Weekend Nature Play | Children’s Garden
Join us every Saturday and select Sundays for free outdoor play programming!
The Children's Garden will be available to the public for Weekend Nature Play, a free, drop-in and supervised program, from 10am - 1pm on Saturdays and select Sundays.
Designed to showcase and make available to the public the many benefits of place based outdoor play and learning, the Children’s Garden offers a wild yet urban landscape for child-led play and stewardship-based opportunities for all visiting the Brick Works. It is truly a place like no other!
The Weekend Nature Play program takes place in the Children’s Garden giving children, families and caregivers alike the chance to engage in active, inclusive and seasonal activities while cultivating a lifelong stewardship ethic with the nature around us. Here, at Evergreen, we believe in nurturing curiosity and developing urban naturalist skills at all ages.
Our highly skilled outdoor educator team curate activities allowing for risky play that is ‘as safe as necessary’ rather than ‘as safe as possible’ and for building friendships, old and new.
Follow the Valley Chimney to the best place in Toronto and join us for a free, drop-in and outdoor play program open year-round for you and your child to explore, experience and play with nature.
Program Details
- This is a free, year-round, drop-in outdoor program for all ages
- This program takes place every Saturday and select Sundays from 10am-1pm in the Children’s Garden
- No pets allowed in the Children’s Garden except for service animals
- For Community Spotlight events, please see here
- Donations are welcome
As this program is offered year-round, we recommend visiting this page again for updates on upcoming program dates.
Children's Garden Rules
Adults
- Children must be supervised at all times
- No smoking
- No bikes
- No pets except service animals
Children
- No throwing
- Logs and sticks must be transported with one end on the ground
- Care for yourself, others and this space
Dates & Time
Time
10:00am – 1:00pm
The September dates are:
- Saturday, September 2
- Saturday, September 9
- Saturday, September 16
- Sunday, September 17
- Saturday, September 23
- Saturday, September 30
The October Dates are:
- Saturday, October 7
- Sunday, October 8
- Saturday, October 14
- Saturday, October 21
- Saturday, October 28
Donate Today
Your donations ensure that even more children can access the Weekend Nature Play program at Evergreen. Please consider making a gift and helping others build incredible childhood memories.
FAQ
What is Evergreen Brick Works?
Evergreen Brick Works is an abandoned brick factory turned community hub. It’s a place where the world can experience sustainable practices that enable flourishing cities of the future.
Evergreen Brick Works connects citizens, business, academia and government to turn what-if’s into how to’s that will shape our cities for the better. For real.
All the activities you take part in; weekly Farmers Market, outdoor Children Garden, exhibitions, ravine walks and bike rides, conferences, talks and green design features are how we showcase and inspire innovative ideas. Evergreen Brick Works enables visitors to take solutions back to their home, business, community and cities across Canada. To learn more about Evergreen, which operates Evergreen Brick Works, visit our About page.
Where is the Children’s Garden?
See here for our visitor map and follow the Valley Chimney to the best place in Toronto and join us for a free, drop-in and outdoor play program open year-round for you and your child to explore, experience and play with nature. Once you’re at the Brick Works, you can follow signage on-site to get to the Children’s Garden! Feel free to ask a staff member for wayfinding!
Are dogs allowed in the Children’s Garden?
No dogs are allowed in the Children’s Garden except service animals.
How old does my child have to be to take part in the Weekend Nature Play program?
Children and adults of all ages and abilities are welcome to take part in the Weekend Nature Play program! Please note that this is a supervised program where adults and caregivers must be around their children at all times.
Children’s Garden Rules:
Adults
- Children must be supervised at all times
- No smoking
- No bikes
- No pets except service animals
Children
- No throwing
- Logs and sticks must be transported with one end on the ground
- Care for yourself, others and this space
How long does Weekend Nature Play run for?
The program runs from 10AM-1PM every Saturday with select Sundays year-round. This is a drop-in program and you’re welcome to stay for as long as you wish between 10AM-1PM.
What kind of activities take place during Weekend Nature Play?
Our highly skilled outdoor educator team set out provocations and activities depending on the season and weather while considering the shared skills of the team and shared interests of the public, so activities may include but are not limited to:
- Nature Crafts
- Touch Tables
- Shelter Building
- Songs & Storytelling
- Sand Play
What is the admission cost for this program?
There is no admission fee! Weekend Nature Play is a free, year-round, drop-in outdoor program for all ages. We do accept donations here and you’re welcome to donate in-person when visiting the Brick Works. Your donations ensure that even more children can access the Weekend Nature Play program at Evergreen.
Thank you kindly for supporting our community programs!
Can I have a picnic, barbecue or fire in the Children’s Garden?
Unfortunately, no, but you can absolutely have a picnic outside of the Children’s Garden! We have many picnic tables scattered in the alleyway leading up to the Children’s Garden, around the site, some under cover and others out in the open. These tables fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure you properly dispose of all picnic waste before leaving.
Please note that the parkland behind Evergreen Brick Works is not appropriate for spreading out picnic blankets – all grassy areas are earmarked for wildlife, human visitors should stay on the pathways to minimize ecological damage.
More Information
For more information, please write to us at natureplay@evergreen.ca.
For information on Community Spotlight events, please see here.
If you are a school group planning on visiting Evergreen Brick Works, please reach out to schools@evergreen.ca. Evergreen is a national not-for-profit dedicated to making cities flourish. We appreciate your support in continuing to offer these community programs to children and families in Toronto.
