The Humber Arboretum provides nature connection in the heart of North Etobicoke. Visit 100 hectares of public gardens and natural areas and take part in nature camps, community events, field trips, and other programming offered through the Centre for Urban Ecology. The grounds of the Humber Arboretum are free to visit, and are open to the public every day during daylight hours. Connected to Humber College North Campus, the Humber Arboretum exists as a unique tri-partnership between Humber College, the City of Toronto, and Toronto and Region Conservation. Visit the public gardens located by the main entrance, then head out on the trails to explore the meadows and woodlands, and to take a stroll along the West Humber River. Before your visit, you may want to head to the “Explore > Self-Guided Activities” section of our website to download a trail map.
The Centre for Urban Ecology is generally open to the public from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, however may be closed for special events. Please note that when the Centre for Urban Ecology is closed, washrooms and water bottle refill stations are available inside the college buildings during normal operating hours. Humber College North Campus is served by multiple transit routes and the Arboretum is connected to the West Humber Trail. If you do decide to drive, please visit the main parking kiosk at the front of campus and let them know you are visiting the Arboretum. They will direct you from there.
NATURE DAY CAMP
Nature Day Camp with the Humber Arboretum offers fun and engaging hands-on activities that encourage curiosity and nature connection. Through nature walks, pond dipping, eco-games, and other challenges, campers learn about the natural world and discover new ways to explore outdoors.
For ages 5 to 12, Summer Camp takes place weekly during July and August, with each week centered on a different theme. Winter Break Camp gets kids bundled up and outside for shelter building, survival techniques, animal tracking, and more. During March Break Camp the maple syrup harvest is a way to learn about seasonal changes.
Junior Naturalist Camp is for youth aged 12 to 14 who are ready to take their nature knowledge to another level. Planned and facilitated by year-round nature educators from the Arboretum, this summer program challenges youth to expand their knowledge and develop new skills.
Leading Youth in Nature Experiences (LYNX) is a leadership program for youth aged 14 to 17 who are interested in working with kids in the outdoors. It is an expansion of our previous LIT program at camp, but is open to all, whether or not they have attended camp with us in when they were younger. LYNX Level One is virtual and can be attended from anywhere; LYNX Level Two and the subsequent placement are in-person and scheduled to coincide with one of our day camp sessions.
Visit the “Learn > Nature Camps” section of our website to learn more.
EVENTS
Walking tours, gardening workshops, and other free community events take place throughout the year. Visit the Event Calendar to see what’s coming up next.
CITIZEN SCIENCE
Does your family use the free iNaturalist app? Upload sightings from your visit and help contribute to the Humber Arboretum Atlas project! Visit the “Explore > Citizen Science” section of our website to learn more.
SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
The Humber Arboretum offers hands-on, curriculum-connected field trip programming for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve and is an approved TDSB Excursion Vendor. Explore all of the school field trip offerings on the Humber Arboretum website.