Peak Bloom Hours at the Arboretum: Members-only parking weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (pre-registration required). Non-members: book your shuttle tickets!

Courses & Workshops

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Let your mind grow at the Gardens!

RBG offers courses and workshops in Burlington & Hamilton for families, kids and adults in the areas of gardening, nature, botanical arts and wellness.

From award-winning children’s clubs to our popular children’s gardening programs and special seasonal workshops, kids of all ages grow with us.

Upcoming Programs
Policies & General FAQs
Contact Us

Upcoming Courses & Workshops

  • Caspian Tern Flying Cootes Paradise Credit Markzelinski.com
  • Person using binoculars to birdwatch in the forest
  • Hands holding small garden pots with seedlings
  • group of five hikers on a gravel trail gazing up into the trees
  • Planting small seeds in row

Register for Programs

All courses and programs require pre-registration online, or with the program booking clerk. Browse through the courses above and click for more information, and for the appropriate registration link, or browse all upcoming Courses and Workshops registration links at the button below!

Register for Courses & Workshops

Pre-registration is required for all programs, ideally by the date provided to allow the program organizers to best prepare. If the indicated “register by” date has passed, you may still be able to register for the program, provided there is space still available.

If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact us!

Public Education Participant Behaviour Agreement

By enrolling in and participating in RBG educational public programs you agree to the following statements:

Classroom and Outdoor Programs Etiquette

  • RBG programs are educational in nature and everyone in the class or outdoor program deserves respect and the right to learn for the program they have paid for in a distraction-free environment;
  • Respect for the instructor and other registrants is required and expected;
  • Cell phones and other electronic devices should be muted or turned off prior to class / program start time. If you are waiting for an important phone call (e.g.: from a doctor) please let the instructor know before the commencement of the program and distance yourself from others when the call comes in;
  • If you disagree with what is being said or done in the program, please express yourself politely and considerately without using derogatory language. If an issue arises please speak with the instructor before or after the program or communicate with the RBG directly.
  • If possible, arrive a few minutes before class begins. Have your supplies (if using supplies) and notebook ready and use the restroom prior to start time. Once the program starts, please stop personal conversations. If you arrive late, quietly take your seat or place in the group;
  • You are not permitted to be in the classroom or program area until the designated start time of your program; please do not enter until a previous program has concluded.
  • Please wait to the end of the program to put supplies/notebooks away or to start up personal conservations.
  • Do not dominate other students’ opportunity to learn. Allow others to contribute comments and questions, and the instructor to reply without interruption.

Violence and Harassment

Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is committed to building and preserving a safe and healthy environment for its employees, volunteers, visitors and program participants. RBG does not condone and will not tolerate harassment or acts of violence against, or by any RBG employee, volunteer, visitor or program participant. RBG will take every reasonable precaution and implement measures to prevent, investigate and correct harassment and violence and protect all from potentially violent situations.

Filming/Photography Release: Please be advised that all photos, audio-video, and static images taken at this experience may be used for exhibit, reproduction, and/or distribution for RBG related promotional use, including all forms of print, television advertisement, social media and /or website display. In consideration of your participation as a guest or attendee of this experience, you authorize Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use such photos and images under their sole discretion. Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns are released without limitation of any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.

Thank you for enjoying programs and classes at Royal Botanical Gardens and allowing other participants the same opportunity

Member Discount

RBG Members receive 10% off most RBG Experiences programming when logged into your member account.

If you’re a member, do NOT create a new account; instead activate your member account by using “forgot password” option using the email address connected to your membership.

About RBG Membership

Waitlist

Many of our programs can sell quite quickly; did you miss out on a program you’re interested in? Join the waitlist using the link below.

NOTE: you will need the name and date of the program you’re interested in to complete this form.

Join Waitlist

Become a Green Angel

RBG is committed to giving every child, regardless of their financial situation, an opportunity to fall in love with nature. Become a Green Angel to a child in need today!

Green Angels

Courses & Workshops Policies & FAQ

Have a question about RBG’s courses and workshops? Click the topics below to learn more! Have a question about a specific program? Give us a call at 905-527-1158 or send us an email using the Contact Us form.

