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.
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Friday, September 11 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am
Join us for our annual special back to school storytime. Make sure to bring along your favourite stuffy as they get to join in on the fun!
Solstice Storytime
Friday, December 18 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am
Come on out to the Ecology Centre to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Bring along a flashlight or battery powered lantern to cozy up during the shortest days of the year.
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 – FULL
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.
Check out our Adult/Teen Mushroom Walks here.
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.
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.