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ACTIVITIES

Hikes | Conservation Activities | Kids Activities | Bird Banding | Educational Displays |Workshops

HIKES

Early Bird Hikes for Beginners registration required

Female American Redstart by A.GrayLearn birding basics on the Early Bird Hikes for Beginners. Led by expert birders, these hikes will focus on proper binocular use, species identification, birding ethics and the best places to search for birds. Hikes will depart from the front entrance of Tommy Thompson Park, follow the nature trail though the Baselands and along the Neck to the Multi-Use Trail at Cell One. The hike will culminate at the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station on Peninsula D.

* There are opportunities to leave the hike early if necessary.
* This hike is not recommended for young children or strollers.

Early Bird Hikes for Experts registration required

Cedar Waxwing Nest by A.JanoAre you an experienced birder who wants to go birding with a group on a beautiful Saturday morning in May? If so, this hike is for you! Join other experienced birders for a birding hike through Tommy Thompson Park. Hike leaders will guide groups from the entrance of Tommy Thompson Park, through the Baselands (a.k.a. ‘Warbler Woods'), along the nature trail to Cell One. The hike will culminate at the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station on Peninsula D.

* There are opportunities to leave the hike early if necessary.
* This hike is not recommended for young children or strollers.

Family Nature Hikes registration required

A fun filled nature hike for the whole family. Learn about the variety of habitats at Tommy Thompson Park and the species that use them. This hike will depart from the front entrance and follow the Primary Pedestrian Trail to Cell One.

* This hike is suitable for strollers.
* There are opportunities to leave the hike early if necessary.

Birding by Bike - registration required

A bike tour of Tommy Thompson Park led by the park manager, highlighting the various habitats and the birds they support. The tour will depart from the front entrance and follow the Multi-Use Trail through the park. Stops will include Cell One and Embayment D, the Pedestrian Bridge to view Peninsula C (waterbird colonies), the Shorebird Wetland and Embayment A. Bring your bike, binoculars and plenty of water!

* This tour may not be suitable for young children or beginner bikers. Please consider the distance and fast pace before registering children under the age of 12.

LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) Tree Tour - registration required

Tommy Thompson Park is home to a variety of native trees and shrubs that provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife. Take a guided tour of the park with LEAF's Manager of Volunteers and Community Engagement to learn about the different species and the roles they play in the local ecosystem.

*There are opportunities to leave the hike early if necessary.
*This hike is not recommended for young children or strollers.

Colonial Waterbird Hike - registration required

Double-crested Cormorant by G. FraserTommy Thompson Park is home to six species of nesting colonial waterbirds including Double-crested Cormorants, Common Terns, Black-crowned Night Herons, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Great Egrets. Join TRCA staff on the Colonial Waterbird Hike to learn about these magnificent species, see their nesting grounds and learn about colonial waterbird management. This hike will depart from the Embayment D lookout and follow the Secondary Pedestrian Trail to the tip of Peninsula D where participants will have the opportunity to view the colony through a spotting scope.

*This tour is suitable for children

Cell One Hikes

Cell OneTake a tour of Cell One, a wetland created by TRCA. Learn about the importance of wetlands, Cell One wetland features and the wildlife (including birds!) that use this habitat. This tour will depart from the educational displays at Cell One and will follow the nature trail around the wetland.

Peninsula D Hikes

Take a tour of the area on Peninsula D where the bird research is conducted. Led by an expert birder and volunteer at the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station, this hike will follow the Secondary Pedestrian Trail loop on Peninsula D. Participants will learn about the importance of the research that is being carried out, and will have the opportunity to see a mist net used to capture songbirds and a live banding demonstration!

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CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

The Great Tommy Thompson Park Litter Pickup

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Join the Aquatic Park Sailing Club in the Great Tommy Thompson Park Litter Pickup. Visit the APSC booth at the front entrance of the park to grab a garbage bag and some gloves then head into the park. As you walk pick up any garbage you find. Once you've finished your clean up, close the bag and leave it along the side of the Multi-Use Trail for pick up by a TRCA truck. By removing litter from the park we can all make it a nicer place for humans and wildlife alike!

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WORKSHOPS

Nature Photography Workshop- registration required.

A fun hike through the park with tips and pointers on the various aspects of nature photography including wildlife, landscape, and macro photography. Participants will receive guidance on basic camera operation such as settings and shutter speed to create the highest quality photos possible.

All participants are required to bring their own digital camera. A good pair of walking shoes is also recommended. Participants are encouraged to bring any additional photography equipment they may have such as a tripod or additional lenses but these are not required for the workshop.

Nature Sketching Workshop - registration required

Participants will given the opportunity to experience the enjoyment of sketching out in nature and will receive guidance and assistance on how to artistically capture the world around them. Participants are required to bring their own materials including pencils, an eraser, a pencil sharpener and a sketch pad. It is also highly recommended that participants bring a small portable chair or stool to sit on while they are sketching. If participants wish to they may bring additional art materials such as pencil crayons, pens or markers.p>

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KIDS ACTIVITIES

Festival Passport, Scavenger Hunt, Check your Wingspan, Young Birders, Build a Bird Box, Band a Kid, And More!

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LIVE BIRD BANDING DEMONSTRATIONS

Magnolia Warber by G. DonaldVisit the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS) on Peninsula D to see our research coordinator in action as she bands migratory birds as part of the migration monitoring program. Learn about the migration monitoring program, the standard protocols and the importance of the research. Additionally you'll have the rare opportunity to see migratory birds up close and personal in the hand of our coordinator! Banding demonstrations are weather dependent.

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EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS

Educational displays will be set up at Cell One. Learn about:

And More!

Educational Display   Educational Display

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