Richard Aaron - Naturalist, educator & public speaker
Based in Toronto, Ontario, I have been sharing my knowledge and passion for nature with others since 1991. Over the years, I have given walks, talks, workshops, and courses for 100+ organizations. These include universities, naturalist clubs, nature festivals, conservation groups, corporate clients, and commercial tour operators. I have also worked as a staff naturalist at Algonquin Provincial Park.
I am interested in many facets of the natural world. I place a premium on experiential learning whether it's examining a flower through a hand lens, netting an insect (for later release), or making a mushroom spore print. I strongly encourage intellectual curiosity, while acknowledging that sometimes the best questions are those that lack clear-cut answers. Come join me on a journey of nature discovery!
Based in Toronto, Ontario, I have been sharing my knowledge and passion for nature with others since 1991. Over the years, I have given walks, talks, workshops, and courses for 100+ organizations. These include universities, naturalist clubs, nature festivals, conservation groups, corporate clients, and commercial tour operators. I have also worked as a staff naturalist at Algonquin Provincial Park.
I am interested in many facets of the natural world. I place a premium on experiential learning whether it's examining a flower through a hand lens, netting an insect (for later release), or making a mushroom spore print. I strongly encourage intellectual curiosity, while acknowledging that sometimes the best questions are those that lack clear-cut answers. Come join me on a journey of nature discovery!
Richard in the news . . .
Wildflowers: www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012/06/28/the_flowers_you_see_while_highway_driving_in_ontario.html
Fungi: https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/09/27/wild_in_the_city_the_fascinating_field_of_fungi.html
Organizations I have worked with:
Academic institutions
Arboreta
Horticultural societies
Mycological organizations
Naturalist organizations
... plus a number of private groups & individuals
Academic institutions
- Humber College - Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre
- Queen's University Biological Station
- Seneca College - King Campus
- Toronto District School Board - Continuing Education Department
- Toronto District School Board - Toronto Outdoor Education Schools
- University of Guelph - Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- University of Toronto - Human Biology Program, St. George Campus
- University of Toronto - Koffler Scientific Reserve
- University of Toronto - School of Continuing Studies
Arboreta
- The Arboretum at the University of Guelph
- Humber Arboretum (Humber College)
- Royal Botanical Gardens
- Toronto Botanical Garden
- Cameco
- Celestica
- Niagara Nature Tours
- Quest Nature Tours
- The Lodge on Amherst Island (Amherst Island, Ont.)
- Tilley Endurables
- Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (Crow's Pass C.A.)
- Conservation Halton (Hilton Falls C.A.)
- Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (Ganaraska Forest Centre)
- Halton Region Conservation Authority (Hilton Falls C.A.)
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (Kortright Centre For Conservation)
- Bruce Trail Conservancy
- Community Stewardship Council of Lanark County
- Evergreen
- Friends of the Bluffs (Scarborough, Ont.)
- Friends of the West Toronto Railpath
- Hastings Stewardship Council
- Rouge Valley Conservation Centre
- Save The Oak Ridges Moraine
- Sierra Club of Canada - Ontario chapter
- The Centre for Sustainable Watersheds
- Toronto Natural Shorelines
- Wintergreen Studios
Horticultural societies
- Burlington Horticultural Society
- Etobicoke Horticultural Society
- Georgetown Horticultural Society
- Streetsville Horticultural Society
- Swansea Horticultural Society
- Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy
- Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust
- Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
Mycological organizations
- Mycological Society of Toronto
- Mycology Ottawa
- Northeast Mycological Federation (NEMF)
- Peck Foray
- Rochester Area Mycological Association
Naturalist organizations
- Durham Region Field Naturalists
- Field Botanists of Ontario
- Halton/North Peel Naturalist Club
- Hamilton Naturalists' Club
- Kingston Field Naturalists
- Macnamara Field Naturalists' Club
- Matt Holder Environmental Education Fund
- Nature Conservancy of Canada
- Ontario Nature (formerly Federation of Ontario Naturalists)
- Orangeville Tracking and Nature Club
- Orillia Naturalists' Club
- Pickering Naturalists
- South Peel Naturalists' Club
- The Riverwood Conservancy
- Thursday Naturalists (Albany, NY)
- Toronto Entomologists' Association
- Toronto Field Naturalists
- Toronto Nature Study Group (Meetup)
- Toronto Wildflower Society
- Willow Beach Field Naturalists
- High Park Nature Centre (Toronto)
- Allegany Nature Pilgrimage (New York State)
- Camp Arowhon Nature Weekend
- Carden Nature Festival
- Children's Eco Programs (City of Toronto)
- High Park Summer Nature Camp (Toronto)
- Huron Fringe Birding Festival
- Bruce Peninsula National Park
- Rouge National Urban Park
- Algonquin Provincial Park
- MacGregor Point Provincial Park
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
- Presqu'ile Provincial Park
- Hudson College (Toronto)
- Active Seniors
- Concord West Seniors Club
- Bayview Village Association
- Children's Eco Programs (City of Toronto - Parks, Forestry & Recreation Dept.)
- Don Valley Brick Works Park (City of Toronto - Parks, Forestry & Recreation Dept.)
- cmagazine (Toronto)
- High Park Moth Study
- High Park Stewards
- High Park Walking Tours
- Lost River Walks
- Mindcamp Toronto
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) (Toronto)
- Mountain Equipment Co-op
- Ontario Bioblitz
- Rouge Park Odonate Study
- Springwater Trails (Springwater, NY)
- The P.I.N.E. Project
- Todmorden Mills Museum
- Toronto Public Library (multiple branches)
... plus a number of private groups & individuals