Nature Connection Walks at New Jubilee Forest
Could you use a reprieve from the city within the city? A respite from the fast pace of modern life and an opportunity for deep nature connection?
Explore respectful ways of relating with our more than human kin at the New Jubilee Forest, one of the only old growth forest stands remaining in Edmonton. Join one of our four lovely guides, Josh, Nathan, Mel, and Brett for nature connection walks at the New Jubilee Forest. Each guide offers their own unique introduction to the forest and her inhabitants.
This will be a slow walk on wide dirt trails in the forest with some moderately steep slopes. Please come prepared for the weather, with appropriate footwear, sunscreen, insect repellant, water, snacks, and whatever you need to feel comfortable in the forest. We will walk rain or shine, only cancelling for extreme weather, or if fewer than 3 people register. If we cancel, you have the choice of rolling your tickets forward to the next tour, or receiving a refund. If you need to cancel, we require 24 hours notice in order to offer you a refund.
New Jubilee Forest is in an oxbow of the river in the sparsely developed Horse Hills District. It is not accessible by bus or bicycle so please let us know if you need a ride to the site, and we will arrange a carpool.
Address: 20303 33 St NE, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6K3, Canada
Call 587-337-4189 (Nathan's cell) if you lose your way or need directions.
Explore respectful ways of relating with our more than human kin at the New Jubilee Forest, one of the only old growth forest stands remaining in Edmonton. Join one of our four lovely guides, Josh, Nathan, Mel, and Brett for nature connection walks at the New Jubilee Forest. Each guide offers their own unique introduction to the forest and her inhabitants.
This will be a slow walk on wide dirt trails in the forest with some moderately steep slopes. Please come prepared for the weather, with appropriate footwear, sunscreen, insect repellant, water, snacks, and whatever you need to feel comfortable in the forest. We will walk rain or shine, only cancelling for extreme weather, or if fewer than 3 people register. If we cancel, you have the choice of rolling your tickets forward to the next tour, or receiving a refund. If you need to cancel, we require 24 hours notice in order to offer you a refund.
New Jubilee Forest is in an oxbow of the river in the sparsely developed Horse Hills District. It is not accessible by bus or bicycle so please let us know if you need a ride to the site, and we will arrange a carpool.
Address: 20303 33 St NE, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6K3, Canada
Call 587-337-4189 (Nathan's cell) if you lose your way or need directions.
These guided walks will take on the following days between May and August:
May 24: Josh & Nathan
June 7: Josh & Mel
June 14: Nathan & Brett
July 12: Brett
August 9: Josh & Mel
August 30: Nathan & Brett
Get your tickets below!
May 24: Josh & Nathan
June 7: Josh & Mel
June 14: Nathan & Brett
July 12: Brett
August 9: Josh & Mel
August 30: Nathan & Brett
Get your tickets below!
Meet Your Tour Guides!
Josh Key is a treaty six settler and amateur naturalist with a particular passion for science communication and nature connection. Josh began his study of the natural world in his childhood by learning how to identify edible plants and collect insects. Josh has continued his education as a student at the UofA and a member of the Alberta Mycological Society. He spends his summers refining relationship with the natural world and running field trips and educational programs for kids.
Josh will introduce you to some of the inhabitants of the forest: learn how to identify the plants, fungi, and possibly animals (or even insects, if you are lucky!) that call New Jubilee Forest home. Depending on the season, different of our plant, fungi, and animal kin will be highlighted, and of course they will be at different stages of their life cycles at different stages of the summer. This walk is structured as an open conversation led by Josh, but with plenty of space for question and answer, or for walk participants to offer their knowledge. Sign up for this tour if you are a mature naturalist who would enjoy being introduced to a forest you wouldn't otherwise meet, or a budding naturalist keen to level up your species ID skills! |
Nathan Binnema is treaty six settler on Amiskwaciy-Waskahikan, also known as Edmonton. A lifelong resident of the city, he has been exploring nature connection in this area since childhood, mostly informally. He was introduced to Blackfoot phenology through Ryan First Diver, and continues to visit a phenology site throughout the year close to his home in Mill Creek.
Nathan leads a meditative nature connection walk through the southern portion of the forest. Slow down, unplug, and take in the forest through all your senses. Come away with a sense of wonder and gratitute. The walk is structured as a series of invitations, each followed by a sharing circle. Sign up for this tour if you are looking for a few hours reprieve from a fast-paced life, to reawaken your innate capacity to connect with our forest kin, or for an intimate and spacious experience of a very special living place. |
Mel Hohn is an illustrator transitioning their career to pursue the field of mycology (the study of mushrooms). She is active in the summertime as the vice president of the Alberta Mycological Society, aiding in the conservation of fungi in Alberta and educating new members on safe and sustainable foraging practices.
With Mel, a walk in the woods is a learning opportunity and an invitation to be curious about the large and small components that contribute to the overall health of the forest, not to mention our past and current role in our local habitats. Learn how to identify the plants, animals, and fungi that call New Jubilee Forest home throughout the season and weather, but most importantly: Enjoy a walk with Mel in an intact aspen parkland ecosystem! All ages and capacities are welcome for this leisurely walk through the New Jubilee Forest. Bring adequate hiking shoes, sunscreen, bug spray, and your curiosity for the wood wide web! |
Brett has always been drawn to the wild beauty of nature. Whether it's hiking into the mountains in search of peaks and waterfalls or pausing to admire the quiet wonders of mosses, mushrooms, and forest plants, he finds joy in both the grand and the small. He may not have all the facts at his fingertips, but he does know how to connect with the natural world—and wants to help you do the same. Take a deep breath together, slow down, and rediscover what nature has to offer!
Ready to see the natural world in a whole new way? Join this walk where the forest becomes your playground, your classroom, and your companion. From towering trees to hidden treasures underfoot, you'll explore nature's wonders both big and small. Along the way, connect with fellow explorers, uncover surprising stories of the land, and discover your unique place within it. Best of all? You'll leave with a little piece of the forest to (metaphorically) carry the magic home. |