School Programs: Grades 1 – 8

Through games and open exploration, students will discover the ways in which animals adapt and survive in nature. While exploring our trails, students will search for wild creatures and the signs they leave behind! 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology B1.2, B2 

Using nature as both muse and medium, students unleash their creativity in this nature arts program. Following an inspirational walk on the trails, students will apply the Creative Process to create artwork which represents grade-appropriate curriculum connections. A hands-on, collaborative program that encourages social emotional learning to build personal connections to the natural world. 

Curriculum Connections: The Arts D1, 2.1, 2.2 

Whether taking in the fall colours, tracking deer through the snow, or discovering spring flowers, this program will allow students to connect with the forests, fields, and fauna in RBG’s forests and gardens. This half-day program can be tailored to complement desired curricula upon request. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology, Strand B 

Nature in winter might seem quiet, but there is more going on than you think.! Put on your toque and mittens and head out for an exploration of RBG’s winter world. Explore the trails of the Arboretum to find out how plants and animals adapt and survive during Canada’s coldest months, then come sit by a campfire to listen to some animal stories.  

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology (2022) B1.2, B2 

Too chilly to spend a full day outdoors? Our indoor Animal Explorers program is the perfect way to balance out a winter day. Enjoy animal stories, games and activities, real animal bioartifacts, and learn about some of our favourite local animals through a live animal encounter presentation. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology (2022) B1.2, B2 

Using Alice in Bloomland, our winter floral experience as a muse, students unleash their creativity in this arts program. Your class will examine colour, shape, texture, and form through a guided exploration of our floral showcase, and then apply these concepts to create a Wonder-full art piece.  

Curriculum Connections: The Arts (2009) D1, 2.1, 2.2  

Come explore RBG’s gardens or trails with your class. The Arboretum offers trails through the forest down to the shoreline of Coote’s Paradise Marsh with great opportunities for birdwatching. 

Come explore the gardens with your class. Hendrie Park’s collections include a garden of healing plants, a spectacular rose garden, a wild plant garden, and plants from around the world. 

Come through the looking glass with your class, and see RBG Centre in whole new way as it is transformed during our Alice in Bloomland floral showcase, Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, the showcase features floral design vignettes throughout the building. And Mediterranean Garden. Self-Guided classes are also able to access the contemporary fibre art exhibition in our 5,000 square-foot auditorium. 

Through hands-on exploration and activities, students will discover and identify species that live in various habitats and determine how humans can have positive or negative impacts on the environment. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology B1, B2 

The Niagara Escarpment provides a wealth of opportunities to learn about rocks, minerals and the natural processes that shape our landscape. Students will conduct a series of experiments to identify different minerals. During a nature walk, they’ll take part in an erosion activity and examine ancient fossils that are part of our local environment.

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology E1.1, E2 

Using nature as both muse and medium, students unleash their creativity in this nature arts program. Following an inspirational walk on the trails, students will apply the Creative Process to create artwork which represents grade-appropriate curriculum connections. A hands-on, collaborative program that encourages social emotional learning to build personal connections to the natural world. 

Curriculum Connections: The Arts D1 

Whether taking in the fall colours, tracking deer through the snow, or discovering spring flowers, this program will allow students to connect with the forests, fields, and fauna in RBG’s forests and gardens. This half-day program can be tailored to complement desired curricula upon request. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology, Strand B 

Nature in winter might seem quiet, but there is more going on than you think.! Put on your toque and mittens and head out for an exploration of RBG’s winter world. Explore the trails of the Arboretum to find out how plants and animals adapt and survive during Canada’s coldest months, then come sit by a campfire to listen to some animal stories.  

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology (2022) B1, B2 

Too chilly to spend a full day outdoors? Our indoor Animal Explorers program is the perfect way to balance out a winter day. Enjoy animal stories, games and activities, real animal bioartifacts, and learn about some of our favourite local animals through a live animal encounter presentation.  

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology (2022) B1, B2 

The Red Queen may like roses, but what pollinators would also like to visit them? Discover the amazing connections between pollinators and the flowers they visit, then apply these discoveries to solve our pollination mystery.  

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology (2022):   

Life Systems: Habitats and Communities: B1; B2 

Even in winter, RBG is filled with leaves of all sizes, shapes (and colours)! Whether they’re small, spiky, long, fuzzy, or shiny, discover various leaves from around the world in our floral showcase exhibit and indoor garden displays.  Explore how they are adapted to their environment, how they relate to other living things, and how we rely on them too!  

