Eco-Experience Places | Environmental Learning Centres | Environmental Education Centres | Environmental Learning Centers | Environmental Education Centers | Sustainable Living Centres | Sustainable Living Centers | Eco-tourism | Ecotourism | Green Tourism - demonstrations, volunteers, volunteering, apprenticeships, workshops, courses - Canada, USA, U.S.A., Ontario, North America

Eco-Centres & Places
Environmental & Sustainability Education – Centres, Places & Links
Environment · Sustainable Living · Organic & Ecological Food, Gardening,
Agriculture · Nature · Renewable Energy · Activism · Healthy Community...
(a People- & Planet-Friendly Portal & Guide)

Ontario, Canada
(for places within the city of Toronto, please see next section)

Kortright Centre for Conservation (just NW of Toronto)

Canada's largest environmental education centre. 800 acres including a river valley, marshes, meadows & forests, 16 km of trails, visitor centre, green energy exhibits, year-round guided walks, special events and education programming. Kortright produces much of its own power and processes its own waste water. Annual series of solar & wind power workshops in their renewable energy cottage, powered by wind & sun. Volunteer opps. (Vaughan, ten minutes north of Toronto). www.kortright.org (TRCA)

Everdale Organic Farm and Environmental Learning Centre (NW of Toronto)

Everdale is a non-profit organization which operates two organic teaching farms: one in Hillsburgh (Wellington County) and one in Toronto’s Black Creek community. Everdale’s mission is to provide hands-on, solution-based food and farming education to build and engage healthy local communities. To accomplish this, Everdale delivers a wide range of practical learning programs to people of all ages and backgrounds including farmer training, school programs, food and farming workshops and public events. Opportunities to become involved with Everdale include volunteering, becoming a member of the Harvest Share community-shared agriculture program, attending workshops and participating in Everdale’s Farmers Growing Farmers training programs. More information: www.everdale.org

Whole Village (NW of Toronto)

A group of people from a variety of backgrounds, singles and families who have come together to build an ecovillage in conjunction with a biodynamic farm. We have purchased a 190 acre farm near Caledon, northwest of Toronto. Info meetings; weekend workbees, workshops and other events. Volunteer opportunities. www.wholevillage.org (click on "FAQ"). View recent messages from the e-mail list: groups.yahoo.com/group/WV-Updates/

Ecology Retreat Centre (near Orangeville)

Nestled among the Niagara Escarpment hills, adjacent to the beautiful Bruce Trail. Surrounded by 200 acres of natural forest, hills and valleys, open meadows and three spring-fed streams, a pond, an organic garden and orchard, and an endless network of trails. Year-round calendar of events, workshops, courses and retreats. Workshops include: Living Off The Grid; Strawbale Construction; Permaculture Fundamentals Course. Rental facilities: in our natural rustic setting, groups may run their own programs, workshops & seminars. In the Hockley Valley, near Orangeville, 50km north of Toronto Airport. More information: www.ecologyretreatcentre.com 1-800-486-5460 519-941-4560

Ignatius Farm & Ignatius Jesuit Centre (just north of Guelph ON)

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm/gardens, Retreat Centre, Ecology Project, trails, orchard & farm, internships, workshops, office space. Ignatius Farm has been under the management of the Canadian Jesuits since 1913, encompassing a variety of activities, including organic livestock and apple production, and a retreat centre. In 2001, the Ignatius Farm's "Community Shared Agriculture" program was born. Our mission is to foster community, while affirming commitment to the land and the environment. Location: just north of Guelph, Ontario. Ignatius: www.ignatiusguelph.ca CSA: www.ignatiusguelph.ca/csa/

Diversity Gardens (St. Agatha, north of Waterloo ON)

Hands-on training in growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers using organic techniques. Learning gardens; workshops; tours; gardening bees; Master Organic Gardener course; Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program; wildcraft & plant sales. When completed, the site will have: perennial gardens; edible landscaping demo; water wise demo; forest food walk; organic espalier fruit; winter garden; educational greenhouse; demonstration kitchen; organic library; washrooms; wildcrafting studios; hummingbird garden; more. Volunteers needed (tours, workshops, sales, gardening, more). Diversity Gardens | more

