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.
Harvest Centre Piece - 11 Oct (All Ages)
It is time to enjoy flowers, cones and twigs on a whole new level. Children of all ages love to pick and collect from the garden. It provides a very basic connection to a plant's beauty, features (such as textures, shapes, colours and scents) at the same time. In this collecting and making workshop, we will include a garden walk to visit the HCP Cutting Garden for inspiration and gather from the HCP Kids Garden spaces. Participants will create a takeaway arrangement to celebrate the season in time for Thanksgiving. All Ages
- Date: 11 October 2025
- Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pm
- Fee: $40/child and $35/family membership
- Registration: Online or call 250-479-6162
Wreath Making for Families - 28 Nov to 6 Dec (All Ages)
Join us for this annual gathering to prepare a wreath for your home. 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. One registration is for a family with up to 4 participants.
Please note there is a limit of two wreaths per family.
Family Wreath Making - click on the date to register
- Friday Afternoon 28 Nov 2025
- Saturday Morning 29 Nov 2025
- Saturday Afternoon 29 Nov 2025
- Sunday Morning 30 Nov 2025
- Sunday Afternoon 30 Nov 2025
- Saturday Morning 6 Dec 2025
- Fee: $45 or $40/Family membership
- Registration: click on the date or call 250-479-6162
Holiday Centre Piece - 6 Dec (All Ages)
Holiday Centre Piece
It is time to enjoy flowers, cones and twigs on a whole new level. Children of all ages love to pick and collect from the garden. It provides a very basic connection to a plant's beauty, features (such as textures, shapes, colours and scents) at the same time. In this collecting and making workshop, we will include a garden walk for inspiration. Participants will create a takeaway arrangement to celebrate the season. All Ages
- Date: 6 December 2025
- Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pm
- Fee: $40/child and $35/family membership
- Registration: Online or call 250-479-6162
Fairy Furnishings - 28 Sept (Ages 6 to 14)
Fairy gardens can always use a refresh and creating with clay and recyclable materials is a fun way to do this. This is also a great way to create a first garden using the take-aways created here to entice the fairies to visit or stay. Ages: 6 to 14
- Date: 28 September 2025
- Time: 1:30 - 3:30 pm
- Fee: $40/child and $35/family membership
- Registration: Online or call 250-479-6162
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
Winter 2026
- Dates: Thursday’s Jan 22 to Mar 14, 2026
- Time: 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
- Fees: $240 or $200 with a Family Membership
- Registration: Online or call 250-479-6162
Flower Pressing - Sept 27 (Ages: 6 to 14)
Using a garden walk to gather and explore the best materials for pressing, we will feature a pressing session to takeaway. This will be followed by making time for an art piece and bookmark to provide confidence and methods for more creating at home.
Ages: 6 - 14 Limited to 12 participants
- Date: 27 September 2025
- Time: 1:30 - 3:30 pm
- Fee: $35/child and $30/family membership
- Registration: Online or call 250-479-6162
Harvest Centre Piece - 11 Oct (All Ages)
It is time to enjoy flowers, cones and twigs on a whole new level. Children of all ages love to pick and collect from the garden. It provides a very basic connection to a plant's beauty, features (such as textures, shapes, colours and scents) at the same time. In this collecting and making workshop, we will include a garden walk to visit the HCP Cutting Garden for inspiration and gather from the HCP Kids Garden spaces. Participants will create a takeaway arrangement to celebrate the season in time for Thanksgiving. All Ages
- Date: 11 October 2025
- Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pm
- Fee: $40/child and $35/family membership
- Registration: Online or call 250-479-6162
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: TBD (8 Weeks)
- Times:
- Preschool (3 to 5): 9:30 am - 11:00 am
- School Age (6 to 14): 9:30 am - 11:00 am
- Fees :
- Preschool (3 - 5):
- School Age (6 - 14):
- Register: call 250-479-6162 if this program is of interest
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