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March 2026 - The John Janzen Nature Centre remains closed due to a significant flood in April 2025 that was caused by a burst pipe. Repair work is underway and the Nature Centre is expected to reopen later this year.
Nature Centre camps and programs have been relocated to other City of Edmonton facilities where space and staffing allow. Look for our new nature camps this summer happening at John Walter Museum and Kinsmen Park! Register at MoveLearnPlay.
The John Janzen Nature Centre is nestled in the heart of the River Valley, the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America. Our goal is to promote stewardship of our natural world through experiences that build appreciation, encourage discovery and inspire action for the ecological challenges that the River Valley faces. Join us, and discover Edmonton naturally!
Tread among the trees in this nature program that uses the senses! Discover how soft moss is, hear the birds, see the blue sky above and smell the damp earth. Discover different plants, learn about local wildlife and play some forest games. We'll go out on a limb and say that we are going to have a great time!
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $205
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All Year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Discover dinosaurs through sensory play! In this hands-on program, we will discover the world of dinosaurs through activities that engage the senses and inspire learning. Dig for dino fossils, sort meat eaters from plant eaters and get a hands-on fossil experience. What a roaring great time!
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $205
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Available: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Peter Rabbit is in town and it’s his birthday! All of the animals are invited to celebrate, but no one has come. Through fun games and activities, we'll discover how animals adapt to the seasons and make their homes in Edmonton!
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $205
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: September-March
Curriculum Links and Themes:
A blend of 30 minutes of free play in the Tegler Discovery Zone and 30 minutes of guided activities led by one of our natural history interpreters! Choose from one of the following topics for your activities: birds, pollinators, bugs, or mammals! If you would like additional Tegler time and access to the facility after your 1-hour program, let the bookings team know and they can discuss add-on options with you! Tegler time can also be added to our other programs if the children are ages 10 and under.
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $205
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All Year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Look into the lives of our crawling and flying friends! We’ll take a look at a working beehive, learn about plants the help pollinators and go on a hunt under the leaves and logs. Get a taste of the hard work of bees and a new appreciation for the forests tiniest creatures.
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: May-October
Curriculum Links and Themes:
What does a woodpecker eat? Where does a beaver sleep? Where did that sparrow go? We'll take a close look at how animals build their homes, what they eat and how they adapt to the city. We'll try our hand at nest building or food gathering and see if we are as clever as the creatures!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Snow, flowers, leaves, sticks and then more snow! Join us as we take a close look at the seasons of the River Valley. We'll talk about how the changes affect the plants and animals, how we adapt to the season and take a close look at ways of measuring temperature. Snow or sun, we'll be prepared!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
A blend of 30 minutes of free play in the Tegler Discovery Zone and 30 minutes of guided activities led by one of our natural history interpreters! Choose from one of the following topics for your activities: birds, pollinators, bugs, or mammals! If you would like additional Tegler time and access to the facility after your 1-hour program, let the bookings team know and they can discuss add-on options with you! Tegler time can also be added to our other programs if the children are ages 10 and under.
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $205
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All Year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
What do salamanders eat? What else lives in a pond? Explore where the salamanders live and discover the life cycles and food chains of local critters as we dip into our Prairie Pond. This program won't leave you hungry for answers!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: May-October
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Explore the river valley while discovering the differences between the life cycles of a bird, an insect, a mammal, and a plant! Through games and exploration on the trails in the forest, you’ll discover how organisms change as they grow up and how they interact in an ecosystem!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Investigate habitats around the Nature Centre for tracks and traces that animals leave behind. Practice identifying tracks with our animal track replicas, hone your hiding skills and practice stalking prey with a game! We'll find who's been wandering through the woods for sure!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
A blend of 30 minutes of free play in the Tegler Discovery Zone and 30 minutes of guided activities led by one of our natural history interpreters! Choose from one of the following topics for your activities: birds, pollinators, bugs, or mammals! If you would like additional Tegler time and access to the facility after your 1-hour program, let the bookings team know and they can discuss add-on options with you! Tegler time can also be added to our other programs if the children are ages 10 and under.
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $205
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All Year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Take a walk on the shady side! Classify plants on the trails and learn about the different uses they have. We'll take a close look some issues in forest use and how we can plan for our urban forest. You'll have a great time, we guaran-tree!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Humans depend on the environment to live, just like every other species on Earth. This program explores the ecosystems of Edmonton’s river valley and how we use the environment for our needs, such as food, water, and much more. Join us to find out what makes the river valley a special place in the city!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Explore a wetland and get inspired to be a changemaker! In this program, we'll test the water quality of a pond and determine possible impacts of urban development. We'll discover the importance of wetland organisms, ecosystems and current conservation tactics. Small actions create big change!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $220
Program supervision ratios apply (see program package) and must fit within the people limits.
Availability: May-October
Curriculum Links and Themes:
Our programs are designed to complement the Alberta curriculum and badge themes for Science. But If you are looking to cover a specific topic that you do not see here or require a shorter program, please connect with our team. We are happy to help.
Please be prepared with the following information to make your booking:
The amount owing is shown on your program booking confirmation. Payment is required prior to the program. Invoices are sent out by the City on the first of each month. You will receive your invoice in the same month as your program runs. For example: for a May booking, your invoice will be issued May 1. Payment can be made by cheque, Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Please have cheques made payable to the City of Edmonton and write your booking confirmation numbers on your cheques.
Credit card payment can be made over phone by calling 311.
Mail cheques to:
Citizen Services Payment Processing
PO Box 2359
19th Floor, Edmonton Tower
Edmonton AB, T5J 2R7
The maximum number of students permitted in a program is 35. The maximum number of adults permitted in a program is 10. Groups exceeding 35 students must book an additional program.
Adults are required to remain with their group and supervise participating students at all times during the program. Adult supervisors are strongly recommended as per these ratios:
Your group may have a higher number of adults than the recommended ratios, but group size limits still apply. For example, your group could have 16 students, 16 adults, and 1 teacher for a group size of 33.
Additional adults and children exceeding the group size limits will be asked to pay facility admission fees and tour the facility on their own. Additional participants can rejoin their group after the program ends.
The John Janzen Nature Centre explores a variety of outdoor spaces during your program in sun, snow or rain. Please ensure your group is prepared for the weather and wears closed-toed shoes. If you are planning for your group to stay at the facility outside of your scheduled program time, note that there are no indoor or covered resting areas.
You are required to submit written notice of cancellation of program(s) via email to artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca.
Programs cancelled with 30 days notice or more will not be charged the program fee or a cancellation fee. Programs cancelled with 8-29 days notice are subject to be charged 50% of the program fee. For programs cancelled with 7 days notice or less, the full program fee will be charged.
Programs run rain or shine. In the event of poor weather, you must email artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca if you are not coming.
Programs cancelled due to severe weather conditions will not be charged a cancellation fee as long as they are rescheduled within the current or upcoming school year fall term (September-November).
We value customer comments and feedback!
Looking for more program options? See the complete list of school and group programs at attractions and recreation centres.
Location
7000 143 Street
Whitemud Drive & Fox Drive
Shared parking lot with Fort Edmonton Park
Mailing Address
PO Box 2359
Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7
| artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca |
