Our aim is to create and provide land-based learning opportunities for children and youth in our community. Through these outdoor educational programs, we believe that we can promote individual, community and environmental health. During all of our programs, we will use the gardens and surrounding forests as our classroom and as an educational tool to cultivate joy, wonder and meaningful connections to plants and the natural world.
HCP Kids Garden Club (Ages 3 - 14)
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)
Please note the pricing difference between PreSchool and School Age; the School Age program is 30 minutes longer
- Dates: April 6 to June 1 (No class April 27)
- Times:
- PreSchool (3 to 5): 9:30am to 11:00 am
- School Age (6 to 14): 9:30 to 11:30 am
- Fees:
- PreSchool (3 to 5): $160 or $140 with a Family Membership
- School Age (6 to 14): $180 or $160 with a Family Membership
- Register: ONLINE or call 250-479-6162
Garden Friends (Ages 3 - 6)
Garden Friends is a half day program for parent and child several consecutive weeks. 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.
Ages: 3 to 6
Dates: TBD
Seed Starting for Kids (Ages 5 - 14)
Seeds are an easy, inexpensive and fun way to grow plants for food and flower production. This hands-on workshop provides a step-by-step approach to sowing into trays. These seed starting basics are skills that create confidence to grow healthy plants that can be used in containers or garden beds. Each child will plant up a tray to take home to grow their own flowers and edible plants. Ages 5 to 14
- Date: TBD
Garden Nature Academy (Ages 3 - 6)
The Gardens at HCP is our classroom and we explore all of it; from the native plant and ethnobotany trails to the HCP Kids Garden and to the surrounding trails and forests. Some of the nature-based activities at our program include nature art, gardening for food and pollinators, nibbling on edible plants, flowers and vegetables, songs and games! This program is based outside, rain or shine, with access to the lower classroom portable for the bathroom, snack, storytime and warming up or for those extra stormy days. Outdoor school is about children having time to explore their own interests through child-led and play-based learning in nature. Being outdoors develops an appreciation for the natural world and our responsibilities related to its preservation. Ages 3 - 6
- Dates: Sept 12 through Nov 28, 2024
- Times: 9:30 - 12:00 noon
- Fees: $300.00 /child or $240.00 per child with a Family Membership
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Registration Opens April 1
The Great Garden Hunt (Ages 3 - 5)
We all know what happens when a worm is uncovered in the garden ... lots of excitement!
Well, imagine a weekly garden wander to look for all those special discoveries that just happen when you least expect it. Along the way we will be learning lots of fun facts about these amazing garden friends, forging friendships and interactions with each other. Each meetup will include a theme related craft to take home. Join your child or enjoy the gardens, we ask parents to remain on site. Ages 3 to 5
- Dates: TBD
Science Friends (Ages 3 - 6)
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.
Ages: 3 to 6
Dates: 2024 – TBD
Exploring Nature Through Crafts (Ages 3 - 5)
Our gardens and natural surroundings offer many opportunities for foraging and creativity. Together we will use our time to explore seasonal interests in the garden, gather a variety of materials, using a weekly theme to create a take-away project that will delight and entertain. For children 3 to 5 years (Parents are welcome to attend)
- Dates: Fridays May 3, 10, 17 2024
- Time: 9:00 am - 10:15 am
- Fee: $68 or $60 with a Family Membership
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Spa Gift Basket for Mom (Ages 5 and up)
We love our Spa times! Many spa treatments are based on herbs and other plants for their healing and nourishing qualities. In this session, we will learn about a few of the many helpful plants we often find in our gardens and pantries, explore how to use them, and create a basket of healthful and restorative products to gift Mom.This hands on crafting session will provide children with a working knowledge of some common plants and how to use them for self care. All materials will be provided for a beautiful gift basket of handmade spa items. Ages: 5 and up (under 6 to be accompanied by an adult)
- Date: Saturday 5 May 2024
- Time: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
- Fee: $40 per basket
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Teatime with Mom (Adult and child)
We have come up with a very special way to share the love of tea and time together. This Tea Time with Mom session will include an informative garden tour to explore plants for tea making followed by a tea brewing time and tasting. Plan to join us for this journey into tea time and celebrations of plants and how they help create joyful moments together. A great gift for a special Mom and Child in your life!
- Date: Saturday 11 May 2024
- Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
- Age: Adult + Child(ren)
- Fee: $40/adult + 1 child, $50/adult + 2 children
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Stories in the Garden (Ages 3 and up)
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 storytime 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. Minimum registration is required. Please share word of this engaging program with your friends and make it a play date! Consider making a morning with us and add Exploring Nature Through Crafts too!
- Dates: Thursdays May 2, 9, 16 2024
- Time: 10:45 am - 11:45 am
- Fee: $35 or $30 with a Family Membership
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Story Telling for Littles (Ages 3 - 5)
We all love a good story and even at a young age children can tell us amazing stories! Some of us are anturals and someof us need guidance and nurturing. In this garden meetup we will share stories from books and experiences to practice our own creative storytelling. If you have a confident child ready to join a small group on their own, parents are free to do a drop off, we ask you remain on site and take the time to enjoy The Gardens. Some children need to have a familiar adult with them to become their confident self, and we are happy to have an adult stay and participate asa child requires. Ages 3 to 5
- Dates: TBD
Terrarium Gardens (Ages 5 and up)
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 up-cycled. These make great gifts! Ages: 5 and up.
