The Morgan Arboretum offers educational programs to local school groups in season. Select a program title below for a summary.
Call the Gatehouse to inquire and reserve: 514 398-7811
FOR THE BIRDS in December, January and February
This workshop is an introduction to some of the Arboretum's feathered friends. At the start of the workshop there will be a presentation on winter birds, and bird feeding at home. A craft period follows the presentation. The students will build a bird feeder out of pine cones, peanut butter/or lard, and bird seed. Then these feeders will be hung in high traffic bird areas. Once the feeders are installed, the group will then proceed to a chickadee "hot spot" and try to feed the wild birds from their hands.
Target Audience: For single classes or small groups (15-25 students) of all ages
Duration: 2 hrs
Cost: $7 per person
For every 10 children in attendance, one accompanying adult is FREE (special needs helpers or teacher’s aids are also admitted for FREE).
What to Bring: Warm clothes, boots, drinking water
Typical Tour Itinerary:
- Unload buses/cars
- Presentation indoors
- Bird feeder craft indoors
- Hanging the feeders outdoors
- Chickadee-hand feeding outdoors
- Load the buses/cars for departure
SUGARING OFF in March and April
The long-standing tradition of tours during the sugaring off season at the Morgan Arboretum has enabled many generations of school children to enjoy the marvels of maple syrup production.
Children will take a trip through time and discover the early origins of sugaring off. They will also visit the Arboretum Sugar House to witness the current process of boiling sap down into a delightful golden treat. This is also an occasion to learn about tree biology and the importance of climate as it relates to the amount of sap produced by the trees. Included in the visit are two separate wagon rides through an active sugar bush, and to top it all off, a stop at our serving tables to enjoy a taste of pure maple taffy.
Group Size: We accommodate groups of up to 100 students at a time.* Upon arrival, large groups are divided into smaller ones with a maximum of 25 children per group. Each group will be assigned a guide for the duration of the visit.
Target Audience: For all ages
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Cost: $8 per person
For every 10 children in attendance, one accompanying adult is FREE (special needs helpers or teacher’s aids are also admitted for FREE).
What to Bring: Weather appropriate clothing, boots, hand wipes (after taffy), drinking water
Typical Tour Itinerary:
- Unload buses/cars
- Wagon ride through the forest to where the tour starts
- Mini presentation highlighting:
- Sugar Maples, what is sap, where it comes from
- Early discovery of Maple syrup by Native Americans
- Impact of early European Settlers and the introduction of technology
- Sugaring off today, how it’s made in a modern sugar house
- Wagon ride back to parking area
- Taffy on snow
- Load the buses/cars for departure
* When large groups are in attendance, the order of stations may be altered. With large groups of over 75 people, wagon rides are offered only one way in order to allow for all children to have a ride and have access to all sections of the tour. If this is the case, a short walk of 400m is required.
SPRING BIODIVERSITY in May and June
The Arboretum celebrates spring by welcoming students to experience some very interesting habitats and the creatures which call them home. This visit is aimed at helping students to identify not only some amazing creatures, but also to highlight some of the important features of the natural world, including food webs, habitat use and conservation, respect for mother earth and how to see things that would otherwise go unnoticed. Experienced guides lead the students through several different habitats to compare the importance of each and the different forms of life which reside there. By visiting each of these habitats, the students truly discover the diversity of the St. Lawrence valley ecosystems which they might encounter in their own backyard.
Target Audience: For all ages
Duration: 2 hrs
Cost: $7 per person
For every 10 children in attendance, one accompanying adult is FREE (special needs helpers or teacher’s aids are also admitted for FREE).
What to Bring: Water, insect repellent, water-proof boots, hats, drinking water
Typical Tour Itinerary:
- Unload buses/cars
- Introduction/Field site-life in the lawn
- Trees-their friends and foes
- Forest site-life under foot
- Pond site-watery world
- Ecology game (time permitting)
- Load the buses/cars for departure
SELF-GUIDED TOUR year-round
Educators are invited to conduct self-guided tours of the Arboretum at any time of the year. Please contact the main office in advance for reservations and assistance in planning your visit.
Limited lunch facilities are available - if desired, please mention this requirement when booking as space is limited.
Cost for groups of a minimum of 10 people: $5.50/child; $8.00/adult.
morgan.arboretum [at] mcgill.ca (RESERVATIONS are required.)
Includes applicable taxes, parking, and entrance to the Arboretum
