Welcome to the Saskatoon Young Naturalists. Young Naturalists’ programs are open to all ages and offer nature-based activities designed for families. Content is geared towards the 5 to 11 year old range. We operate on the belief that children’s (and parents’) learning is enhanced when the parents/guardians are present. Parent/Guardian supervision is required on all Young Naturalists’ Programs.

The Saskatoon Young Naturalists’ began in 1968. Click here for our history. Young Naturalists is a joint program with the Saskatoon Nature Society and the Saskatoon Zoo Society. Thanks to funding from the Saskatoon Nature Society and Sasktel Max most programs are free of charge unless otherwise noted

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To register or for more information call (306) 975-3042 (this is an answering machine that is checked frequently during the day) or send an e-mail to saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com. Space is limited on most programs so advanced registration is required. Registration is on a first-come basis. You can register at any time.

Due to enrolment restrictions, the Young Naturalists’ Program is normally unable to accommodate groups (the program is designed for families). If you have a special interest group (such as Scouts, 4-H, school group, etc) please call the Saskatoon Zoo Society at (306) 975-3042 to arrange a special program for your group. There may be a charge for this programming.

Upcoming programs: 

Young Naturalists’ Bluebird Trail

Date:  Starts Monday June 4 and runs all June.
Time: Weekday evenings and weekend afternoons.
Cost:  Free (registration is required).
Did you know the Young Naturalists' have be monitoring bluebird populations around Saskatoon since 1968? Join naturalist Greg Fenty as he works with bluebirds and Tree Swallows along the Bluebird Trail. 
Space is limited.  Note: I should have the schedule for the Bluebird Trail finalized by mid-May.  This year we have two meeting locations.  One on the west end of Saskatoon (heading out highway 14) and one on the south-east end (heading out highway 11).  Call or e-mail for more information on this program.
Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register or for more information.

 

Young Naturalists Butterfly Field Trip (tentative)

Date: July (date TBA)
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Meet: Petturson’s Ravine
Cost : Free
Join naturalist Anna Leighton as we explore the area around the Saskatoon Natural Grasslands and Petturson’s Ravine  in search of butterflies and their favourite wild flowers.  Space is limited.
Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register or for more information.

 

Young Naturalists Grasslands Hike (tentative)

Date: Tentative for August
Meet: Mother Teresa School (Konihowski Road)
A walk on the Saskatoon Natural Grasslands.
Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com for more information. 

 

Young Naturalists’ Bat and Bat Houses POSTPONED

Note: this program is still in the planning stages

Join naturalist Melanie Elliott and her rescued bats for an up-close look at bats.  You will learn more about these beneficial flying mammals, and who to call when you find injured wildlife. 
Call 975-3042  or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register and for more information.

 

Young Naturalists’ Northern Saw-whet Owl Field Trip  

Date: To Be Announced (weekday evening in mid-October)
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 10:00ish
Meet: Tourist Information Centre on Ave. C North.  (Avenue C and 47th Street).
Cost:  Free (Donations  are appreciated).  Pre-registration is required.
Join naturalists Martin Stoffel as he collects scientific information from migrating Saw-whet Owls.  Saw-whets are an extremely cute owl so this program fills up quickly.  Enrolment is limited.  Call 975-3042 to register or for more information.

 
Young Naturalists’ Sandhill Crane Field Trip

Date: Saturday, October 6^th, 2012
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Meet: Kentucky Fried Chicken Parking lot at Clarence Ave and Melville Street
Cost: Free. Pre-registration is required.
A field trip to Chief Whitecap Park south of Saskatoon to look for migrating Sandhill Cranes and other wildlife. We’ll have binoculars and a spotting scope along to demonstrate how these tools can improve your wildlife watching experience.  
Parent Advisory: we will be walking along the shoreline of the South Saskatchewan River on this field trip.
Space is limited.  Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register or for more information. 

 

Young Naturalists’ Bird feeder Workshop

Date: November TBA
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Meet: Affinity Learning Centre at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo.
Cost: $10.00 / child.  Members : $5.00 / child.  Pre-registration required.
Learn about winter bird watching with a bird feeder.  Bring a hammer and build your own bird feeder to take home. 
Enrolment is limited.  Pre-registration is required.
Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register or for more information.

Nut Allergy Alert: the materials used in this program have been in contact with peanuts, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, and other seeds and tree nuts.  This program is not suitable for persons with severe contact (not ingestion) nut allergies.

