stouffville Road in the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario. View map and directions.
Bruce’s Mill is a destination park, home to Treetop Trekking, Disc Golf, a BMX bike course, the Community Safety Village, and a network of trails winding through beautiful hardwood forests on the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Community Events
Field Trips
Bring your class to The Nature Centre at Bruce’s Mill for an immersive field trip. Get outside and learn during an activity-packed day visit.
Our curriculum-connected programs are designed to deliver hands-on experiences in a safe and supportive outdoor setting.
For more information or to book your program, please contact vservices@trca.ca.
Nature Camps
The Nature Centre’s small-scale adventure camps allow for lots of time with our experienced camp counselors and outdoor education specialists in a spectacular outdoor setting.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR CAMPS
Little Saplings Parent & Tot Program
The Little Saplings program at Bruce’s Mill is recommended for children ages 1 to 5.
In this program, youngsters will explore a new nature theme each week. The format allows for consistent structure with flexible content. Parent or caregiver participation is required.
Spring Dates: Mondays, April 7, 14, 28, and May 5, 2025
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Circle time with nature-themed songs and stories
- New nature themes explored each week
- Connect with other young families
- Get outdoors and learn about the natural world
PRICING
- $89.00 per child
Birthday Parties
Connect with nature at your child’s next birthday party – whether it’s building fires and shelters, dissecting owl pellets, playing animal games … or a little bit of everything!
Choose from one of the following themes, or work with us to create an unforgettable, customized birthday experience.
PROGRAMS:
Nature Appreciation:*
Explore the beauty of the forest! Get outside, play games, explore different natural textures and colours, make art, and have fun!
*This program can be done on snowshoes in the winter months.
Amazing Animals:
Examine real bones and fur pelts, test your senses, and explore different habitats while looking for signs of animals. Then embrace your “animal instincts” while playing active games that show how animals hide, find food, camouflage, and survive!
Owl Prowl:
Become an owl explorer for the day! Keep your eyes and ears open for our feathery friends as you hike though owl territory. Learn to hoot like an owl and dissect pellets to see what owls have been eating.
Wilderness Survival:
Become an expert in the outdoors! Learn what to do if you’re ever lost before enjoying building a fire and shelter of your own!
DETAILS:
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- $375.00* for up to 15 children and three adults. There will be an added charge of $10.00 for each additional child and $8.10 for each additional adult.
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- Our themed parties are designed for children from four to 12 years of age.
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- Available Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alternate times can be requested.
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- Parties are three hours in length (1.5 hour guided program; an hour for food, cake, and presents; and 30 minutes for any extra set-up, group-led games, or buffer time).
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- All programs are led by TRCA Education Interpreters.
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- Private space is included for food, cake, and opening presents.
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- Every party has an outdoor component. For your comfort, we recommend that you dress for the weather on the day of your visit and that participants wear closed-toed, flat-soled footwear (such as running shoes).
- To book birthday parties, please contact mary.gawen@trca.ca.
*Fees are subject to change.
Corporate Teambuilding
Host your next corporate outing at the Nature Centre at Bruce’s Mill!
Rent the Nature Centre for a team meeting or a book a picnic shelter and enjoy everything Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park has to offer: driving range, disc golf, hiking trails, Treetop Trekking, and more.
You’re in good hands when you book your corporate function with TRCA. Choose from one of our programs below or reach out to us about a customized program.
PROGRAMS:
Geocaching
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Number of Participants: 20 to 30
Season: Offered all year
Cost: $25 per person
Take part in the popular activity of geocaching: a high-tech scavenger hunt using GPS units! First, participants will learn how to use the GPS units and how to navigate a map. Next, in small teams, participants will walk just over 1-2 km of beautiful trails to find hidden treasures. This program can be adapted to be a fun, camaraderie-building competition.
Teambuilding Games
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Number of Participants: 20 to 30
Season: Offered all year
Cost: $25 per person
Establish positive group dynamics through physical and mental challenges that require group collaboration. Each challenge is designed to improve interpersonal skills and help participants to overcome barriers to personal and group growth. Our activities will help to build leadership, communication, creative problem-solving, and positive group decision-making.
Wilderness Survival
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Number of Participants: 20 to 30
Season: Offered all year
Cost: $25 per person
Learn fire-building safety and techniques and then put your skills and wits to the test. Learn different traditional (non-lighter/match) fire-starting methods and try one of these methods out yourself. Unleash your competitive side as you work with your team to compete against other teams to burn through the string first.
To book a program, please contact mary.gawen@trca.ca.
Facility Rental
The Nature Centre at Bruce’s Mill offers a beautiful, welcoming space for groups of up to 100 people – the perfect setting for meetings, fundraisers, or small conferences.
To add a rustic feel to your event, picnic tables and Muskoka chairs can be set up indoors.
Rental pricing: $600.00 per day
Questions? Contact us at vservices@trca.ca.