Health and Safety Protocols

Royal Botanical Gardens understands and respects the rights of all staff, volunteers, and program participants to be protected from infectious diseases.  Royal Botanical Gardens follows the public health and workplace safety measures and regulations as indicated by local public health units, local municipalities, and the Province of Ontario. As such, program participants are mandatorily required to adhere to the processes and policies that are put in place to mitigate effects of infectious diseases.  Such processes and policies include, but are not limited to: face coverings, daily medical screening, and social distancing.  Royal Botanical Gardens will make aware all program participants of required actions and measures in a reasonable amount of time before the start of a program and with a reasonable amount of time if and as regulations change within a program’s run time.  It is the right of Royal Botanical Gardens to restrict the access to or remove from its programs and properties to any individual who does not adhere to such processes and policies.

We are vigilant in our concern for the health and safety of all participants. Participants are required to wash their hands frequently. If you are not feeling well please stay home.

COVID assessment form: We will be asking participants to complete a self-assessment form prior to the start of their program. If participants fail the screening for any reason, they are asked to stay home and notify RBG.

Up-to-date health and safety guidelines: Our staff will comply with all organization, municipal, and provincial health guidelines, and will update guidelines as needed. Royal Botanical Gardens will make aware all program participants of required actions and measures in a reasonable amount of time before the start of a program if and as regulations change within a program’s run time.

How do I register for a course or program?

Advance enrollment is required for all events with a registration fee. All program listed prices are subject to applicable taxes and fees. Full payment must accompany each registration. Participants may register online, in person or by telephone.

Register online at: www.rbg.ca/publicprograms

To register by phone, please call 905-527-1158, ext. 270 (open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Telephone registrations require payment by VISA or MasterCard.

If you have questions about the online registration process, please contact us!

RBG reserves the right to cancel any event if the minimum number of registrants is not reached by registration deadline. Registrations may be accepted after the registration deadline provided the minimum registration number has already been reached.

Is there a membership benefit?

RBG member discounts for applicable programs are automatically applied when signing up using your member account. These cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. The family membership category enables children to become active participants in all RBG family programs. Please visit RBG Members for membership information, or call 905-527-1157, ext. 514.

Can I still register if the "pre-register by" date has passed?

The pre-registration dates (indicated in the individual program descriptions) is the date we ask you try to register by to allow the program organizers to best prepare.

If the indicated “register by” date has passed, you may still be able to register for the program provided there is space still available. A hard cut-off date will be in effect (usually 48+ hours before program start, depending on the program). To check if you’re still able to register, click the “register now” button on the program page to see the corresponding Eventbrite page.

What is the course cancellation policy?

Royal Botanical Gardens reserves the right to cancel any program if the minimum number of participants is not reached. Should RBG cancel a program, registrants are notified by email and registrants are fully refunded.

We do not accept responsibility for inconvenience caused to those we cannot contact, whatever the reason.

10 business days prior to the registered program is the cut-off date for program refund requests by purchasers. Program registration change or modification requests will be put in sequence to be processed. All changes to program registration are subject to a non-refundable administration fee:

  • More than 30 business days before the start of the registered program: Full refund or account credit less 10% of the registration fee.
  • 30-11 business days prior to the start of the registered program: Full refund or account credit less 25% of the registration fee.
  • Within 10 business days prior to the start of the registered program: No refund or account credit provided.

Where can I park?

Paid parking is not required at RBG Centre or Rock Garden. Pay and Display parking ($3 to $5 per hour) is in effect at all trail heads as well as Laking Garden and the Arboretum when garden kiosks are not in operation during peak bloom times. RBG members park for free at all properties by displaying their members’ parking pass in their vehicle.

If your course, program, or workshop takes place at the Arboretum, a parking pass will be emailed to you prior to the start of your program.

What happens in cases of inclement weather?

Most of our programs are offered rain or shine. In the event of severe weather some courses, especially outdoor workshops and guided walks, may be postponed or cancelled.

Please check your email at the address you registered with if you are unsure about conditions on the day of your program. Cancellations or postponements will be communicated at least two hours prior to the program start time via email. It is your responsibility to verify that your program is being offered.

What is the liability policy?

Royal Botanical Gardens assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property, or for personal injury or mishap; all activities are at the risk of the participant. RBG reserves the right to change/cancel events should circumstances beyond our control arise.

Contact Us

Have a question about one of our courses and workshops? Contact us at 905-527-1158 or use the form below.

Are you inquiring about a sold-out program? Join the waitlist instead!