York Regional Forest Walks and Events

York Regional Forest's guided walks and events are designed for various age groups, residents and visitors. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and registration opens one month in advance.  

While guided walks and events usually proceed rain or shine, extreme weather conditions may lead to cancellations. Registered participants will be notified of any event changes through their provided contact information. 

October

Family fun in the Forest!

Looking for a fun and relaxing way to spend time with your family? Join us for a weekend of nature, learning and play in the York Regional Forest!

York Region has partnered with EarlyON and York Region Children’s Services to bring you a free, family-friendly event. While everyone is welcome, the activities are designed primarily for children aged six and under. Activities include:

• Guided Halloween nature walks in the Forest 
• Hands-on indoor and outdoor activities for kids like making their own journey stick
• Guided tours of the Bill Fisch Forestry and Stewardship Education Centre

Come explore the Forest, learn something new and make lasting family memories!

Open House

Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
No registration is required to attend the Open House.

Guided Halloween Nature Walks (Ideal for children ages six and under)

Saturday, October 24
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
1 to 2 p.m.

Sunday, October 25
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
1 to 2 p.m.
Registration is required for the guided walks.

Hollidge Tract
16389 Highway 48, Whitchurch-Stouffville
 

Can’t make it to one of our events? Check out what our partners have to offer:

• Evergreen
• Forests Canada
• Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA)
• Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF)
• Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
• Oak Ridges Trail Association
• Ontario Streams
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
• Rouge National Urban Park

In 2025, we updated the Discover Your Forest (DYF) program! While many of your local libraries already offered nature backpacks, kits and lending items, we provided participating libraries with forest-related items and activities to enrich their existing collections and support local nature exploration. Check out the list of participating libraries below!

We’re also making nature exploration more widely available with new digital printable resources. This ensures everyone can enjoy the benefits of the DYF program, whether online or in person.

• Bark Quilt: create a colourful quilt by making bark rubbings from different trees
• Leaf It to Memory: enhance your tree identification skills with a memory card game
• Leafo Bingo: a bingo game that challenges you to find leaves with various characteristics
• Nature Exploration: boost your well-being with an activity that engages all your senses
• Sound Map: explore and document the diverse sounds of nature
• True Colours: a fun experiment that reveals the hidden pigments in leaves
• Tree ID Wheel: match leaf characteristics to identify tree species