YMCA Environmental Learning Centre (west of Waterloo ON)

Earth-friendly buildings surrounded by 77 acres of wetland ponds, grassy meadows & mixed forest. Features include solar & wind power; human-powered rowing and bicycle generators; solar water heating panels; compact fluorescent lighting; an off-the-grid building; corn stoves, masonry & infrared heaters; natural, recycled & salvaged construction materials; low flush & composting toilets; greywater filtration; living machine; solarium; greenhouse wall; living roof. Hosts outdoor education programs for area organizations and school groups; site tours available. Rentals. Paradise Lake, St. Clements, 15 minutes NW of Waterloo, Ontario. KW YMCA | Outdoor Centre

Acorus Restoration (on Lake Erie)

A native plant nursery working towards the enhancement & creation of natural areas in the Lower Great Lakes Basin. Providing wholesale & retail native wetland, prairie, meadow and woodland wildflowers, grasses and trees since 1995. Our plants are thriving across the province, in restoration sites, storm water ponds, families' backyards, school yards, and of course on our own farm. Also, working towards the use of alternative energies and building resources; organic and Integrated Pest Management practices in our greenhouses. A 95-acre former tobacco farm with a variety of natural features including prairie, remnant oak savannah, wet meadow, a ravine system and meandering creek, slough and upland forest. Workshops, guided walks & tours: Prairie, Meadow, Wetland, Wet Meadow Restoration; Gardening with Native Plants & Wildflowers; Natural Landscaping. Internships (biodiversity, horticulture & restoration ecology). South of Woodstock near Long Point on Lake Erie, in southwestern Ontario. www.ecologyart.com

Meeting Place Organic Farm (Goderich/Kincardine area ON)

Diversified 100-acre organic farm, gardens, woodlot, apple orchard, sheep, Belgian work horses, cows, pigs, chickens and ducks. Large garden (Community Supported Agriculture/CSA) grows vegetables for 50 families. Passive solar house. Apprenticeships; short term one-on-one training by special arrangement. Hands-on training in draft horse farming, farm husbandry, diversified small farm management, organic vegetable and herb production, and CSA garden management. Operated by Fran & Tony McQuail (co-founder of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario). Northwest of Kitchener-Waterloo, near Goderich. Meeting Place Organic Farm.

Kimbercote Retreat Centre (Thornbury/Collingwood area ON)

A not-for-profit retreat centre on the beautiful Niagara Escarpment, adjacent to the Bruce Trail. A warm and sympathetic meeting and retreat space for organizations promoting social justice and environmental issues. Century farmhouse, meeting room, lounge, fully equipped kitchens, barn, trails. Accessible rates for special interest groups, as part of our mandate to encourage and support socially conscious organizations. Workshops, workbees & events. Near Collingwood, about two hours north of Toronto. www.kimbercote.org

The Living Centre / Spirit of the Earth (near London ON)

An eco-spiritual education and healing sanctuary; life-inspiring programs and services to people seeking greater health and vitality in their personal life and careers. The principal courses offered at The Living Centre integrate physical, emotional, spiritual and ecological health and well-being as the four essential factors in achieving human potential, success, and creating a healthy, happy, balanced life and society. You are welcomed to join us to learn, heal and reconnect with your soul in our beautiful 50 acres of gardens and forest. New in 2009: Forest Gardening workshops and apprenticeships. More information: www.thelivingcentre.com (what is Forest Gardening | more )

Gamiing Centre for Sustainable Lakeshore Living (between Lindsay and Peterborough ON)

