Drop-In Programs
May 12 to August 31
Please note: There are no drop-in programs scheduled for May 1-11.
But on May 6th please join us for the Backyard Biodiversity Special Event for a variety of fun programs. Learn all about urban biodiversity and how you can help the environment even in your own backyard!
Animal Encounters and Feedings
Days: Daily (Please note there will be no scheduled animal encounter on Thursdays in July and August.)
Time: 11am
Location: Exhibit Room
Meet some of our local amphibian and reptile species up close.
If you’re lucky you may get to watch a salamander, frog, or snake eat its lunch!
Guided Walks
Days: Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat
Time: 1pm
Location: Meet near the fire pit
Join an interpreter for an engaging guided walk of the trails surrounding the nature centre.
Hike Themes
May-June: Backyard Biodiversity
July-August: Trees Just Want to Have Fungi!
Nature Play
Get active and have fun with nature! Play games, make music and use your imagination while taking part in this new program at the John Janzen Nature Centre. Themes change monthly. Locations of activities may change due to inclement weather.
Nature Play in the Tegler Discovery Zone
Days: Mon, Wed, Fri
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Meet in the Tegler Discovery ZoneMay
Caches Galore
Become a squirrel and compete to find enough food to store for the winter. Learn about other animals that stash food away in order to survive the cold season.
June
Pollen Relay Race
Learn about bee communication and pollination. Children will get the chance to use their new knowledge as they compete in a pollen relay race.
July
Walk Like the Animals, Talk Like the Animals!
Transform yourself into animals you see in your own backyard in this active, movement game.
August
Animal Adventure
Jump into a storybook and take part in an adventure around the Tegler Discovery Zone.
Outdoor Nature Play
Days: Sun, Tue, Thu
Time: 1pm
Location: Meet near the fire pitMay
Animal Games
Have fun and learn about wildlife while playing various animal games like Bat and Moth, Migration Headache, A Frog’s Lunch, and others.
June
Fairies in the Forest
Fairies, gnomes and sprites are rarely seen in the forests around the nature centre, but you might tempt them to appear by building them their very own house.
July
Sounds of Nature
Create music as part of the Outdoor Orchestra and learn some animal action songs.
August
Animal Games
Have fun and learn about wildlife while playing various animal games like Bat and Moth, Migration Headache, A Frog’s Lunch, and others.
Striders, Spiders and Snails: Pond Life
Days: Sun, Tue, Thu
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Meet at the pond
Explore the pond and learn how to identify dragonfly nymphs, tadpoles, water striders and other freshwater creatures!
Bug Hunt
Days: Sat
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Meet near the fire pit
Get out your magnifying glasses! You’ll find dozens, maybe even hundreds, of different types of insects around the nature centre and learn to identify them with the help of an interpreter.
Trail Adventures
Days: Sun
Time: 3:30pm
Location: Meet at fire pit
Get hands-on and experience the trails around the nature centre in a new way with active exploration and trail-based games.
Nature in the City
Days: Wed-Sat
Time: 3:30pm
Location: Exhibit Room
Join an interpreter for a different for a guided craft, experiment, activity, talk or game based on our Nature in the City themes.
Nature in the City Themes
May 1-19
Backyard Biodiversity – There’s More Than You Think!
Edmonton is home to many species of animals and insects. Share your own stories of cool wildlife sightings in Edmonton. Learn about natural and man-made structures that provide great homes for wildlife in urban areas.
May 20-Jun 2
Naturescape Your Backyard
Learn what types of plants you can grow in your garden to attract bees and butterflies. Find out what native plants do well in Edmonton backyards. Discover natural ways to repel insects and other animals that may do damage to your garden. Make your own seed package out of recycled materials and choose a mixture of seeds to take home.
Jun 3-16
Wildlife Rescue
Learn about the risks to wildlife within cities and find out what you should do if you find injured wildlife. Share your own stories of times that you have found injured wildlife.
Jun 17-30
Amphibians Abound
You can find local amphibian species (frogs, toads and salamanders) throughout Edmonton… if you know where to look. Visit the Exhibit Room to learn more about these “changeling species” that spend part of their life on land and part of their life in water.
Jul 1-14
Summer Songbirds
Summer days just wouldn’t be the same without a feathered symphony. Learn how to identify the most common birds in Edmonton and where to spot them. Find out how you can help reduce risks that birds encounter in cities and make your backyard bird friendly.
Jul 15-28
Become a Citizen Scientist
You don't have to wear a white coat or work in a laboratory to be a scientist. Come to the John Janzen Nature Centre to learn about research studies in Edmonton that everyone can take part in! Whether you are interested in backyard bird counts, monitoring frogs and toads within Alberta, or recording when plants flower – if you want to help with nature research there is a citizen science project for you!
Jul 29-Aug 11
A Log’s Life
That dead log on the trail is actually full of life! Take a closer look at logs and snags and find out why they are important parts of a healthy forest.
Aug 12-25
Sensing Nature
Explore how we use our five senses and how various animals in the wild use their senses similarly. Take part in a nature scavenger hunt based on the 5 senses.
Aug 26-Sep 3
Backyard Biodiversity – There’s More Than You Think!
Edmonton is home to many species of animals and insects. Share your own stories of cool wildlife sightings in Edmonton. Learn about natural and man-made structures that provide great homes for wildlife in urban areas.
Bonfire Program - Free
Days: Thursday evenings in July and August
Time: 7-8:30pm
Location: Meet at the fire pit
Join us for a fun and educational evening in Edmonton’s beautiful river valley. We’ll explore the trails, learn about animals that travel by night, share songs and stories, and enjoy a warm campfire and drinks. Although each topic will be presented twice throughout the summer, different activities will be featured during each program. Please dress for the weather and bring a lawn chair, a cup and a desire to share and explore!
Jul 5, Aug 2 and Aug 30 – Sounds of Nature
Jul 12 and Aug 9 – Tales of the River Valley – learn about history of Edmonton’s River Valley and the relationships between people and nature in Edmonton throughout history
Jul 19 and Aug 16 – Backyard Wildlife
Jul 26 and Aug 23 – Edible Plants: Weeds, flowers, roots and berries
For more information:
John Janzen Nature Centre
7000-143 Street
Whitemud Drive & Fox Drive
Shared parking lot with Fort Edmonton Park
| Telephone | For more information, program registration, school and group program bookings call 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311 |
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| attractions@edmonton.ca | |
| http://www.facebook.com/JohnJanzenNatureCentre |