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology (2022):   

Life Systems: Habitats and Communities: B1; B2 

Let our Alice in Bloomland floral experience inspire creative writing for your class! By using skills such as listening, observing, imagining, and exploring, students will learn and employ strategies for writing using our floral displays and passages from Lewis Carroll’s classics as a writing stimulus.  

Curriculum Connections: Language (2023) B2, B3, D2 

Using Alice in Bloomland, our winter floral experience as a muse, students unleash their creativity in this arts program. Your class will examine colour, shape, texture, and form through a guided exploration of our floral showcase, and then apply these concepts to create a Wonder-full art piece.  

Curriculum Connections: The Arts (2009) D1, 2.1, 2.2 

Come explore RBG’s gardens or trails with your class. The Arboretum offers trails through the forest down to the shoreline of Coote’s Paradise Marsh with great opportunities for birdwatching. 

Come explore the gardens with your class. Hendrie Park’s collections include a garden of healing plants, a spectacular rose garden, a wild plant garden, and plants from around the world. 

Come through the looking glass with your class, and see RBG Centre in whole new way as it is transformed during our Alice in Bloomland floral showcase, Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, the showcase features floral design vignettes throughout the building. And Mediterranean Garden. Self-Guided classes are also able to access the contemporary fibre art exhibition in our 5,000 square-foot auditorium. 

Through hands-on exploration and activities, students will discover and identify species that live in various habitats and determine how humans can have positive or negative impacts on the environment. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology B1, B2 

What better way to learn about animal survival than to become one? With the Arboretum as their playing field, students are challenged to think strategically as they take on the role of an animal seeking the necessities for survival. Students will apply social emotional skills to collaborate with teammates and learn first-hand about the natural and human obstacles animals face every day. This program pairs well with any other program. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology B2.1, 2.3, 2.5, Health and Physical Education; Strand A 

Students will discover this sophisticated conservation tool in action with an up-close look at the fish that pass through the Fishway between Hamilton Harbour and Cootes Paradise. Our ecologists explain the function of the Fishway, and our interpreters take the students through the complex history and current restoration of Cootes Paradise Marsh. This program takes place at our Princess Point location. 

Curriculum Connections: B1, B2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 

Collaborating together as a class or in small groups, students will apply social emotional learning skills to achieve a common goal. Teambuilding activities are designed to break the ice, build communication, and develop initiative while also challenging the group to think as a unit. This is a fun and exciting way to bring a group together at any point during the year. 

Curriculum Connections: Health and Physical Education; Strand A and B 

Using nature as both muse and medium, students unleash their creativity in this nature arts program. Following an inspirational walk on the trails, students will apply the Creative Process to create artwork which represents grade-appropriate curriculum connections. A hands-on, collaborative program that encourages social emotional learning to build personal connections to the natural world. 

Curriculum Connections: The Arts D1, 2.2 

Whether taking in the fall colours, tracking deer through the snow, or discovering spring flowers, this program will allow students to connect with the forests, fields, and fauna in RBG’s forests and gardens. This half-day program can be tailored to complement desired curricula upon request. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology, Strand B 

The Red Queen may like roses, but what pollinators would also like to visit them? Discover the amazing connections between pollinators and the flowers they visit, then apply these discoveries to solve our pollination mystery.  

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology (2022):   

Life Systems: Biodiversity: B1.1; B2.2, B2.3, B2.5, B2.7 

Even in winter, RBG is filled with leaves of all sizes, shapes (and colours)! Whether they’re small, spiky, long, fuzzy, or shiny, discover various leaves from around the world in our floral showcase exhibit and indoor garden displays.  Explore how they are adapted to their environment, how they relate to other living things, and how we rely on them too!  

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology (2022):   

Life Systems: Biodiversity: B1.1; B2.2, B2.3, B2.5, B2.7 

Using Alice in Bloomland, our winter floral experience as a muse, students unleash their creativity in this arts program. Your class will examine colour, shape, texture, and form through a guided exploration of our floral showcase, and then apply these concepts to create a Wonder-full art piece.  

