Events

How to Share a Love of Nature:
A Course for Island Educators

August 1st – 3rd
$200

There is almost nothing as rewarding as watching a child fall in love with nature. Despite its potential, nature education can seem overwhelming and difficult to integrate into regular classroom activities. After nearly 20 years of teaching, we have developed an intuitive and practical approach to nature education that helps teachers become co-learners with their students.

This three-day course is for all educators and will happen concurrently with our summer camps. By combining theory-based lectures, experiential learning and taking part in camp activities, students will gain a foundational knowledge of the Island’s plants and animals and develop a host of educational tools.

Participants will learn:

• The benefits of co-learning
• Outdoor class management skills
• How to identify native plants and animals including invasive species
• Educational games and crafts
• How to describe the natural world using all five senses
• How to use the schoolyard as a classroom for all subjects
• A basic understanding of the Island’s unique ecosystems
• The power of play
• The importance of direct experience

Participants should bring their own lunch and snacks, as well as clothes suited to the weather. It will take place at the Macphail Woods Nature Centre. The total cost for the course is $200.

Location

We use our very own Nature Centre, located on the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead property, as a home base for all of our outdoor activities. Located just 20 minutes east of Charlottetown, the Macphail Woods Nature Centre has a variety of teaching spaces and is surrounded by 140 acres of forest and field. Winding through the property are four trails, a stream and one of the province’s finest remaining examples of our native Acadian forest.

Click here to find us on google maps!

Cancellations and Refunds

All campers are to be prepaid. However, refunds are accepted up until 2 weeks before the camp date. You will receive a full refund up until a month before the class date. Half the class cost will be refunded if you cancel between a month and 2 week before the class. If you would like to cancel within  two weeks of the class no refund will be issued.

Registrations

All registrations are made online through Active Network’s Camp and Class manager. If you have any difficulties or would prefer to register with us directly, please contact us at danielmcrae@macphailwoods.org or by phone: (902)651-2575.

Knots and Natural Cordage

Saturday Sept 22nd
$100

Does the job require a truckers hitch or just two half hitches? Should I use a sheet bend, zeppelin bend or a square knot? Knowing how to select the right knot for the job and how to tie it properly is a tremendously satisfying skill.

At this course we will introduce the three main categories of knot tying: loops, bends and hitches. We will also cover lashing, stopper knots and rope care. With the basics under our belt, we will also introduce the wide world of natural cordage. Using only natural materials we learn to create variety of sturdy cord. Never be without a good piece of rope again.

The half-day course runs from 9am till 1:00pm. Participants should bring their own lunch and snacks, as well as clothes suited to the weather. It will take place at the Macphail Woods Nature Centre. The total cost for the course is $45. Registrations can be done online through our booking system or by phone (902)651-2575 or email (danielmcrae@macphailwoods.org).

Location

We use our very own Nature Centre, located on the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead property, as a home base for all of our outdoor activities. Located just 20 minutes east of Charlottetown, the Macphail Woods Nature Centre has a variety of teaching spaces and is surrounded by 140 acres of forest and field. Winding through the property are four trails, a stream and one of the province’s finest remaining examples of our native Acadian forest.

Click here to find us on google maps!

Cancellations and Refunds

All campers are to be prepaid. However, refunds are accepted up until 2 weeks before the camp date. You will receive a full refund up until a month before the class date. Half the class cost will be refunded if you cancel between a month and 2 week before the class. If you would like to cancel within  two weeks of the class no refund will be issued.

Registrations

All registrations are made online through Active Network’s Camp and Class manager. If you have any difficulties or would prefer to register with us directly, please contact us at danielmcrae@macphailwoods.org or by phone: (902)651-2575.

Woodland Ecology:
An Introduction to Forest Stewardship

Saturday, October 6th
$100

Whether it is one acre or one hundred acres, owning a woodlot can be a joyful but daunting task. Creating trails, restoring biodiversity and learning how to harvest responsibly all require a variety of skills, everything from plant identification to pruning to habitat improvement. Being able to safely and responsibly work in your own forest is extremely rewarding and will provide benefits for generations to come.

Over the past twenty five years, the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project has been restoring forests across the Island, whether on private woodlands, municipal properties or provincial public forest land. Through our experience, we’ve developed tried and true methods for increasing biodiversity, improving wildlife habitat, harvesting sustainably, and adding value to your forest. Smaller patch cuts can create wonderful areas for native plantings; selective thinnings can improve the health of the forest while still providing firewood for the winter; and basic plant identification can let you see other amazing values in your forest such as delicious fiddleheads and chanterelle mushrooms.

Our Woodland Ecology course helps landowners gain the knowledge and skills they need to enjoy, improve and manage their own forest whether it be through creating better access, harvesting wood or creating a refuge for local wildlife. Over the day, participants will gain hands-on experience in pruning, plant identification, habitat improvement, harvesting, forest planning, and more.

While observing various forest types, participants will discuss what techniques would be suitable for improving the health of the forest. Methods will add both ecological and economic value to your woodland and provide a place to enjoy our Island ecology for generations.

This course will be excellent for woodlot owners, watershed workers, wildlife managers and parks employees. We’ll spend most of the time outdoors looking at plants and a variety of forest habitats.

