| 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 |
Junior Naturalists Club
RBG welcomes back the Jr Naturalists’ Club! Nature lovers aged 6 through 13 are encouraged to sign up for this once-a-month program where they’ll be immersed in the natural world throughout the year. Prepare for fun and adventure while exploring the ravines, forests, fields, and wetlands of RBG. Led by our nature education staff, this program focuses on developing naturalist skills while exploring RBG’s ecosystem in greater detail. Sessions are 2-2.5 hours long and are themed to match the season and hiking location.
2025/2026 Session
Fall Session registration opening Thursday July 24, 11 a.m.
Program Dates
The Junior Naturalists Club meets once a month (usually every fourth Saturday) from September to June.
2025 / 2026 Dates
- Saturday, September 27
- Saturday, October 25
- Saturday, November 22
- Saturday, December 20
- Saturday, January 24
- Saturday, February 21
- Saturday, March 28
- Saturday, April 25
- Saturday, May 30
- Saturday, June 20
Ages and Times
In order to provide as many sessions as possible, the Junior Naturalists Club is offered in 3 age groups, with the option to attend either in the AM or PM.
- Age Groups: Ages 6 and 7, Ages 8 and 9, Ages 10 to 13
- Session Time: 9 to 11:30 a.m. OR 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Children must be the age specified within the first calendar year to join the designated group. If you have any questions about the registration process, please give us a call at 905-527-1158.
Pricing & Registration
- Program fee: $215 (+ HST & $2 Service Fee)
RBG Members receive 10% off - Space is limited! 20 children maximum per program
- Pre-registration required
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.
Location
This is an outdoor-based program and participants are expected to come prepared for the weather of the day. The club is based out of the Nature Centre in the Arboretum, 16A Old Guelph Road, Hamilton.
One-to-One Support for Participants
RBG is unable to provide 1:1 support for children in this program. Our goal is to ensure that all participants have a positive experience and are able to get the most out of the Jr Naturalists’ Club. If your child requires support in a school environment in order to succeed, it is important that similar support is provided during attendance at RBG.
Please indicate in your registration if your child will be attending with 1:1 support or, speak to our programs team to discuss the best way to ensure your child has a great experience.
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.
Where does this program take place?
The Junior Naturalists Club is based out of the Nature Interpretive Centre in the Arboretum, 16 Old Guelph Road, Dundas.
What is the sign-in/sign-out process?
Participant pick up and drop off will be in the same location outdoors each day. Please ensure that participants are picked up by an adult who has been authorized for pick up by our staff. Authorized adults will be expected to show a piece of government ID for pick-up.
Does this program run in inclement weather?
Although we are an outdoor based program and participants are expected to come prepared for the weather of the day, there may be times when we will shelter from inclement and extreme weather. The group will retreat to an indoor space used exclusively for the group until the weather event passes.