 

Young Naturalists’ Paper Making Workshop

Date: Saturday, December 8, 2012
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Meet: Affinity Learning Centre at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo.
Cost: $2.00 /  child.  Members: $1.00 / child.  
Pre-registration required.
Learn how paper is made and create your very own paper from recycled materials.  It’s a great project for gift tags and cards.  Wear old clothes as this program can get messy! 
Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com for more information or to register.

Young Naturalists' Snowshoeing

Date: January 2013 (Date and time to be announced).
Meet: Affinity Learning Centre at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo.
Cost: Free 
Pre-registration required
Snowshoes are one of the traditional methods of getting around in deep snow. We’re going to strap on some snowshoes and give it a try. Join the Young Naturalists’ as we explore the snowy world of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park on snowshoes. After a busy afternoon of snowshoeing, we’ll enjoy a cup of hot chocolate around the campfire. Dress warmly. Snowshoeing can be tricky, so bring a change of clothes in case you go “snow-swimming”. Snowshoes are provided, however, we only have a limited number of snowshoes, so enrolment is limited. Please register in advance by calling 975-3042 or by e-mail at saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com

 

Young Naturalists' Making Tracks

Date: January 2013. Date and time to be annouced.
Time: 1:00 p.m..
Meet:  Affinity Learning Centre in the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo.
Cost: $2.00 / child. Members: $1.00 / child 
Pre-registration required
We’ll look at the basic animal track patterns for some of the common animals found around Saskatoon. If weather permits we’ll do a little exploring for animal tracks in the snow. And we’ll also make a plaster track craft you can take home.
Enrolment is limited. Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com  to enrol or for more information.

 

Young Naturalists' Chickadee Pishing

Date: February 2013.  Date to be announced.
Meet: Pike Lake Provincial Park
Time: 1:00 p.m..
Cost: Free 
Pre-registration required.
Pishing is the time-honoured technique of attracting birds for a closer look. The chickadees at Pike Lake are well accustomed to pishers, so it is a great place to practice the technique. Dress warmly and give it a try. Cost is free. Bird snacks are provided (feel tree to bring one for yourself). Bring your binoculars if you have some. Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com for more information or to sign up for this field trip.

 

Young Naturalists’ Great Horned Owl

Date: March 2013 TBA
Time:  1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Meet: Affinity Learning Centre at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo
Cost: Free - donations accepted. Pre-registration is required.
Meet Spirt, (pronounced Spirit) the one-eyed Great Horned Owl at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo.  In this indoor session we’ll take a look at the ecology of the Great Horned Owl in Saskatchewan and learn all about owl pellets.  What’s an owl pellet?  More importantly, what’s inside an owl pellet?  Find out at this exciting presentation.  Space is limited.  
Call 975-3042 to register or for more information.

 

Young Naturalists’ Bird House Workshop

Date: Spring 2013
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Meet: Affinity Learning Centre at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo.
Spring is just around the corner so it is time to prepare for the bluebirds and Tree swallows return from their winter migration.  These cavity-nesting birds will be looking for suitable nesting sites.  We can help them out by building a birdhouse.  Bring a hammer and make your own birdhouse.  Space is limited in this workshop so registration is required.  
Call 975-3042  or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register or for more information. 

 

Young Naturalists’ Pike Lake Field Trip  

Date: May 2013
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Meet: Pike Lake Provincial Park (main parking lot).
Cost:  Free.  Pre-registration is required.
Join the Young Naturalists for lunch around the campfire followed by nature activities including our search for wild dragons, damsels, fairies, and frogs*.   Space is limited on this very popular program so register early!
Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com for more details or to register. 
(*Dragonflies, damselflies, fairy shrimp, and frogs).

 

Young Naturalists’ Great Horned Owl Field Trip

Date: TBA (Usually a weekday evening in mid-May)
Time: 
Meet: 
Cost: Free.  Donations always accepted.  Pre-registration is required. 
We will join naturalists’ Martin Stoffel and Martin Gerard as he collects scientific information from wild Great Horned Owls.  Space is limited.  Pre-registration is required.
Call 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register or for more information.

 

Young Naturalists’ Bat and Bat Houses (tentative)

Note: this program is still in the planning stages

Join naturalist Melanie Elliott and her rescued bats for an up-close look at bats.  You will learn more about these beneficial flying mammals, and who to call when you find injured wildlife. 
Call 975-3042  or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register and for more information.