| 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.
FAQ — Safety and Wellness
Signing Participants In and Out
The club is based out of the Nature Centre in the Arboretum, 16A Old Guelph Road, Dundas.
Participant pick up and drop off will be in the same location outdoors each day.
Health and Safety Protocols
Daily medical screening: We will be asking families to complete a self-assessment form prior to their program. Participants are asked to conduct this screening the morning of each 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 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.
Inclement Weather Policy
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.
