Family Learning

Family Gardening

These programs are suited to school age children to attend independently or with a family member and for pre-k learners with a family member for support.

Fairy Garden Workshops

Join us for some fun and creative time as we enter the world of fairy garden making! Your child will be introduced to garden design as we visit various gardens looking for inspiration, collecting items in nature to create furnishings with. and followed by a hands-on lesson to make their own garden to take home. These miniature gardens offer hours of play potential for children of all ages. Plant care, planting techniques, and furnishing making will all be featured. Consider signing up with your child and making one of your own!

For ages 4 and up (6 and under must be accompanied by an adult)

April 15, 2023 – Mushroom Hollow

  • Date: April 15, 2023
  • Time: 1:30 – 3:00 pm
  • Fees: $30/1 garden, $55/two gardens
  • Register: ONLINE or call 250-479-6162

May 13, 2023 – Blossom Lane

  • Date: May 13, 2023
  • Time: 1:30 – 3:00 pm
  • Fees: $30/1 garden, $55/two gardens
  • Register: ONLINE or call 250-479-6162

May 27, 2023 – Sweets Retreat

  • Date: May 27, 2023
  • Time: 1:30 – 3:00 pm
  • Fees: $30/1 garden, $55/two gardens
  • Register: ONLINE or call 250-479-6162

Family Day

Earth Day

This year we are inviting community organizations and schools to participate in our celebration of Mother Earth. We love it if you would encourage your school to engage with us; please ask them to reach out to us. You can get more information about how you, your group, or school can be involved, by contacting our coordinator at [email protected]

Theme for 2023: “Invest in our Plant”

  • Date: Friday, April 21, 2023
  • Time: 9:00am – 2:00pm
  • Register: [email protected] for more information.

Pollinator Days

Join us for a pollinator centered event in celebration of National Pollinator Week.

There will be activities for children and families, and anyone interested in pollinators and how to support them.Let’s all learn how to be actively involved with helping our pollinators!

  • Date: June 24, 2023
  • Time: 9:00am – 2:00pm
  • Register: [email protected] for more information.

Harvest Festival

TBA

Children love to explore our gardens while observing and experiencing nature. Together, we will engage in a series of nature activities. Each session includes a garden wander, sharing circle and story time. Bring a snack and picnic blanket for story time and dress for the weather.

Age: 3 to 6 years old, plus parent/guardian

Gardens Friends – April 2023
  • Dates: Thursdays April 6, 13 & 20, 2023
  • Time: 12:30 to 2:00 pm
  • Fee:  $55.00/3 classes or $45.00 with Family Membership (price is for full series)
  • Register:  HERE or phone (250) 479-6162
Gardens Friends – May 2023
  • Dates: Thursdays May 11, 18, 25, June 1, 8, & 15, 2023
  • Time: 12:30 to 2:00 pm
  • Fee:  $110/6 classes or $90.00 with Family Membership (price is for full series)
  • Register:  HERE or phone (250) 479-6162

Garden Nature Academy 

The outdoors offer safe and seasonal opportunities for your preschooler to explore through play, games, songs and activities! These outdoor sessions include time in our HCP Kids Teaching Garden where we grow food throughout the year, as well as numerous pathways and native plant forest areas to explore. Our small group sizes and experienced nature educators help to create a nurturing and engaging environment for young children to learn, play and grow!  Ages 3 to 6 .We welcome parent participation.

Spring 2023

  • Dates: Thursdays, April 6 – June 15, 2023 (No Class April 27)
  • Times: 9:00 am – 11:30 am
  • Fees: $275 (1 day/week for 11 weeks)
  • Register: HERE or call 250-479-6162

Have you thought about growing your own food crops, but are overwhelmed? Let’s work together in the HCP Kids Teaching Garden and transform an area into a garden plot. Learn about soils, productive garden planning, maximizing yields, managing pests, seeds and starts as well as seed saving. Join us along with your family for this 3 part workshop to build skills and understanding to make your own food production possible. This workshop series is also a great way to improve your garden experience. Bring along your own garden gloves and garden team!

Click for dates and registration

HCP Kids Garden Club – Spring

Do you know a child or youth who loves the outdoors and thrives in the garden? Our HCP Kids Garden provides many opportunities for land-based engagement activities, including seed starting and propagation, planting, garden maintenance, pollinator habitats, and so much more. Each weekly class will have us in this amazing teaching garden where we grow our own food crops. Hope you can join us with your pre-k learner or drop-off (or join) your school age child. There are lots of takeaways, including seeds, transplants and more! Please pack your child’s own garden gloves if you have some and bring along a water bottle and snack, if needed.

Ages 3 to 14 (Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult)

  • Dates: Saturday’s April 8 to June 3, 2023 (no class April 29)
  • Time: 9:00am to 11:00 am
  • Fees: $120
  • Register: ONLINE or call 250-479-6162

Bring along your budding naturalist for a trek around the pathways, bridges and fields as we explore the creatures who call our gardens, woodlands and ponds their home. Each session will focus on a different nature friend and include adventure time to explore the many pathways throughout our space, story time and craft. Pack a snack and picnic blanket for story time and dress for the weather. (Min of 5 required)

Age: 3 to 6 years old, plus parent/guardian

Science Friends – April 2023

  • Dates: Tuesdays April 4, 11 & 18, 2023
  • Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
  • Fee:  $60/3 classes or $50 with Family Membership (price is for full series)
  • Register:  HERE or phone (250) 479-6162

Science Friends – May 2023

  • Dates: Tuesdays May 11, 18, 25, June 1, 8, & 15, 2023
  • Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
  • Fee:  $120/6 classes or $100.00 with Family Membership (price is for full series)
  • Register:  HERE or phone (250) 479-6162

Imagine a gentle nature walk with your child to calm and inspire you both! This rain or shine outdoor program on our endless pathways provides us with many social and nature connections. This is followed by a story time that encourages the development of listening skills and small group interactions. Plan to bring along your favourite story blanket and snack to enjoy during the story with your child and invite a friend. Pre-registration is required to determine if this program will run.

Stories In the Garden April 2023
  • Dates: Tuesdays, April 4, 11 & 18, 2023
  • Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
  • Age: 3 – 6

Fee: $37.50/3 sessions (family rate for 1 or more children) or $30.00 for Family Memberships

Register: HERE or call 250 479 6162

Stories in the Garden Mary 2023
  • Dates: Tuesdays, May 9, 16, 23, 30 & June 6, 13, 2023
  • Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
  • Age: 3 – 6
  • Fee: $75.00/6 sessions (for 1 or more children) or $60.00 for Family Memberships

Register: HERE or call 250 479 6162

Gardening with tropicals and succulents is an easy way for children to use their creativity to make these miniature gardens. We will learn about the individual needs of these interesting plants and create a safe environment for them to grow in while using a glass container that is being reused or upcycled. These make great gifts! Ages 5 an up 

April 22, 2023 – SeaScapes

  • Time:10:00 am – 11:30 am
  • Fee: $30/participant
  • Register: HERE 

@hcpgardens

Questions? We would love to hear from you!

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Territory Acknowledgement

We at HCP gratefully acknowledge that we occupy unceded territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. We recognize these lands and ecosystems are not our own. We recognize our role in the continuing process of dispossession, colonialism, and reconciliation. We recognize the need to do better. We humbly welcome all to join in this learning journey.

505 Quayle Rd. Victoria, BC V9E 2J7

Phone: 250-479-6162

Email: [email protected]