Events all summer at Conservation Areas
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff are very excited for the events they have planned at Fanshawe, Pittock and Wildwood Conservation Areas (CAs). See below for details including where pre-registration is required. Please note: A valid park permit is required for all events.
Fanshawe Conservation Area
Saturday, July 22: Wild Ontario
4:00 pm, Recreation Shelter
Visit with some of Ontario’s native birds! Each bird has a unique story to share about why they are no longer able to live in the wild and how they came to be ambassadors for public education and awareness.
Thursday, July 27: Night Hike
8:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Pines Shelter
Learn about the adaptations of nocturnal wildlife and discover the forest by night!
Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required: here.
Saturday, July 29: Scales Nature Park Presentation
4:00 pm, Recreation Shelter in campground
Wetlands are home to lots of creatures – many of them rarely seen up close.
Tuesday, August 1: Family Nature Play
10:00 am to 11:00 am, Pines Shelter
Join us for child-led, exploratory play in the forest and connect with your local environment!
Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required: here.
Thursday, August 3: Story Walk
10:00 am to 11:00 am, Pines Shelter
Discover a story one page at a time on an adventure in the forest and your imagination!
Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday, August 5: Canadian Raptor Conservancy
4:00 pm, Recreation Shelter in campground.
Learn about the natural history, prey species, range, and relationship to humans of some of the most fantastic creatures on our planet! See each bird’s unique flight characteristics.
Tuesday, August 8: Bug Safari
10:00 am to 11:00 am, Pines Shelter
Join us on an epic quest of tiny proportions as we discover the wonders of an amazing world hiding in plain sight! Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required: here.
Pittock Conservation Area
Thursday, July 20: Owl Prowl
8:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Recreation Centre
Venture into the forest to hear the calls of local owl species and discover the ecology of these nighttime predators! Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required: here.
Saturday, July 22: Wild Ontario
1:00 pm, Recreation Centre
Visit with some of Ontario’s native birds! Each bird has a unique story to share about why they are no longer able to live in the wild and how they came to be ambassadors for public education and awareness.
Saturday, August 5: Canadian Raptor Conservancy
1:00 pm, Recreation Shelter in campground.
Learn about the natural history, prey species, range and relationship to humans of some of the most fantastic creatures on our planet! See each bird’s unique flight characteristics.
Thursday, August 10: Owl Prowl
8:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Recreation Centre
Venture into the forest to hear the calls of local owl species and discover the ecology of these nighttime predators! Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required: here.
Saturday, August 12: Bug Safari
10:00 am to 11:00 am, Recreation Centre
Join us on an epic quest of tiny proportions as we discover the wonders of an amazing world hiding in plain sight! Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required: here.
Wildwood Conservation Area
Saturday, July 22: Wild Ontario
10:00 am, Visitor Centre
Visit with some of Ontario’s native birds! Each bird has a unique story to share about why they are no longer able to live in the wild and how they came to be ambassadors for public education and awareness.
Saturday, July 22: Bird Brains Hike
1:00 pm, Campground B Parking Lot
Take a flight of fancy through the Dr. Murray forest looking and listening for bird signs and sightings while enjoying an engaging activity or two!
NOTE: This is a family hike on the Green Trail (1.2KM) – an adult must accompany any child(ren) participating.
Saturday, July 29: Monarch Mayhem
10:00 am, Campground A Parking Lot
In this “Choose Your Own Adventure” style map and compass activity, journey through the good, bad and otherwise as a Monarch butterfly trying to migrate!
NOTE: This is a family activity in the Day Use Area – an adult must accompany any child(ren) participating.
Scales Nature Park
1:00 pm, Visitor Centre
Check out some amazing reptiles and amphibians through an interactive presentation including a visit with some animal friends!
Saturday, August 5: Canadian Raptor Conservancy
10:00 am, Visitor Centre
Learn about the natural history, prey species, range and relationship to humans of some of the most fantastic creatures on our planet! See each bird’s unique flight characteristics.
Stargazing and Astronomy
4:00 pm and 9:00 pm, Beach Pavilion
Special guest Alex Westman returns with solar astronomy for the afternoon and digital microscope stations. Alex will return at 9pm, where you can view the night sky through a high-tech telescope.
Saturday, August 12: Learn to Fish
10:00 am, Beach Pavilion
This engaging two hour program is designed for all ages and combines a one hour practical teaching session with one hour of supervised fishing fun! Everything is provided, including a fishing rod, reel and bait, as well as a one day fishing license to take part.
Saturday, August 19: Aspens Ojibwe Horses and Christin Dennis
10:00 am Ball Diamond across from the Visitor Centre
Meet two Ojibwe Horses, their caregivers and Indigenous Educator, Christin Dennis, who will share about an almost lost breed of horses, their story and come back!
