Birthday parties at the High Park Nature Centre are designed for nature loving families who would like to celebrate their child’s special day in a safe, fun and planet-friendly learning environment. Our nature interpreters are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and kid-centred. We have two options and several themes to accommodate you and your child’s party wishes.
Check out our Birthday Party Info Flyer 2012!
Birthday Parties are held on Friday evenings (late spring and early fall), Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, except for July and August.
GUIDED PARTY PROGRAM WITH A NATURE INTERPRETER
$250 for 2 hours
Ages 4 – 10 years
*Up to 15 children. Additional children can be added at a rate of $10 per child to a maximum of 20 children. Please note that younger siblings will be included in the total number of children for the party.
Need more Time? $75 per additional hour of programming with a Nature Interpreter OR $25 per additional hour of building rental only
What is included in the rental cost?
- 1.5 hours of nature-themed programming with a Nature Interpreter (indoor and mostly outdoor: outdoor nature hike, games, crafts etc.)
- 30 minutes of time for food, cake and presents
- Additional 30 minutes prior for set-up + 15 minutes after for clean up
- use of kitchen facilities and indoor washrooms
- use of a complete set of dishes and cutlery (please help reduce waste and do not bring disposable plates and cutlery)
- after party clean-up by Nature Centre staff
- environmentally friendly decorations
Party Themes (choose one)
Fairy and Gnome Party (Year-round) – Celebrate your birthday with High Park’s fairies and gnomes! Drift off to Fairyland as you make your very own fairy to take home, hike the trails in search of clues from the fairies and help to build a home for a fairy or gnome out of natural materials.
Nature’s Art Party (Year-round) – Let your creativity shine as bright as your birthday candles! Paint a picture of the park using only natural materials as your paintbrush, make mini sketch pads to “collect” textures and patterns from nature, craft a nature bracelet and sculpt a masterpiece using only natural materials found on the ground!
Nature Believe it or Not! Party (Year-round) – Get grossed out, amazed and stumped by weird and wonderful animal adaptations! Learn about the odd things that animals do, what they eat and where they live through the Nature Centre’s “Believe it or Not!” trivia challenge, preparing some pretty strange animal meals and a animal homes nature hike.
Insect Party (May-June & September) – Go on a bug hunt for your big day! Make bug crafts, see insect specimens and live insects up close, and go on an insect scavenger hunt with a bug collection net and jar.
Butterfly Party (June) – Do you want to grow wings and learn how to taste food with your feet? A butterfly party is for you! Make a butterfly craft to take home, hike to High Park’s “Butterfly Hill” and see live butterflies up close.
Fall Celebration (October – mid November) – Enjoy a birthday hike along trails carpeted with beautiful fall leaves, search for chipmunks with their cheeks stuffed full of acorns and learn about all of the amazing ways that animals and plants prepare for the winter.
Chickadee Party (Late-December – March) – Happy Bird-day! Create a pine cone bird feeder and then head out on the trails to follow a flock of chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers while searching the sky for soaring hawks. Hand-feed chickadees and learn how these amazing birds survive the winter in High Park.
Snowshoeing Party (Late December – March) – Explore the wonders of winter while discovering the ancient art of snowshoeing! Learn the amazing history of snowshoeing and then strap on a pair of “big feet”. Play fun and snowshoe games as you hike the trails of High Park in search of birds and animals. *depends on snow cover
OPTION # 2
RENT THE NATURE CENTRE FOR YOUR OWN PARTY
$175 for 2.5 hours
What is included in the rental cost?
- Nature Centre staff member on-site to assist with room rental but no programming is included
- 30 minutes set up and clean up time
- use of kitchen facilities and indoor washrooms
- use of a complete set of dishes, cutlery and cloth napkins (please do not bring disposable plates and cutlery)
- after party clean-up by Nature Centre staff
Deposit Required
All Birthday Party bookings require a $150 deposit. We also charge a $10.00 administrative fee for date changes.
Your deposit does two things. It holds your date and time and covers any damage to the Nature Centre or NC property during the party. Should no damage occur, the deposit will be used to pay part of the balance of the party fee. Should damage occur, your deposit will be used to pay for repairs and additional charges may apply, depending on the extent of the damage.
The balance of the total fee for your party is due on the day of the party and at the end of the party, with no exceptions. The balance can be paid by cash or cheque.
Cancellation Fee
If cancelled within 7 days of booked party date, a $10 administration fee will be charged and the rest of your deposit will be returned. For all late cancellations and no-shows, your deposit will not be refunded.
Interested in Booking a Party?
Call 416-392-1748 ext. 2 or email sarah@highpark.org to book. Please have an idea of which option (and party theme if applicable) you are interested in and a list of possible dates before contacting us.
Also check out our Frequently Asked Questions!
Bookings must be finalized and confirmed 2 weeks prior to the party date.