Assisting lakeshore landowners to balance human desires with the needs of wildlife and lakeshore eco-systems. Demonstration site for sound environmental practice for lakeshore dwellers; source of native trees and plants for lakeshore restoration projects; helping landowners to plan and design the best possible shoreline project; land is placed in trust with the Kawartha Heritage Conservancy to conserve for future generations. Our desire is to preserve a natural shoreline and its surrounding property in perpetuity while creating a dynamic natural venue to which the public can come for relaxation, reflection, and interactive education in the aspects of low-impact sustainable lakeshore living. Volunteer & apprenticeship opportunities. On Pigeon Lake, east of Lindsay. www.gamiing.org

Russet House Farm (formerly SunRun Centre) (north of Lindsay ON)

Russet House Farm is owned by a community of people with a commitment to sustainable living, creation care, and environmental education. The farm uses wind and solar-voltaic energy production and raises rare breed Kerry cattle and free-range poultry. On an intensive one-acre plot the community also grow organic fruits and vegetables. The large garden is worked almost entirely by hand. The produce feeds the four households throughout the year and surplus is sold to a food coop in Toronto or donated to homeless ministries. The farm also functions as a place of learning. From April to October, Russet House Farm opens its doors to volunteers who spend the morning working in the garden in exchange for lunch and an afternoon of wandering the trails or touring the farm buildings and gardens. In addition, workshops, retreats, and conferences are held periodically. www.russethousefarm.ca

Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Centre (near Dorset ON)

The Leslie M. Frost Centre has a rich history of environmental and outdoor education dating back to the early 1900's. Surrounded by 24,000 hectares of towering forest. Near Dorset, Ontario. Newly re-opened in 2008 as the Frost Centre Institute: www.frostcentreinstitute.com

Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve (north of Haliburton ON)

50,000 acres of forest and lakes, bordering Algonquin Park. Wilderness adventure activities including the Wolf Centre, Walk in the Clouds forest canopy tour, mountain biking, dogsledding, hiking, wildlife observation, wilderness camping and accommodation. www.haliburtonforest.com

Algonquin Tea Company (Algonquin Park/Pembroke area ON)

Edible & medicinal plant walks/garden tours; occasional workshops; four week hands-on apprenticeship programs. Volunteer opportunities. Ethically wildcrafted and certified organic herbs, permaculture forest gardening, 200-acre homestead. Two locations: Whitney (by Algonquin Park) and Golden Lake. www.algonquintea.com

Potter’s Earthship / Turtle School (near Bancroft)

A solar-powered home built with many hard working hands out of popcans, tires, sand and concrete (an earthship). Tours and hands-on experiential workshops (energy-efficient organic gardening; herb spiral construction; introduction to earth homes; greywater recycling systems; earth home construction). Near Gilmour and Bancroft, Ontario. The Potter's Earthship

Maison Tucker House (Rockland, just east of Ottawa)

A charitable retreat and environmental learning centre. Tucker House exists to provide a healthy haven for relaxation, inspiration and education, all in a historic, serene and chemical-free natural environment. A stately Georgian mansion built in 1870 of local materials. Surrounded by 30 acres of lawns, mixed woods, meadows, nature trails, playing fields and organic gardens. Also: swimming pool, barn, trailer sites with hydro and drinking water, a large area for group or individual camping, and ample parking. Six upstairs bedrooms can accommodate groups of up to 20 people; fully equipped kitchen; spacious living room and a large dining room with a cozy fireplace. Programs: Country Fun Nature (day) Camp; Eco-Gardening Project (organic garden plots; training & practice in ecological gardening; future Community Supported Agriculture project); Seeds of Hope Organic Gardening Course; Nature walks, retreats & workshops. Half an hour's drive east of Ottawa. www.tuckerhouse.ca

Canadian Ecology Centre (near Mattawa, east of North Bay)

Courses & outdoors activities; meeting & conference space for small and large groups. Individual & group accom. EcoCamp and other camps and credit courses for high school students. www.canadianecology.ca

More in Ontario

Earthlodge (near Peterborough) www.davidsheen.com/firstearth/
Thom's Earthship (between Guelph & Orangeville, near Everdale - see above) link
Wilson Natural Home (near Orangeville) www.naturallifenetwork.com/home/

