Junior Naturalists (ages 12 and 13)
Specially designed for youth who fall between the age range for Summer Nature Camp and the LYNX Teen Leader Training program, Junior Naturalist day camp is led by the Humber Arboretum's year-round nature education staff and focuses on building skills while exploring local ecosystems in greater detail. Camp is based out of the Centre for Urban Ecology, but Junior Naturalists spend most of their time outdoors engaged in specialized activities in the forest, river, meadows, wetlands, gardens, and ponds of the Humber Arboretum.
Details
Times
Junior Naturalist Camp takes place on weekdays only, Monday to Friday from 9:00 am until 3:45 pm.
Drop-off time begins at 8:30 am; pick-up runs from 3:45 pm until 4:15 pm.
Location
The Humber Arboretum is at the back of Humber Polytechnic North Campus in North Etobicoke, near the intersection of Finch Avenue and Highway 27 (205 Humber College Blvd, Toronto, M9W 5L7). See the location of the Centre for Urban Ecology on Google Maps.
2026 Pricing
- $405 per week
Sibling Discount
If you are registering multiple children a sibling discount will be applied automatically in the system. You will receive $10 off the registration fee.
Cancellation Policy
All withdrawals requested at least two weeks prior to the start of the camp week will be refunded the full camp fees, minus a $25 administration fee. Any withdrawals requested less than two weeks prior to the start of the camp week will be refunded 50% of all camp fees.
There will be no refunds once the camp session has begun.
Each week of Junior Naturalists Camp requires a minimum number of registrants to run. If the minimum threshold is not reached, any camp families who have registered will be given the opportunity to transfer their registration to another week of Junior Naturalists Camp or to the corresponding week of Nature Camp at no fee, or to choose a full refund with no administrative charges applied.
How to Register
Registration for Junior Naturalists 2026 is now open.
New Registration System
Please note that we have transitioned to a new camp management system this year called CampBrain.
We have already migrated most information from our previous system. If you are a returning camp family, please click on the reset password link and input the same email address you have used to register for camp in the past. Follow the instructions to create your own password. Once you have logged in, you will find that your account already exists.
If you are not sure which email address you used in the past, you can email us at arboretum@humber.ca to inquire.
For new camp families, you will need to create an account.
Registration Deadline
Please note that online registration for each week of camp closes the week before, on midnight of the Sunday prior to the first day of camp. However there may still be spots available. If the cut-off for online registration has passed, you may email the Humber Arboretum on the Friday to inquire: arboretum@humber.ca
Decided Not to Join Us This Year?
If you were interested in camp but have decided not to register, please take a moment to fill out this short form and share your reasons so we can improve our offerings in the future.
2026 Session Themes
Planned and facilitated by a professional Nature Interpreter from the Humber Arboretum, Junior Naturalist Camp offers young nature lovers a deeper dive into different camp themes.
Fantastic Freshwater
Monday July 20 to Friday July 24, 2026
From river to pond to wetland, freshwater is essential for healthy ecosystems. But why is it so important? And what's happening beneath the surface? Get ready for a deep dive into the West Humber River and the Arboretum wetlands.
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Ages 12 and 13
Insectopia: Mission Monarch
Monday August 10 to Friday August 14, 2026
It's time to look closely at the tiny, astonishing world of invertebrates. With a special focus on the Monarch Butterfly, we'll look at how to protect and restore habitat, and contribute to the Monarch Watch citizen science project.
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Ages 12 and 13
Plus! The final week of regular Nature Camp is for ages 7 to 13
Creating with Bushcraft
Monday August 24 to Friday August 28, 2026
We'll wrap up the summer with a smaller session for our older campers only. Bushcraft is all about the art of making useful and beautiful things from natural materials in a respectful and sustainable way. Campers will try their hands at a variety of skills and bring home their creations.
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Ages 7 to 13: Registration Open
Add a t-shirt to your order for $18.50
While supplies last
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Junior Naturalists will there be?
- Which camp is right for my 12-year-old?
- Will my Junior Naturalist see their sibling who is attending Nature Camp?
- What about the sibling discount?
- Do Junior Naturalists need to bring any special equipment?
- Who are the leaders for Junior Naturalist Camp?
How many Junior Naturalists will there be?
To facilitate the best experience, Junior Naturalist Camp is limited to only 8 participants per week.
The Junior Naturalists will also participate in some larger group activities with campers from the Humber Arboretum's Summer Nature Camp. (Please note that swimming at the Humber indoor pool is tentative for 2026).
Which camp is right for my 12-year-old?
Twelve-year-olds are able to register for either Summer Nature Camp or Junior Naturalist Camp; the right choice for your twelve-year-old will depend on their interests. The Humber Arboretum's long-standing Summer Nature Camp mixes fun outdoor exploration with traditional camp activities and games. Junior Naturalist Camp offers a more in-depth investigation of the natural world for kids who are excited by the prospect of discovery.
Of course twelve-year-olds are welcome to register for a different type of camp during different weeks of the summer, but please note they will not be able to switch camps mid-week if they change their minds!
Will my Junior Naturalist see their sibling who is attending Nature Camp?
Both Nature Camp and Junior Naturalist Camp are based out of the Centre for Urban Ecology. If you have children taking part in both camps, you will drop them off and pick them up together and they may cross paths throughout the day. However the Junior Naturalists will be out "in the field" for longer times and farther from the Centre, which means snacks and lunch times may not match up every day; please pack their bags accordingly.
What about the sibling discount?
Our online registration system is able to apply our sibling discount automatically across different camps. Whether you register multiple youths for Junior Naturalist Camp or one child for Nature Camp and another for Junior Naturalist Camp, you will automatically receive a discount.
Do Junior Naturalists need to bring any special equipment?
Not at all! The Humber Arboretum has all of the nature-exploration equipment Junior Naturalists will need for their camp activities.
As with all Arboretum day campers, Junior Naturalists will be responsible for arriving every day with:
- appropriate clothing and footwear
- weather-protection such as sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, and sunglasses
- a lunch and snacks (which may be eaten in the field)
- a refillable water bottle
- a face mask (optional)
- portable hand sanitizer (recommended)
- and a backpack which they are comfortable carrying with them for the day
A full list of recommended items will be provided to registered camp families.
Who are the leaders for Junior Naturalist Camp?
The primary leader for Junior Naturalist Camp is one of the Humber Arboretum's professional Nature Interpreters who work year-round providing educational programming to visiting school groups and the community. Individual activities may be led by other Arboretum staff or guests with specialized knowledge and skills. Nature Camp Leaders, who are generally Humber Polytechnic students or graduates of our LYNX Teen Leaders training program, will assist with some activities and may provide supervision during lunch and snack breaks at the Centre for Urban Ecology.
Humber Arboretum day camps are accredited by the Ontario Camps Association.
Donate to the Nature for All Fund
Want to give other kids the opportunity to build their confidence and make new friends while they connect with nature?
The Humber Arboretum's Nature for All Fund helps us make Nature Camp, school field trips, and other nature experiences for all ages available to those who would otherwise be unable to participate.