The world around us is filled with natural wonder, and it is this world that first intrigues youngsters and fosters their curiosity. The Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) sponsors youth programs to promote and support interest in natural history.
Junior and Teen Naturalists programs follow the school year beginning in September, and include both indoor and outdoor activities.
A wide variety of natural history topics are investigated every year — from ferns to fossils, and from birds of prey to bats! Conservation, and advocacy aimed at understanding and protecting our natural world are also important club interests.
The cost for individual membership in the Junior or Teen program is $20.00.
Registration forms will be accepted each year from August until a cut-off date in September (see form) and by a cut-off date in December (see form) for January entry. Forms are available to download from this page. For a printed form, please contact the group leader listed on the form.
Junior Naturalists (6 to 12 years old)
Program Objectives
⚘ to foster natural history interests in youth
⚘ to enhance awareness of the natural world
⚘ to provide enjoyment for young people through program activities
Registration
Online registration is NOT available for the Junior Naturalists Club as express parental consent is required. Please fill out the Junior Naturalists Registration Form and make a payment (details on form).
There may be an option to order t-shirts and sweatshirts with the Junior logo in October. This will be determined based on interest from the junior families.
Meetings
Indoor meetings are normally held on the 4th Thursday evening of each month, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., from September to May.
Field trips are held on the 4th Saturday of each month.
Activities
The themes for meetings and trips are natural history oriented — the emphasis is on investigation and fun! Hands-on activities, games and discussions are used to reflect the topic of each meeting. Junior members are encouraged to keep up their natural history interests over the summer months. The Roland Beschel Prize and the Nan Yeomans Prize are presented once a year to junior naturalists who complete nature projects. The Stirrett Scholarship is available each year to a worthy junior naturalist to attend a nature camp.
Summer Projects. Projects completed over the summer will be due by the end of October.
- Roland Beschel Prize. This prize is for a project done over the summer. A collection or observing and recording something in nature are suitable.
- Nan Yeomans Prize. This prize is for a daily or weekly diary recording observations over the summer.
- Photo Prize. Each junior may submit up to three photos taken over the summer with a short description.
Camp Scholarship The Dr. George M. Stirrett Scholarship is available for a Junior Naturalist to attend a nature camp in the Kingston Study Area. Application deadline is April 1 of each year. Please ask your junior naturalists leader for details. A few examples of nature camps in the area:
- Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority Nature Explorers Camp is for those 6 to 10 years old with six week-long sessions.
- Eco Adventure Camp is for those 8 to 13 years old at ELEEC (Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre); seven week-long sessions.
- The Frontenac Arch Biosphere Nature Camp at Landon Bay Centre is “focused on place-based (land-based) learning for children aged 5-12 years. The camp takes place outdoors and children are encouraged to connect with nature through literature, activities, and games.” There are eight week-long sessions.
Teen Naturalists (13 to 17 year olds)
Program Objectives
🌳 to appreciate and learn about local natural history
🌳 to enjoy the natural environment
🌳 to experience various research and field techniques
🌳 to be comfortable out of doors in any weather at any season
🌳 to be involved in advocacy and projects to benefit the natural environment
Registration
Online registration is NOT available for the Teen Naturalists Club as express parental consent is required. Please fill out the Teen Naturalists Registration Form and mail with fee (address on form).
Meetings
Field trips (meetings) are usually held on the second Saturday of each month.
Activities
Teen naturalists participate in a wide variety of activities. These have included various bird-related activities, butterfly tagging, geology (rocks, minerals and fossils), plant identification, and habitat investigations. Participants take part in hiking, canoeing and cross country skiing along the way! Learning about habitat restoration, inventory techniques and preservation of species in a hands-on way are important activities.
2024-2025 activities will include:
A Canoe trip on Saturday 14 September at Mitchell Creek.
The Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 14: a chance to join this world wide citizen science activity in Frontenac County.
A Wood Duck Nest Box cleanout in mid-February: a winter trip to record the past seasons’ use and prepare the boxes for next nesting season.
A Night Hike on a Friday night in mid-April to look for frogs and evening birds.
Teen Naturalists Logo
The Teen logo of a migrating Canada Goose represents the migration of a Teen Naturalist from the Junior program to an adult membership. It was developed by the Teens of 2014-2015 from an idea by Michael Jaansalu and has been produced as a patch to sew onto a cap, pack or sweatshirt.