The one-day course runs from 9am till 4:30pm. Participants should bring their own lunch and snacks, as well as clothes suited to the weather. It will take place at the Macphail Woods Nature Centre where students will have the use of a variety of pruning and planting tools. There will also be pruning saws for sale for any who are interested. The total cost for the course is $100.

If you have any questions about the course, please contact us via email danielmcrae@macphailwoods.org or by phone (902)651-2575

Location

We use our very own Nature Centre, located on the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead property, as a home base for all of our outdoor activities. Located just 20 minutes east of Charlottetown, the Macphail Woods Nature Centre has a variety of teaching spaces and is surrounded by 140 acres of forest and field. Winding through the property are four trails, a stream and one of the province’s finest remaining examples of our native Acadian forest.

Click here to find us on google maps!

Cancellations and Refunds

All campers are to be prepaid. However, refunds are accepted up until 2 weeks before the camp date. You will receive a full refund up until a month before the class date. Half the class cost will be refunded if you cancel between a month and 2 week before the class. If you would like to cancel within  two weeks of the class no refund will be issued.

Registrations

All registrations are made online through Active Network’s Camp and Class manager. If you have any difficulties or would prefer to register with us directly, please contact us at danielmcrae@macphailwoods.org or by phone: (902)651-2575.

Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance

Spring Session: April 27th-29th
Fall Session: November 2nd-4th
$250

Burning firewood can be an affordable and potentially carbon neutral way to heat your home. However, the vast majority of fuelwood is harvested from clearcuts and even homeowners cutting their own wood can damage forestland.

This three-day course will introduce participants to many aspects of sustainable fuelwood harvesting: chainsaw safety, plant identification, forest ecology, tree extraction, pruning, felling and workplace safety.

The three-day course runs from 9am till 4:00pm each day. Participants should bring their own lunch and snacks, as well as clothes suited to the weather. It will take place at the Macphail Woods Nature Centre. Registrations can be done online through our booking system or by phone (902)651-2575 or email (danielmcrae@macphailwoods.org).

Location

We use our very own Nature Centre, located on the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead property, as a home base for all of our outdoor activities. Located just 20 minutes east of Charlottetown, the Macphail Woods Nature Centre has a variety of teaching spaces and is surrounded by 140 acres of forest and field. Winding through the property are four trails, a stream and one of the province’s finest remaining examples of our native Acadian forest.

Click here to find us on google maps!

Cancellations and Refunds

All campers are to be prepaid. However, refunds are accepted up until 2 weeks before the camp date. You will receive a full refund up until a month before the class date. Half the class cost will be refunded if you cancel between a month and 2 week before the class. If you would like to cancel within  two weeks of the class no refund will be issued.

Registrations

All registrations are made online through Active Network’s Camp and Class manager. If you have any difficulties or would prefer to register with us directly, please contact us at danielmcrae@macphailwoods.org or by phone: (902)651-2575.

Basic Chainsaw I: Safety and Felling

Spring Session: Saturday, April 11th
Fall Session: Saturday,November 7th

When trying to manage a forest, being informed about the specific composition of species, soils, water and light is a must. This day-long course will give you practical experience assessing a variety of forest types, continuing to develop the skills introduced in course one.

Learn More About our School of Woodland Ecology

Basic Chainsaw II: Maintenance and Felling

Spring Session: Sunday, April 12th
Fall Session: Sunday,November 8th

This course will continue to build on skills learned in Basic Chainsaw I. The morning will be devoted to learning how to properly maintain your saw and sharpen your chain with precision. The afternoon will once again be spent in the woods learning how to limb, buck and deal with spring poles.

Learn More About our School of Woodland Ecology

Backyard Botanist I: Native Botany

Participants of this half-day course will learn about the types of plants that can be found on PEI, from liverworts and mosses to trees and ferns. Using our native plant nursery and arboretum as well as forest trails, we will have hands-on examples to demonstrate how plants grow, how roots systems connect, strategies for survival and propagation and more.

Bundle this course with Backyard Botanist II for only $100

Learn More About our School of Woodland Ecology

Backyard Botanist II: Pruning

This course will focus on learning hands-on skills that you can take home to your yard to help ensure the vigour and beauty of your trees and shrubs. Over the four hours, participants will learn proper pruning techniques to help maintain healthy, attractive and safe trees.

Bundle this course with Backyard Botanist I for only $100

Learn More About our School of Woodland Ecology

Plant Identification I: Native Trees

The course provides outdoor hands-on experience looking at leaves, buds, branches, bark and the basic patterns of native tree identification. We’ll also walk the Macphail Woods grounds to look at specimens of all the native species of trees as well as some of the preferred habitats of these beautiful organisms.

Bundle this course with Plant Identification II for only $100

Learn More About our School of Woodland Ecology

Plant Identification II: Shrubs and Beyond

Shrubs provide habitat and food for wildlife as well as a staggering number of ecological benefits from nitrogen fixation to shoreline protection. This four-hour course will take us into the Macphail Woods Arboretum which showcases many of the native shrubs you can find across the province. We’ll also introduce a selection of ferns and wildflowers.

Bundle this course with Plant Identification I for only $100

Learn More About our School of Woodland Ecology