Wwoof Homes, Gardens & Farms: Wwwoof Canada has listings of ninety organic farms, gardens and businesses across Ontario, plus many more across Canada. While many of these don't give structured workshops, events or formal apprenticeships, they do offer remarkable opportunities for those who thrive in less structured settings and have good communication skills and work habits. By working in exchange for your room, food and instruction, these opportunities are available free of charge (except for a small membership fee). See www.planetfriendly.net/wwoof.html

(see also "Other Listings of Learning Centres & Places", below)

Summer Camps in Ontario & Canada
(mostly for children and teens; also have adult programs and available for rentals)

Places
Living Routes (college-level semester & summer programmes based in Ecovillages around the world; formerly known as Geocommons) www.livingroutes.org
Institute for Social Ecology (Vermont) (workshops, courses & B.A. degree) www.social-ecology.org
Earthaven Ecovillage / Culture's Edge (North Carolina) (permaculture and other topics) www.earthaven.org
Ecovillage Training Center at The Farm (Tennessee) www.thefarm.org/etc/
Twin Oaks Community (Virginia) www.twinoaks.org (click on "Tours", "3-week Visitor Program", "Internships" and "We are an Ecovillage")
Ecovillage at Ithaca (Ithaca, New York) www.ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us (see also "Living Routes", above, or to arrange a visit, click on "more about Frog"; scroll down to "arrange a visit")
The Good Life Center (Helen & Scott Nearing) (Maine) www.goodlife.org
Eco-Learning Centre (Michigan) www.ecolearningcenter.org
Marianist Environmental Education Centre (Ohio) www.udayton.edu/~meec/
Center for Sustainable Living (Indiana) www.bloomington.in.us/~csl/
Occidental Arts & Ecology Centre (California) www.oaec.org
Solar Living Institute (California) www.solarliving.org
Campus Centre for Appropriate Technology (California) http://humboldt.edu/~ccat/
Lost Valley Educational Centre (Oregon) www.lostvalley.org
Aprovecho (Oregon) www.efn.org/~apro/

An amazing diversity of organic farms, gardens and businesses have opportunities – from a few days to a few months – where you can work in exchange for accomodation, organic home-cooked meals, learning and fun. Locations across Canada and around the world. Working/learning opportunities vary from organic farming & gardening, to cooking, carpentry, business admin, creative work, childcare, solar power, sustainable living skills. Everything is negotiated between you and the host. From solar-powered to strawbale homes, from herbs to orchards to rare-breed cattle, from swimming holes to gourmet cooking – the variety is endless. Year-round; all ages. Membership is $30/year; this gets you a fascinating booklet describing over 400 organic farms, gardens & businesses across Canada. Also known as Willing Workers On Organic Farms. Canada: www.wwoof.ca wwoofcan@shaw.ca John Vanden Heuvel, WWOOF Canada, 4429 Carlson Road, Nelson, BC, Canada, VIL 6X3. Tel. 250-354-4417 (please call Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Pacific Time). www.planetfriendly.net/wwoof.html
USA: www.wwoof.org/joinDet.asp , www.wwoof.org/wpusa.html , www.wwoofusa.com , www.smallfarm.org/newoof/companions.html , www.organicvolunteers.org , www.wwoofca.org Worldwide: www.wwoof.org , www.wwoof.org/how2join.asp
Article: www.emagazine.com/september-october_2000/0900gl_travel.html
See also:
Organic Opportunity (food, gardening & agriculture – links, resources & opportunities) www.planetfriendly.net/organic.html
Learning Centres & Places in North America www.planetfriendly.net/learn.html
Wwoof: www.planetfriendly.net/wwoof.html www.planetfriendly.net/learn.html

They Call It "Wwoofing"

