Every second of every day and night, countless cycles are churning around us, carried on by millions of organisms big and small. Join us to discover the intricate relationships that bind the forest ecosystem together — from the textured lichens clinging to tree bark, to the mysterious mycelial network under the soil, to the flying squirrels who spread the spores of mushrooms as they collect and dry them in the forest!
read moreJoin us for a squishy, gooey morning of exploration and fascination! Get ready to dive into the complex world of mushrooms, slime molds, slugs, sap, and all things goopy in the ecosystems of Stanley Park. On this ooze-tastic journey, we’ll roam through lush trails, discovering the surprises of critters with crucial roles in the ecosystem and fascinating forms of life in the forest.
read more
Sign up for our public events bulletin to stay up to date on how you can get involved with Stanley Park Ecology.
Photo: Iris Removal (Greg Hart)
Fungi are the keepers of the veil between the realms of the living and the dead. Learn from mycologist Willoughby Arévalo how all life depends on the death and decay brought about by these dwellers of the underworld. Join us for this special walk at the time when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest and most permeable, when souls and spores alike may drift across.
read moreTracing mycelial webs through the forest, we will encounter and observe fungi with multiple senses to try to understand their worlds, lifeways, relationships and behaviour. The conversation will include basic principles of mushroom identification based on features visible with the naked eye, helping you be able to recognize mushroom form groups and work towards learning important genera and species.
read moreDo you find yourself admiring the beautiful and ornate mushrooms emerging during the fall season? Join us for a beginner-friendly needle-felting workshop to create colourful turkey tail mushrooms — perfect as a gift, ornament, toy, or decoration! All you need is wool, a needle, and patience to create any object or sculpture you can imagine. Bring a friend, have some tea, and learn a new craft this autumn!
read moreThis time of year, Stanley Park is filled with colourful leaves on the trees, strikingly diverse mushrooms of all shapes and textures, and countless sources of artistic inspiration in nature. Join us and our instructor, Jenna Leith, for this beginner-friendly watercolour workshop to learn some basic techniques and use them to bring fungi, leaves, and autumnal elements to life on paper.
read more
