Courses
Free Birding Tours
Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association is delighted to present free, guided Birding Tours at VanDusen Botanical Garden with our knowledgeable volunteer guides. Tours are free with admission, registration is required as space is limited.
During this leisurely 2-hour tour through the Garden, your small group will look & listen for some of the many resident & migratory bird species that frequent the site, while your guides share their birding skills, enthusiasm, and knowledge.
Drawing Plants
Enhance your drawing skills to create more realistic depictions of plants in this four-session series, instructed by artist and educator Katharine Dickinson. Her demonstrations will guide you through various exercises focused on capturing a plant’s identifying features through line, shape, structure, and form, while also observing critical angles and accurate proportions.
Low Maintenance Garden Design
What is low maintenance in the garden? And, how to achieve it? These are the main questions landscape design and horticulture expert Janis Matson will cover in this course while bringing her ample knowledge and experience. Ideally created for homeowners and garden enthusiasts, this class will focus on plant selection and includes essential maintenance tips such as soil preparation, mulching, and watering.
Worm Composting Essentials
Join Neill McCallum for a workshop on the essentials and benefits of worm composting—a highly efficient method for creating vibrant, thriving gardens that outperforms traditional composting.
Under Neill’s guidance, discover how worm composting produces nutrient-rich vermicompost using household organic waste. Learn to reduce waste, enrich soil biodiversity, and support a flourishing ecosystem through the power of microorganisms.
Invasive Species: What They Are and How to Identify Them
Have you ever wondered which invasive plants live in your neighbourhood and local parks? How can we differentiate between invasive, non-native plants and our native ones? What other invasive species currently affect our region? And what can we do about them? Join Adrian Avendaño for a walk around VanDusen Botanical Garden to learn about their impact on our environment and gain practical knowledge on how to identify, prevent, and manage them in your own green spaces. We all have a part to play in maintaining biodiversity in our region!
Storytelling & Hula at Bloedel Conservatory
Join Poh Tan in this two-session hula and storytelling class where you will connect with plants and culture at Bloedel Conservatory. In addition to being a scientist, Poh is also a hula dancer, having learned this dance form with Kumu Josie de Baat from Halau Kia’i O Ka Hula. Join us in learning a few basic steps of hula and how hula can help tell meaningful stories about our environment.
For this activity, you need to bring a sarong or a cloth that you can wrap around your hips to dance. No previous experience with hula is required; we will start with the basics.
Hand-Felted Succulents
Wool+Water+Agitation=Magic!
In this introduction to wet felting workshop, you will learn how to make a soft sculptural hand-felted succulent. Starting with a flat layout of fibres, your insrtuctor will guide you through the steps that result in a personalized, take-home 3D wool sculpture.
Felting tools and fibre supplies provided.
Bird Identification Workshop
This 5-session series presented by the Vancouver Avian Research Centre (VARC) is perfect for beginner and intermediate birders eager to deepen their knowledge and identification abilities. Through engaging and interactive sessions, participants will explore avian evolution, behaviour, migration, and advanced identification techniques, including tackling challenging groups like shorebirds, raptors, and gulls.
Intro to Birding
Long-time VanDusen birding guide Jeremy Gordon presents this seasonal favourite! During this introductory-level class, he will discuss the best birding resources, such as binoculars and field guides, share tips on identifying local and migratory birds, and highlight hot birding spots around Vancouver.
Following a one-hour classroom presentation, Jeremy will take you for a walk to look for some of the 106 species of birds in the Garden.
Wildlife-Friendly Gardening
Create a wildlife sanctuary in your backyard! In this course you will learn tips for selecting native plants and incorporating garden elements that benefit local wildlife, no matter the size of your outdoor space. Say goodbye to invasive species that disrupt your garden’s delicate balance, thanks to Tasha Murray’s insider knowledge.
Join a passionate community of nature enthusiasts who are enhancing urban habitat, embracing sustainable gardening, and leaving a biodiversity legacy for future generations.
