Embrace the freshly fallen snow and get outside in nature to learn something new this winter! Join Ontario Master Naturalist Program facilitator Bob Bowles at the Robert L. Bowles Nature Centre to learn key techniques for tracking mammals and identifying species, such as observing the different gaits mammals use during winter, and measuring stride, straddle, and other components.

Dress warmly in layers for an interactive hike on the trails, and don't forget to wear sturdy snow boots that work well with the snowshoe harnesses. Pack a lunch and spend time by the fire with the group discussing the day's discoveries.

Participants will receive a field brochure and hot drinks will be provided. Snowshoes will also be available to rent for $10 directly at the Robert L. Bowles Natures Centre for those who do not have their own.

Are you interested in learning about how trees survive the winter and how to identify various types of trees during the winter months?

This winter season, join Ontario Master Naturalist Program facilitator Bob Bowles to learn about the many different species of trees that call Ontario home. Participants will learn how to identify different trees by their winter bud shape, size, colour, arrangement, leaf scars, and bark details in an informative and interactive presentation. During this workshop participants will receive a Winter Dendrology booklet written by Bob himself!

The Ontario Master Naturalist Certificate Program is aimed at naturalists and those dedicated to environmental stewardship, empowering them to learn and share knowledge of the natural world, and engage as stewards of their local ecosystems and resources.

The Winter 2026 program includes eight learning modules taught in a hybrid model, including interactive videos and PowerPoints created for the program, virtual learning resources, a virtual trailhead meeting space, and weekly Zoom webinars with the program's content experts. The eight learning modules are as follows: Geology & Anthropology, Mammals, Plants, Birds, Reptiles & Amphibians, Wetlands, Invasive Species, and Insects.

While this program does include live weekly Zoom webinars, it can also be completed asynchronously. The weekly webinars are recorded and posted to the online course site, allowing for students to go back and review the recordings on their own time.

Participants will receive a certificate after successfully completing eight modules that combine in-class instruction and fieldwork.

Do you have old clothes you’d love to repurpose into unique fashionable pieces? Join local fashion designer Zoe Shave (Clothing by Zoe) for a winter-themed sustainable applique workshop.

Bring your own piece of clothing or a tote bag you'd like to re-vamp and we will provide you with the tools, design, and know-how to sustainably turn them into a one-of-a-kind, winter-themed applique piece! Your finished product will make for a great, hand-designed holiday gift if you so desire! A brief presentation on sustainable fashion will accompany the tactile portion of the workshop

Join us for this FREE Public Lecture with Charles Levkoe.  

Charles Levkoe is the Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems, a Member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada, and a Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Lakehead University. His work focuses on how people and communities are transforming the way we grow, share, and think about food. He studies the relationships between social movements, public policy, and community-based initiatives that are building more just, sustainable, and democratic food systems. He is also the Director of the Sustainable Food Systems Lab, where he brings together researchers, community organizations, and Indigenous partners to explore how food can be a powerful tool for social and environmental change. Charles has published widely on food systems governance, community-based research, and social change — including more than 200 articles, book chapters, and reports, as well as several edited volumes on food sovereignty and sustainability. Through his teaching, research, and activism, Charles is helping to shape a future where healthy, sustainable food systems support both people and the planet.

What does it mean to be Canadian today? Join us for a thought-provoking lecture series that examines the diverse forces shaping Canada’s national identity. Together, we’ll explore the stories of immigration and multiculturalism, Canada’s role in international trade and global affairs, the importance of Indigenous perspectives and reconciliation, and the foundations of our democracy. Each of the four sessions will bring fresh insights and engaging discussion, offering participants a deeper understanding of Canada’s past, present, and future. Whether you are a student, community member, and/or lifelong learner, this series invites you to reflect on what unites us and how Canadian identity continues to evolve.

Please bring your own mug to enjoy a hot beverage during the intermission.  Alternatively, TALL branded travel mugs will be available for purchase for $5 (cash only).

If you are unable to attend the lectures in person, a link will be sent to all registered participants for viewing from the comfort of your own places and spaces!

Date(s): Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 15, and 29, 2025 (No lecture on Oct. 22)
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Place:  In-person or Live-streamed at St. Paul's Centre in Orillia
Price:  $65 +HST for the whole 4 lecture series; $20 +HST for a single talk.

The Ontario Master Naturalist Certificate Program is aimed at naturalists and those dedicated to environmental stewardship, empowering them to learn and share knowledge of the natural world and engage as stewards of their local ecosystems and resources.

The Fall 2025 program includes eight learning modules taught in a hybrid model, including interactive videos and PowerPoints created for the program, virtual learning resources, a virtual trailhead meeting space, and weekly Zoom webinars with the program's content experts. The eight learning modules are as follows: Geology & Anthropology, Mammals, Plants, Birds, Reptiles & Amphibians, Wetlands, Invasive Species, and Insects.

While this program does include live weekly Zoom webinars, it can also be completed asynchronously. The weekly webinars are recorded and posted to the online course site, allowing for learners to go back and review the recordings on their own time.

Participants will receive a certificate after successfully completing eight modules that combine in-class (virtual) instruction and fieldwork (in own locations).

Dates: Thursday, September 11, 2025 - Thursday, November 13, 2025 (*no class held on Thursday, October 16)

Location: Zoom

Times: 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Join the Office of Community Engagement & Lifelong Learning and Tylor Stocks of Stocks Apiaries to explore the buzz about honeybees!  You will explore a colony: workers, queen(s), drones, and their unique contributions. See a working colony take care of their queen, brood, and resources.

The sweetest part will be learning about (and tasting!)  the produce of a hive – honey varieties, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and pollen in both contemporary and historical context.

Learn more about bees and their relationship with other living things in their environment and how you can attract pollinators to your gardens!

Bee Curious and register now for this learning opportunity.  Each attendee will receive a bee-autiful product from Stocks Apiaries!

Mushrooms come in different sizes, shapes and colours, and they can appear overnight, covering lawns, meadows, woods, and wetlands.  Mushrooms grow on both living and dead matter, and they often form mutually beneficial relationships with other living flora.  Some are edible and others are not - learning the differences between the two is important!

In this workshop, participants will learn to identify mushrooms by examining spore colour, gill attachment, and growth substrate. We will learn to appreciate not only the incredible variety of early mushrooms, but also the ways in which mushrooms support and communicate within an interrelational, networking ecosystem.