Junior Naturalist afternoons take place Monday to Friday (1:30 to 3:30 pm) from June 29th to September 4th, 2026.
Since 1998 Friends of Riding Mountain National Park has offered a Junior Naturalist education program for children between the ages of 5 and 12. The focus of this program is to provide children and families with the opportunity to learn about the birds, bugs, wildlife and nature that make up Riding Mountain National Park, the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, and the province of Manitoba.
Objectives of the Junior Naturalist Program
The Junior Naturalist Program is an important educational tool for Riding Mountain National Park and the Parkland region. To this end, it has two main objectives:
1. To enhance the appreciation, understanding and commitment of children to the ecological and cultural heritage of Riding Mountain National Park and the surrounding Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve.
2. To offer seasonal visitors, travelers, and local residents with the opportunity to have their children and grandchildren take part in a “learning while experiencing” summer education program.
Junior Naturalist Programs are divided into three theme weeks, offered on a rotational basis over the two months of operations. Each theme week is comprised of daily topics that are presented as a combination of experiments, nature hikes, hands-on workshops and talks. Each program is a “stand alone” program, meaning that kids can be registered for any program of any week. A registration fee of $12.00 per child per afternoon program (10% discount for Friends members) is charged.
Class sizes in our Junior Naturalist programs is limited to a maximum of twelve (12) participants. As a result, ADVANCED registration and payment is required!
May the Forest Be With You
June 29 – July 3 (no program on Canada Day, July 1)
July 20 – 24
August 10 – 14
August 31 – September 4
Expedition X
July 6 – 10
July 27 – 31
August 17 – 21
Into the Wild
July 13 – 17
August 3 – 7
August 24 – 28
Online Junior Naturalist Form
Printable Junior Naturalist Form 2026
For more information about the Junior Naturalist Program, contact Friends at (204) 848-4037 or email friends.rmnp@mymts.net.