Curriculum Connections: The Arts (2009) D1, 2.1, 2.2 

Let our Alice in Bloomland floral experience inspire creative writing for your class! By using skills such as listening, observing, imagining, and exploring, students will learn and employ strategies for writing using our floral displays and passages from Lewis Carroll’s classics as a writing stimulus.  

Curriculum Connections: Language (2023) B2, B3, D2 

Come explore RBG’s gardens or trails with your class. The Arboretum offers trails through the forest down to the shoreline of Coote’s Paradise Marsh with great opportunities for birdwatching. 

Come explore the gardens with your class. Hendrie Park’s collections include a garden of healing plants, a spectacular rose garden, a wild plant garden, and plants from around the world. 

Come through the looking glass with your class, and see RBG Centre in whole new way as it is transformed during our Alice in Bloomland floral showcase, Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, the showcase features floral design vignettes throughout the building. And Mediterranean Garden. Self-Guided classes are also able to access the contemporary fibre art exhibition in our 5,000 square-foot auditorium. 

Students will learn about the challenges and successes that our local wetlands experience due to climate change and human interactions. Hands-on components will include identifying aquatic invertebrates and assessing water quality while exploring Cootes Paradise Marsh. Students will consider Indigenous ways of thinking about environmental sustainability. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology E1, E2.1, 2.4, 2.6 

Designed in collaboration with Anishinaabe Elders, this program takes students on an interpretive hike that highlights the traditional and current uses of a variety of native plants. This cross-curricular experience will help you see the forest in a completely new way! 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology Strand E, History Strand B 

What better way to learn about animal survival than to become one? With the Arboretum as their playing field, students are challenged to think strategically as they take on the role of an animal seeking the necessities for survival. Students will apply social emotional skills to collaborate with teammates and learn first-hand about the natural and human obstacles animals face every day. This program pairs well with any other program. 

Curriculum Connections: Health and Physical Education Strand A 

Students will discover this sophisticated conservation tool in action with an up-close look at the fish that pass through the Fishway between Hamilton Harbour and Cootes Paradise. Our ecologists explain the function of the Fishway, and our interpreters take the students through the complex history and current restoration of Cootes Paradise Marsh. This program takes place at our Princess Point location. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology E1.1, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.7 

Collaborating together as a class or in small groups, students will apply social emotional learning skills to achieve a common goal. Teambuilding activities are designed to break the ice, build communication, and develop initiative while also challenging the group to think as a unit. This is a fun and exciting way to bring a group together at any point during the year. 

Curriculum Connections: Health and Physical Education; Strand A and B 

Using nature as both muse and medium, students unleash their creativity in this nature arts program. Following an inspirational walk on the trails, students will apply the Creative Process to create artwork which represents grade-appropriate curriculum connections. A hands-on, collaborative program that encourages social emotional learning to build personal connections to the natural world. 

Curriculum Connections: The Arts D1 

Whether taking in the fall colours, tracking deer through the snow, or discovering spring flowers, this program will allow students to connect with the forests, fields, and fauna in RBG’s forests and gardens. This half-day program can be tailored to complement desired curricula upon request. 

Curriculum Connections: Science and Technology, Strand B 

Using Alice in Bloomland, our winter floral experience as a muse, students unleash their creativity in this arts program. Your class will examine colour, shape, texture, and form through a guided exploration of our floral showcase, and then apply these concepts to create a Wonder-full art piece.  

Curriculum Connections: The Arts (2009) D1, 2.1, 2.2 

Let our Alice in Bloomland floral experience inspire creative writing for your class! By using skills such as listening, observing, imagining, and exploring, students will learn and employ strategies for writing using our floral displays and passages from Lewis Carroll’s classics as a writing stimulus.  

Curriculum Connections: Language (2023) B2, B3, D2 

Come explore RBG’s gardens or trails with your class. The Arboretum offers trails through the forest down to the shoreline of Coote’s Paradise Marsh with great opportunities for birdwatching. 

Come explore the gardens with your class. Hendrie Park’s collections include a garden of healing plants, a spectacular rose garden, a wild plant garden, and plants from around the world. 

Come through the looking glass with your class, and see RBG Centre in whole new way as it is transformed during our Alice in Bloomland floral showcase, Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, the showcase features floral design vignettes throughout the building. And Mediterranean Garden. Self-Guided classes are also able to access the contemporary fibre art exhibition in our 5,000 square-foot auditorium.