Family Programs

Read our accessibility statement, or visit the registration links below to learn how we can adapt certain programs. Please contact us if you have any feedback. Full refunds are available up to 2 weeks before each program.

Treetop Tales

Join us for nature stories at the Ecology Centre on Fridays from 11:00 am to 11:30 am. Suitable for ages 2 and up, with an adult. No registration required. By donation.

Mushroom Walks

Please note that these programs will not include harvesting/foraging for mushrooms, as doing so in public parks is illegal.

Willoughby’s Wonderful World of Mushrooms

Sunday, October 18 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Come make friends with mushrooms as we enter their worlds and learn some of their secrets. Enjoy beautiful and bizarre smells, textures, shapes and colours as we get up close and personal with some of the forest’s most important community members.

For families with children ages 5 to 14. $16 per child, includes 1 adult. Note that we do not have room for more than one adult to attend alongside a child.

Fun with FunGal – FULL

Sunday, October 25 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Get ready to explore the fun and funky world of mushrooms on a family-friendly forest adventure! We’ll search high and low for all kinds of curious fungi, learning how to spot them and what makes them so special. With games, stories, and surprises along the way, this walk is perfect for budding nature detectives of all ages!

For families with children ages 5 to 14. Cost: $16 per child, includes an adult, or free for Ecology Centre Members.

Winter Craft Workshops

Cozy Creatures Felting Workshop

Saturday, November 7 from 1 to 2:30 pm

From furry bears to fluffy chickadees, animals are cozying up for the winter season! You’re invited to craft your own cozy creature at our needle felting workshop. Adults and children will work together to learn about their animals and develop their creations.

Ages 7+, those under 15 must be accompanied by a registered adult. $16 per person (+GST for ages 15+) or free for Ecology Centre members.

Fused Glass Ornaments – Family Program – FULL

Sunday, November 15 from 12:30 to 1:45 pm

Learn the art of fused glass and create an animal or plant-themed ornament to decorate your home or give to a friend! All ornaments will be fired in a kiln after the workshop and ready for pickup at the Ecology Centre early December.

Ages 5+, those under 15 must be accompanied by a registered adult. $26.50 per person (+GST for ages 15+).

Check out our Adult/Teen Fused Glass Ornaments Workshop here.

Forest Explorers

Discover the secrets of the temperate rainforest, read stories, go on a forest walk and make a craft. All children attending must be between the ages of 2 to 5, except for babies in a carrier. These adult participation programs run both inside and outside, so dress for the weather!

$16 per child, includes 1 adult. Full refunds are available up until 2 weeks before each program. Non-transferable.

Scat, Feathers, and Bones

Tuesday, September 15 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Explore the sometimes ickier and always intriguing parts of animal life.

All Around Me

Tuesday, September 22 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Do you have bat ears and eagle eyes? Learn how animals use their super senses to hunt, hide, and survive in the rainforest.

Wildfire Wonder

Tuesday, September 29 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Explore the untamed world of wildfires as we discuss how these unplanned events can sometimes lead to a beautiful beginning in the temperate rainforest.

Slippery Slugs

Tuesday, October 6 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Learn all about slugs and how these incredible slimy creatures help build our forest soil.

Funky Fungi

Tuesday, October 13 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Go on a magical adventure to peek into the lives of mushrooms! Learn about the fascinating world of fungi and how these unique organisms grow and thrive.

Call of the Wild

Tuesday, October 20 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

What are the animals talking about? Learn what animal noises mean and how birds can help you understand the secrets of the forest.

Thunder and Lightning Aren’t So Frightening

Tuesday, October 27 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

What happens in the forest when thunder booms and lightning strikes? Learn about rainstorms, strong winds, and other kinds of weather!

Terrific Toadstools

Tuesday, November 3 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

What’s growing on out there in the woods? From amazing amanitas to enchanting elfin saddles, discover the many mushrooms of the temperate rainforest.

Growing Up

Tuesday, November 10 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

In the rainforest, plants are constantly growing up, leafing out, and falling down. Discover how plants grow and learn how they turn into soil.

Puddle Patrol

Tuesday, November 17 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

It’s puddle season in the rainforest! Explore the water that drips through the canopy to the forest floor. Where does a puddle come from, and where does it go when the sun comes out to dry it up?

Nature Detectives

Tuesday, November 24 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Listen to far away sounds, inspect trees, and look way down low to find signs of animals in Lynn Canyon Park.

Spectacular Seasons

Tuesday, December 1 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Revel in the wonders of the four seasons by the changes in nature and the behaviors of forest animals.

Hibernation Habits

Tuesday, December 8 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

What do animals do in the winter? Look for animal signs, and find out which animals hibernate, migrate, or stay active in the wintertime.

Warm Fuzzies

Tuesday, December 15 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Animals have to stay warm without the help of a coat or hat! Learn about the feathers, fat, and fur that keep our local animals cozy in the cold.

Discovery Days

Join us on a weekend family adventure in the forest! Discovery Days programs are for families with children ages 3-8. You’ll enjoy a forest walk, story, and hands-on activities as you learn about plants and animals.

$16 per child, includes 1 adult. Full refunds are available up until 2 weeks before each program. Non-transferable.

Water World

Saturday, August 15 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Discover the animals that live in Lynn Creek! Whether it’s frogs, dipper birds, or insects, we’ll learn about the creatures that make up a healthy stream.

Get Mushed! – FULL

Saturday, September 26 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm

Fungi come in many shapes and colours! Go on an early fall mushroom hunt, find out which forest residents use them for food, and learn how fungi grow.

Super Slime – FULL

Saturday, October 24 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm

Slugs and snails have a super power, and it’s called slime! Search for these squishy invertebrates and find out how they help the forest.

Micro Worlds

Saturday, November 21 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm

Hiding under our feet is a tiny ecosystem of insects, fungi, and other creatures waiting to be discovered. Uncover some of the smallest creatures living in Lynn Canyon, then magnify them on our projector!