- Date: 10 March 2024
- Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am
- Fee: $35 or $30 with a Family Membership
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Springtime Fairy Gardens (Ages 4 and up)
Join us for some fun and creative time as we enter the world of miniature fairy garden making! 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! Ages 4+ (6 and under must be accompanied by an adult)
- Date: Saturday Apr 20, 2024 when our theme is Springtime
- Time: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
- Fee: $40 per garden or $35 per garden with a Family Membership
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
NOTE: These workshops can be booked as a private workshop for child's birthday or by contacting [email protected]
Fairy Garden Furnishings (Ages 7 - 14)
Making your own fairy garden furnishings can be fun and easy with a little guidance. In this class we will take a walk together to forage natural materials that can be made into fun and functional furnishings for existing and future fairy gardens. We will explore doors, gates, transitions and theme related furnishings. Participants will also have access to supplies to make featured items and will be encouraged to source out their own special materials in nature going forward. Imagination is a wonderful tool as we learn to create items for these playful and whimsical gardens! For ages 7 to 12
- TBA
NOTE: These workshops can be booked as a private workshop for child's birthday or by contacting [email protected]
Growing Together
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.
All ages welcome!
- Dates: TBD
If you are interested in this program please contact us at [email protected]
Creating a Butterfly Garden
Creating A Butterfly Garden
The role of pollinators has continued to evolve and we have been amazed at the essential role these garden helpers play in food production. Let us explore the key role that butterflies play in this, the plants that support their full life cycles and how to create a butterfly garden at home. we will be sharing seeds to set you up for success!
- Date: Saturday June 22 , 2024
- Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am
- Age: 6+ (Families are welcome to join)
- Fee: $35 per individual or $45 per Family
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Interested in this program? please contact [email protected]
Creating a Forest Habitat - Miyawaki Method
Creating A Forest Habitat at Home using the Miyawaki Method
We are creating a pocket forest at HCP this spring as a project with help from a generous grant from Pollinator Partnership. The space adjoins our Meadow Makers Project Garden that was installed in 2023 and will offer more pollinator rich native plantings for habitat and foraging. This method of afforestation was developed by the Japanese botanist and plant ecology expert Professor Akira Miyawaki, and draws inspiration from nature's ecosystems to create 100% organic, dense and diverse pioneer forests in as little as 20-30 years. Please join our project lead Paula McCormick on a journey of positive change with this onsite presentation.
- Date: Saturday June 23 , 2024
- Time: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
- Fee: $35 per individual or $45 per Family
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Interested in this program? please contact [email protected]
Seed starting for Families
Seed Starting for Families
Seeds are an easy, inexpensive and fun way to grow plants for food and flower production. This hands-on workshop provides a step-by-step approach to sowing into trays. These seed starting basics are skills that create confidence to grow healthy plants that can be used in containers or garden beds. Each child will plant up a tray to take home to grow their own flowers and edible plants.
- Date:
- Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
- Fee: $35 or $30 with Family Membership
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Fairy Gardens - video
Fairy Garden in a Container - Video
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Get creative as you learn about the needs of little plants, and what better place to grow them than in an up-cycled glass contain
er? Choose a glass bowl, vase, jar or other container (up to 20cm) to up-cycle and see what you can create! You provide the glass container and we provide the rest.
- Age: 6+ years, recommended
- Fee: $25
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Outdoor Fairy Gardens
These outdoor fairy gardens are suited for your deck, balcony or garden. The video will take participants through the steps to use an ornamental flowering plant as the base for this project. Then you will learn how to care for it in a small container. Next we get started designing and decorating the garden with provided natural and created elements as well as additional raw materials to create other fun decor. These miniature gardens provide a fun reason to move your child's play outdoors this season and makes a great destination to check on during the summer and fall too!
- Age: 5+ years, recommended
- Fee: $25
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Fairy Garden Furniture - video
Making your own fairy garden furnishings can be fun and easy with a little expertise and guidance. In this kit and video package, we will take a walk together to forage natural materials that can be made into fun and functional furnishings for existing and future fairy gardens. We will explore doors, gates, transitions and theme related furnishings. Participants will receive a kit with instructions and supplies to make featured items and will be encouraged to source out their own special materials going forward. Imagination is a wonderful tool as we learn to create items for these playful and whimsical gardens!
- Age: 5+ years, recommended
- Fee: $25
- Register: Online or call 250479-6162
Seed starting for Kids - video
A single seed is all it takes to grow a plant. Introduce or support a child/youth to grow their own vegetables and pollinator plants with help from this grow kit featuring all they need to get started. This is a fun way to follow the life cycle of a plant from a seed through to seed production and have fresh produce to use with the family!
- Age: 5+ years, recommended
- Fee: $25
- Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Terrarium Gardens for Kids - video
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Get creative as you learn about the needs of little plants, and what better place to grow them than in an up-cycled glass container? Choose a glass bowl, vase, jar or other container (up to 20cm) to up-cycle and see what you can create! You provide the glass container and we provide the rest, including a tropical plant, gravel, soil, and decor.
- Age: 6+ years, recommended
- Fee: $25
- Register: Online or Call 250-479-6162
Wreath Making for Families (All Ages)
Join us for this annual gathering to prepare a wreath for your home this holiday season. Using a selection of greenery along with friendly guidance, create a unique wreath to enjoy or gift! These small sized workshops offer a slower and easier pace for small hands to lend assistance with. All materials provided.
Dates: 2024 TBD
Holiday Gifts (Ages 6 - 14)
Holiday Gift Making
Please someone this holiday season with handmade gifts inspired by the garden! We will explore a variety of easy and unique gifts made with local materials that will be a delight to give and receive. All materials provided. For children between 6 and 14 years
- Date: 2024 TBD
Nature Centre Piece (Ages 6 - 14)
Nature Centre Piece Workshop
Using our gardens and natural spaces for inspiration, we will explore designs and a variety of materials to create a beautiful centre piece for your holiday season. All materials are provided.
- Date: 2024 TBD
