| Membership | Price (+HST) |
|---|---|
| Single | $85/year |
| Single Plus | $120/year |
| Family | $130/year |
| Family Plus | $175/year |
| Contributing | $300/year |
| Supporting | $600/year |
| Sustaining | $1,000/year |
| Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
| Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
| President's Circle | $10,000/year |
Early-Years Play
Early-Years Play: Oaks and Acorns Nature Play
RBG offers outdoor education programs for little explorers! Join us with your 2 to 5 year old throughout the year for fun and games as we explore and learn about our natural world.
About Oaks and Acorns
Move, create, and discover during our morning early-years programs for children and caregivers.
Held in the mornings behind the Nature Centre in our Natural Play Space, this nature-based program for 2-5 year-olds is designed to inspire a life-long love of the outdoors. Explore the natural world together through walks, storytelling, imaginative and loose parts play, and hands-on discovery. This program takes place entirely outdoors.
Program Dates
Winter Session registration coming soon!
Early-Fall Sessions
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. 5 sessions to choose from:
- Tuesdays: Sept 16, 23, 30, Oct 7, 14, 21
- Wednesdays: Sept 17, 24, Oct 1, 8, 15, 22
- Thursdays: Sept 18, 25, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23
- Fridays: Sept 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 17, 24
- Saturdays: Sept 20, 27, Oct 4, 18, 25, Nov 1 (no program Saturday, Oct 11 – Thanksgiving Weekend)
Late-Fall Sessions
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. 5 sessions to choose from:
- Tuesdays: Nov 4, 11, 18, 25, Dec 2, 9
- Wednesdays: Nov 5, 12, 19, 26, Dec 3, 10
- Thursdays: Nov 6, 13, 20, 27, Dec 4, 11
- Fridays: Nov 7, 14, 21, 28, Dec 5, 12
- Saturdays: Nov 8, 15, 22, 29, Dec 6, 13
Winter Sessions
Check back for details!
Pricing and Registration
Pre-registration is required for all early-years programming, available online.
Multi-week program. Individual dates may become available for registration should the full session not sell out by the first program date.
| Type of Registration | Price |
|---|---|
| Session 6-Week Pass One day per week for the duration of the season |
$120/child (+ HST & $2 Service Fee) RBG Member discount: 10% |
- 16 children maximum per program
- Pre-Registration is required
- *Registration deadline: 2 days prior to program date
- Please Note: this is not a drop off program, you must stay with your child for the duration of the program
- All fees include complimentary admission for 1 parent/caregiver
- Program fee includes admission to all RBG garden areas for the day.
Accessing 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.
Program Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about one of our courses and workshops? Contact us at 905-527-1158 or get in touch online.
Participation 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 having 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 until the end of the program to put supplies/notebooks away or to start up personal conversations.
Do not dominate other students’ opportunities 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.
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 changes 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.
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 the effects of infectious diseases. Such processes and policies may include, but are not limited to: face coverings, daily medical screening, and social distancing. It is the right of Royal Botanical Gardens to restrict access to or remove from its programs and propertiesnany 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.
Up-to-date health and safety guidelines: Our staff and volunteers 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.
Missed Session and Late Arrival Policy
The course cancellation policy applies to all sessions. It is your responsibility to ensure you can attend the program dates and times you have registered for.
Royal Botanical Gardens staff are not responsible for waiting or making up time for participants who arrive late after the program’s start time. It is your responsibility to ensure you arrive at the program at or before the advised arrival time.
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.
Pet Policy
Although we love animals, please leave your pets at home when attending our public programs. Certified service and guide animals are permitted.
Do attending adults require a ticket?
Tickets are required for attending children only. All fees include complimentary admission for 1 parent/caregiver per child.
Please Note: this is not a drop off program; you must stay with your child for the duration of the program.
How many adults may attend the program?
All fees include complimentary admission for 1 parent/caregiver per child.
Does this program run in inclement weather?
Oaks and Acorns strives to inspire children with a life-long love of nature, in all seasons and all weather. We will only cancel the program in the event of extreme weather such as high winds or extreme cold. If class is cancelled due to inclement weather, you will be notified by email at least one hour prior to class start time.
If a program is cancelled or postponed, a message will be posted on the Program Update Line at (905) 527-1158 ext. 404 at least one hour before the program is due to start. If the weather seems questionable, it is your responsibility to verify that your program is being offered.
What is the deadline for registration?
We close registration at 2 p.m., on the Friday prior to the start of the program.
Where does this program take place?
Oaks and Acorns takes place at the play space behind our Nature Interpretive Centre, located in the Arboretum: 16 Old Guelph Road, Dundas.
Where do I park?
Participants may park in any of the parking spaces available at the Arboretum: angled parking near the entrance, the parking circle, or gravel parking lot near the entrance.
Registration for this program includes a complimentary, tappable parking pass. When visiting the Arboretum, participants must scan their parking pass card for entry and exit to the Arboretum. If you forget your parking pass card, standard parking rates apply. This pass is good through the final date of your Oaks and Acorns session and is to be returned on the last day of the program. On the first session of the program, please take a ticket for entry.