"Imagine yourself waking up to a crystal clear sky, and the sounds of birds, bees, and livestock all busy with activity. The warmth of a summer's breeze is caressing your face as you rise to survey the garden beds for signs of new growth, your eyes squinting into the morning sun for signs of furry visitor sin distant orchard or vineyard. You finish your morning chores and head for the kitchen to help the others with breakfast, bathed in the aroma of fresh apples, herbs, eggs and pancakes with home-made maple syrup. Soon, it's off to the barn for more communal chores. And so your simple day goes. Though there seems no end to the work to be done, you enjoy it and feel truly blessed. And after a time, it dawns on you. You haven't left the homestead in days or even weeks. You haven't needed any outside help or entertainment. And you haven't needed any money or excessive possessions. Nature has provided everything you needed to live well." – Orion Wilson (who has wwoofed extensively in Ontario, Canada) (see www.planetfriendly.net/wwoof.html or www.planetfriendly.net/organic.html#wwoof for more information and links)

Alternative Resource Centres
Guelph: Guelph International Resource Centre, 151 Waterloo Ave. girc@web.net 519-822-3110
Oakville: Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Environment & Human Rights, 148 Kerr St., Oakville (just N. of Lakeshore), 905-849-5501 http://occpehr.the-activist.org
Ottawa: Peace & Environment Resource Centre (PERC), 174 First Ave. (at Bank), top floor 613-230-4590 http://perc.ca
Toronto: Toronto Vegetarian Association, 2300 Yonge #1101, 416-544-9800 www.veg.ca
Waterloo: Global Community Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, Market Square, Lower Level, 25 Frederick St, Kitchener. 519-570-0955 gccwat@web.net Focus: developing countries around the world

Toronto:
Grassroots Environmental Products, Environmentally friendly products; gifts; books; magazines; non-toxic household & personal care supplies; bulletin board; bikeshare hub; used battery & Britta filter drop-off; workshops; more. 372 Danforth (Chester subway) 416-466-2841 and 408 Bloor W. (Spadina subway) 416-944-1993. Phone orders & delivery: 1-888-633-5833. www.GrassrootsStore.com
The Big Carrot, 348 Danforth Ave. (Chester subway) Organic & natural food store, magazines, some classes & workshops, bulletin board, meeting room) www.thebigcarrot.ca
Karma Co-op 739 Palmerston (near Bathurst subway). Toronto's only storefront member food co-op. Tours, volunteer & barter opportunities, events, "trial shops" for non-members. Organic and natural food, non-toxic household supplies, magazines, bulletin board. www.karmacoop.org
Birders Nature Stores, 265 Eglinton W. 416-481-2431 & 2100 Bloor W.416-604-9272 www.birdersnature.com
Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada's leading supplier of quality outdoor gear & clothing. Focusing on healthy, environmentally friendly "self-propelled" activities: hiking, cycling, camping, paddling, skiing, etc. Rentals, repairs, knowledgeable staff. Bulletin boards of events, groups, buy & sell. Locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal (March 2003), Halifax. www.mec.ca
Fair Trade Stores – Alternative Grounds (coffee & tea) 333 Roncesvalles 416-534-6335 www.alternativegrounds.com ; Ten Thousand Villages (handicrafts) 362 Danforth 416-462-9779; 2599 Yonge 416-932-1673; Mennonite Centre Store 2701 St. Clair E. 416-757-8757. www.tenthousandvillages.org

(8) Environmental Education, Colleges & Universities
Schools, Programmes, Resources

Mostly Primary and Secondary
Canadian Network for Environmental Education & Communication (EECOM) www.eecom.org
Ontario: Ontario Society for Environmental Education www.osee.org
Environment-Economy Education Society of Ontario www.eee3.org
Ontario: Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario www.coeo.org
Green Teacher Magazine www.greenteacher.com
North American Association for Environmental Education www.eelink.net

Environmental Groups & Organizations
Evergreen – www.evergreen.ca
Earth Day Canada – www.earthday.ca
Environmental Groups & Organizations in Canada – www.rcen.ca (click "regional networks")


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