Kick Off the New Year with TRCA’s Family-Friendly Events and Workshops

Don’t let winter keep you indoors. Brave the cold with family-friendly adventures in the GTA!

Explore nature, learn about local wildlife, and see how spending time outdoors can boost your mental and physical well-being. For kids, TRCA’s January PA Day camps offer hands-on, educational activities they’ll love.

WINTER WELLNESS

New Beginnings Forest Therapy Walk

a woman enjoys a winter therapy forest therapy walk at Kortright Centre for Conservation

Immerse yourself in nature with a guided forest therapy walk designed to promote relaxation, mindfulness, and well-being. Connect with the natural world, engage your senses, and experience the therapeutic benefits of the forest.

Suitable for all fitness levels, forest therapy walks at Kortright Centre for Conservation offer a peaceful way to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and foster a deeper connection to nature.

Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Kortright Centre for Conservation, 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Vaughan, ON

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT

PA DAY CAMPS

PA Day Camps at Claireville

youngsters enjoy a winter PA day camp adventure at Claireville Outdoor Education Centre

Welcome to Wild Winter Survival Camp, where young adventurers learn to master the art of winter survival while having a blast in the snowy outdoors!

Participants can gear up for a day of thrilling challenges, essential survival skills, and fun winter activities that will transform them into true winter warriors. Build a snow shelter, snowshoe the trails, learn how to build a fire, and more!

PA Day Camps are offered to children ages 4 to 11.

Dates: Friday, January 17 and Monday, January 20, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Claireville Outdoor Education Centre, 8180 Highway 50, Brampton, ON

REGISTER FOR PA DAYS AT CLAIREVILLE

PA Day Camps at Kortright

students enjoy outdoor adventure at a winter PA day camp at Kortright Centre for Conservation

Come to Kortright Centre for Conservation on your PA Day. Students will enjoy the benefits of a day spent outdoors, where nature becomes the classroom. Our child-led approach to learning is exploratory, inquiry based, fun, and unhurried.

PA Day Camps are offered to children ages 4 to 10.

Dates: Friday, January 17 and Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Kortright Centre for Conservation, 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Vaughan, ON

REGISTER FOR PA DAYS AT KORTRIGHT

PA Day Camps at Lake St. George

students learn wilderness survival skills at a winter PA day camp at Lake St George Field Centre

Enrol your child in a Lake St. George Field Centre PA Day Camp for a dose of nature-fueled fun!

Campers will learn about what’s happening in the forest, explore the outdoors through guided hikes, play outdoor games, and enjoy a relaxing campfire at the end of the day. Hot lunch included with every registration.

PA Day Camps are offered to children ages 5 to 12.

Date: Friday, January 17, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Lake St. George Field Centre, 950 Bethesda Side Road, Richmond Hill, ON

REGISTER FOR PA DAYS AT LAKE ST. GEORGE

PA Day Camps at Albion Hills

student enjoys outdoor adventure during a winter PA day camp at Albion Hills Field Centre

Join us for PA Day nature camps at Albion Hills Conservation Park. Youngsters will spend their days outdoors, making connections with nature, learning how animals adapt to winter, and more!

With guided trail explorations, engaging nature-based activities, and plenty of outdoor fun, every PA Day is a chance to connect with nature, make new friends, and create lasting memories.

PA Day Camps are offered to children ages 4 to 12.

Dates: Monday, January 20 and Friday, January 24, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Albion Hills Conservation Park, 16500 Peel Regional Road 50, Caledon, ON

REGISTER FOR PA DAYS AT ALBION HILLS

PA Day Camps at Claremont

student enjoys outdoor adventure during a winter PA day camp at Claremont Nature Centre

Children will be guided through a day of forest camp with a focus on nature-based adventure and building connections with the natural world.

Learn about different habitats and species, play games, and discover what’s going on in the forest at different times of the year!

PA Day Camps are offered to children ages 5 to 12.

Date: Friday, January 24, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Claremont Nature Centre, 4290 Westney Road North, Pickering, ON

REGISTER FOR PA DAYS AT CLAREMONT

DISCOVER THE NATURE SCHOOL

Nature School Weekend Program

students enjoy outdoor learning at The Nature School weekend program at Kortright Centre for Conservation

Explore the world of outdoor learning, with TRCA’s The Nature School.

Each day begins with an adventure in a woodland setting. Children interact with the natural environment through the use of loose parts, creative play, shelter building, knot-tying, crafting, and more.

Dates: Saturdays, January 18 and 25, February 1 and 8, 2025  |  Sundays, January 19 and 26, February 2 and 9, 2025
Times: Pre-School (ages 2.5-5) – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  |  Primary/Junior (ages 5-11) – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Kortright Centre for Conservation, 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Vaughan, ON

REGISTER FOR THIS PROGRAM

EVENTS FOR BIRD-LOVERS

Migration Mysteries: History of Bird Migration Monitoring

scarlet tanager perches on tree branch

Imagine living before modern science and noticing that the birds filling the summer forest have vanished. Where did they go? How would the mystery of bird migration be solved?

Join us to explore the history of bird migration monitoring, and learn the importance of understanding the movements of our feathered friends.

Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Tommy Thompson Park, 1 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT

Nocturnal Birds of Toronto

a Barred Owl perches on a bare tree branch on winter day

Learn about the mysteries of the nocturnal world and the birds that call it home, and find out how they fare in Toronto’s bustling nightscape! Delve into the wonders of nocturnal wildlife and their nighttime adaptations, and explore the ways we can ethically appreciate these unique animals without disturbing them.

Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Tommy Thompson Park, 1 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT

Hoot and Howl

an owl perches on a bare tree branch in winter

Join us for a night of fun and adventure! Enjoy a short presentation on owls and coyotes, followed by a trip into the woods. Together we will listen for these nightime predators and see whoooooo we can identify!

Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Cold Creek Conservation Area, 14125 11th Concession, Nobleton, ON

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Birding Basics: Beginner

blue jay perches on bare branch in winter

Get to know the many birds that call Ontario home, with this workshop for beginner birders. Learn to recognize common birds, discover the best tools and guides for new birders, and more.

Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Tommy Thompson Park, 1 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON

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Birding Basics: Advanced Techniques

warbler

Take your birding knowledge to the next level! From birding by ear to recognizing bird behaviours, participants will learn expert tips and tricks to take them from Beginner Birder to Advanced Avian Appreciator!

Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Tommy Thompson Park, 1 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT

GET TO KNOW TRCA’S YOUTH COUNCIL

TRCA’s Youth Council Presents: Careers in Conservation

TRCA seasonal staff members

Passionate about protecting the environment and curious about a career in conservation? Join TRCA’s Youth Council for an engaging virtual event designed to help prepare participants for a future in this exciting field!

Don’t miss this chance to gain practical advice and inspiration from experts who are making a difference in environmental conservation!

Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT