Conservation Volunteering Toronto

Volunteer for bagel tasting

✨ Volunteering: Food Bank

We’re hosting a volunteer event with the Daily Bread Food Bank 💛, one of **Toronto’s largest charities**, which supports people facing difficult circumstances every day. We’ll be **sorting food** 🥕🥫📦 and, if needed, helping to prepare it for distribution. This is hands-on help that directly impacts someone’s daily life. **No special experience or skills are required.** All that matters is your willingness to get involved and donate a few hours of your time. ⏰ **Time:** 9:50 AM to 12:00 PM 💬 **Coordinator:** Kate 💜 **Participation is free** ⚠ Age requirement: 15 and older ❗ Before participating, you must **review the mandatory form from Daily Bread.** You can sign it on-site, but it’s important to read the document in advance. We’ll send the link via the bot after registration. **Register on [TryToronto website](https://trytoronto.org/events/food-bank-sep)** **Our Instagram: [@try_toronto_](https://www.instagram.com/try_toronto_)**

Fall Migration Birding in Toronto

**Please note the only way to register for this adventure is on [our website.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/fall-birding-26)** **Toronto has some hidden natural gems, and October is when it puts on its best show.** Join our guide Pedro Hernandez of[ Outdoor Commute](https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.commute/) for a beginner-friendly birdwatching walk through the unique Tommy Thompson Park. You do not need to know a warbler from a wren, but you probably will when the day is done. This walk is built for people who are simply curious about the birds sharing our skyline. We’ll move slowly and stop often, learning how to identify species by shape, colour, and call, how to actually use a pair of binoculars (yours to borrow for the day), and how to make sense of field guides and birding apps you can keep using long after the trip ends. October is peak Fall migration in the city, with so many different birds to spot. Depending on conditions, we might spot warblers, sparrows, and thrushes moving through, along with waterfowl like northern shovelers and gadwalls resting on the water. Year-round residents including red-tailed hawks, black-capped chickadees, and northern cardinals tend to make an appearance too. **Please note that binoculars are included in the cost of the adventure and that, due to the Toronto location, transportation is not offered.** **Accessibility** Wilderness Union is committed to making our adventures as accessible as possible. If you wish to make an accommodation request relating to a disability or provide feedback, please do so by sending an email to info@wildernessunion.com **Highlights** **Fall Migration:** October is one of the best windows of the year to bird at the Spit, with local species and southbound migrants both moving through the park at once. **Professional Birder:** Pedro founded the popular birding account[ Outdoor Commute](https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.commute/) and brings a genuine, patient teaching style **Binoculars Included:** Every participant gets a pair of high-quality NOCS binoculars for the walk **Event cost: $60+HST (for explorer members). Register [here.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/fall-birding-26)** **About Wilderness Union** Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people. Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad. Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming! ***Learn more at our website [www.wildernessunion.com](https://www.wildernessunion.com/)***

Event equipment carry and set up volunteers

Need 3-5 volunteers depending on how many nets we will need Sign up here if you want to volunteer to help with equipment and set up in the morning. Volunteers will come early before the event start to help carry equipment and set up nets. Volunteers please arrive early at the assigned time and place. Meeting time will be up to an hour before the event start time. Volunteers will play for free and will get additional perks. Number of volunteers needed will depend on how many nets are required. Regular volunteers will get preference. **Please only sign up to volunteer if you are attending the event for sure.** Please answer the RSVP question and add yourself to the waiting list and I will add you if you’re needed as a volunteer and I will contact you to confirm with details. Once confirmed you will be added as a volunteer

Not Just Tourists - Roncy Polish Festival

This weekend Roncesvalles will be hosting their annual Polish Festival. NJT maintains a booth every year to collect donations, answer questions and hopefully appeal to volunteers for both packs and travel. If you have the inkling to, please join us for an hour or two to assist with running the booth. The Polish Festival will happen across two days, the 19th and 20th, from 10am-2pm. We hope to see you there!

Hiking 101 Workshop at Evergreen Brick Works

**New to hiking or looking to refresh the basics? Join the Toronto Bruce Trail Club for Hiking 101, an approachable, interactive primer designed to get you comfortable and trail-ready.** **What You’ll Learn**  **Essential Gear:** What to pack for a safe, comfortable, and self-sufficient day on the trails.  **Winter Hiking:** Practical tips and clothing layering strategies to safely extend your hiking season through the winter.  **Conservation & Biodiversity:** How the Toronto Bruce Trail Club works to protect and restore sensitive ecosystems along the Niagara Escarpment.  **Year-Round Outings:** How to join our full schedule of urban walks, car pool hikes, bus day trips, and winter ski and snowshoe coach excursions.  **Q&A:** Dedicated time with experienced hike leaders to answer your questions. Please register at: [https://torontobrucetrailclub.org/sign-up-for-hiking-101-at-evergreen-brick-works/](https://torontobrucetrailclub.org/sign-up-for-hiking-101-at-evergreen-brick-works/) Please email tbtchikeleaders@gmail.com if you have any questions about the workshop. There will be two morning introductory hikes finishing in time for the Hiking 101 Workshop and we will be in the Farmer's Market in the morning providing information on the Bruce Trail and our hiking program. If you would like to join us for one of two morning introductory hikes before the Hiking 101 Workshop you may select one at the bottom of the above registration.

Now For Something Arty!

**Meetup: St. Mathews Clubhouse; 450 Broadview Ave.** So while we have a day event on the 27th, if you have an arty side, continue your day by joining me at St. Mathew's Clubhouse for an arty experience. While many of you know I am a writer by trade, I am also a painter. I'm just an arty girl! I have put together an Art Collective with 6 artists along with myself to showcase and of course sell our work but also enjoy Art, Wine & Inspiration — Come Create With Us! 🍷 Join us for a free collective art show celebrating creativity, connection and the joy of making art. And why just look at art when you can explore your own creativity too? Come discover what inspires you, try something new, and let your imagination wander. ✨ Art to explore. 🍷 Wine to enjoy; nibbles to share. 🥂 Hear from the.artists! 🎨 Creativity to discover. 💫 And best of all — it’s FREE

Hello Fall Colours: Dorset Hike & Lookout Tower

**Please note the only way to register for this adventure is on [our website.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/dorset-hike-and-lookout)** **Not every good trail makes it into a guidebook, and this hidden gem sure hasn't.** Tucked just southwest of Algonquin, it's a route we keep close for our members: rolling rock outcrops, quiet beaver ponds, and wide ridges that open into sweeping views when you least expect them. In September, the whole forest turns to a radiant display of red, orange, and gold; the kind of colours that makes you stop mid-stride. Welcome to fall in Ontario. We'll cover 7.5 km at a comfortable pace, with plenty of time to take it in before stopping for lunch at one of the best views on the route. It's a moderate hike, and a solid choice if this is your first time out on trail. From the trailhead, it's a short drive to Dorset. The tower was first built in 1922 as a fire lookout and rebuilt in 1967 into the structure that stands today. Climbing to the top puts you level with the treetops and gives you a panorama of the hills and lakes around Lake of Bays, all dressed in their fall colours. It's one of Ontario's most recognizable lookouts, offering a totally different perspective after a morning spent within the tree canopy. **Please note that anyone not taking the WU transportation will need to purchase their own tower access pass.** ‍ **Accessibility** Wilderness Union is committed to making our adventures as accessible as possible. If you wish to make an accommodation request relating to a disability or provide feedback, please do so by sending an email to [info@wildernessunion.com](mailto:info@wildernessunion.com) **Highlights** **The Lookout Tower Climb:** The observation deck sits 142 metres above Lake of Bays, with a 360 degree view over the surrounding hills and lakes. **A Trail Off the Map:** A quiet, little-known route kept for Wilderness Union members, far from the lineups that build up around Dorset in the fall. **Fall Colours:** Red, orange, and gold scattered across the Canadian Shield. **Event cost: $75+HST (for explorer members) + $60 optional transport available.** **Register [here.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/dorset-hike-and-lookout)** **About Wilderness Union** Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people. Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad. Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming! ***Learn more at our website [www.wildernessunion.com](https://www.wildernessunion.com/)***

Barbecue and Hike through Tommy Thompson Park.

Location: Meet at the entrance of Tommy Thompson Park -Leslie Street Spit **It's time to have some fun!** What better way to celebrate the end of Summer with a barbecue by the lake. Join us for burgers and drinks **under the tents** and on the water at Ashbridges Bay for burgers and drinks! ($10. For a burger and drink.) After a 8km hike (with some fun things happening along the way) at Tommy Thompson Park we will head to Ashbridges Bay for burgers- veggie and meat. Feel free to bring alcoholic beverages, and board games - We will have a beach ball. Tommy Thompson Park is a man-made urban wilderness and wildlife sanctuary built on the Leslie Street Spit, stretching 5 kilometers to Lake Ontario. Managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, this unique park offers a peaceful escape from the city with a mix of wetlands, meadows, and trails. A unique place near downtown Toronto to experience nature, and *one of the best places for bird-watching in the city*, with more than 300 recorded species!

Frontenac Fall Colours Hike

**Please note the only way to register for this adventure is on [our website.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/fall-colours-frontenac)** **A true member favourite returns! While the crowds flock to Algonquin to view fall colours, Frontenac is where it's really at.** By late September, the first maples along this loop are already turning red and gold against bare granite, weeks ahead of peak colour further south. That granite is part of the Frontenac Arch, a two-billion-year-old ridge connecting the Canadian Shield to the Adirondacks, and it's what gives this loop its particular look in fall. The Cedar Lake South Loop runs about 9km through a mix of open granite, rooted forest trails, and genuine wetland: expect boggy sections, small ponds, and stretches where the water clearly has the upper hand on the trail. Frontenac sits at an ecological crossover point, where northern species like spruce and balsam fir grow next to southern hardwoods like sugar maple, red oak, and yellow birch. That mix means a wider range of fall colour than you'd get from a single-species forest: deep red, burnt orange, and gold, all held together by the seasonal consistency of the dark green conifers. By the time we're back at the vehicles, you'll have spent the day walking through some of the best fall colours eastern Ontario has to offer! **Self drivers please note** \- Frontenac is at least a 3hr drive and requires a $15 day pass \- you're strongly recommended to choose the transport option for this trip\. The day pass is included for anyone riding in the van\. ‍ **Accessibility** Wilderness Union is committed to making our adventures as accessible as possible. If you wish to make an accommodation request relating to a disability or provide feedback, please do so by sending an email to [info@wildernessunion.com](mailto:info@wildernessunion.com) **Highlights** **Stunning Fall Colours:** Red and gold hardwoods press right up against bare granite, the loop's sharpest colour contrast. **Doe Lake Lookout:** A gap in the trees opens onto the full length of Doe Lake, framed by granite shoreline and turning hardwoods. **Away from the Crowds:** Lesser known spot to enjoy the Fall colours. **Event cost: $75+HST (for explorer members). Optional transportation available.** **Register [here.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/fall-colours-frontenac)** **About Wilderness Union** Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people. Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad. Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming! ***Learn more at our website [www.wildernessunion.com](https://www.wildernessunion.com/)***

Wilder Series: The Provoking Lake Loop

**Please note the only way to register for this adventure is on [our website.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/provoking-lake)** **Most people take two days to walk around Provoking Lake. We are doing it in one.** This one's part of our Wilder series, our lineup of challenging adventures for those chasing bigger, more grueling and more rewarding days out. We’ll be taking on Loop 1 of the Algonquin's Highland Backpacking Trail, The trail circles Provoking Lake through classic Algonquin forest, roots, rock, and enough elevation change to keep your attention the whole way around, covering 21.5km by the time we're back at the car. You will pass a couple of lookouts over the lake and the surrounding hills, and long stretches where the loudest thing around is a woodpecker or your own footsteps. Backcountry campsites dot the shoreline the whole way around, a quiet preview of what a multi-day trip on this trail could look like down the road. Twenty one kilometres of Algonquin backcountry, done in a day. Are you up for it? **Due to increased demand for daily vehicle permits in fall, all members will be required to take our transport for this adventure. The cost of transport is included in the cost of this adventure.** ‍ **Accessibility** Wilderness Union is committed to making our adventures as accessible as possible. If you wish to make an accommodation request relating to a disability or provide feedback, please do so by sending an email to [info@wildernessunion.com](mailto:info@wildernessunion.com) **Highlights** **Provoking Lake Lookouts:** A couple of clearings along the loop open up over the lake and the surrounding hills. **A Real Physical Test:** 21km and over 800 metres of climbing in a single day. Come ready to work for it. **Wildlife Country:** Moose and loons are regulars around Provoking Lake, keep your eyes open. **Event cost: $130+HST (for explorer members)** **Register [here.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/provoking-lake)** **About Wilderness Union** Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people. Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad. Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming! ***Learn more at our website [www.wildernessunion.com](https://www.wildernessunion.com/)***

Bus Hike: Limehouse (Bruce Trail Day)

oin us to celebrate Bruce Trail Day on the trail around Limehouse. For the first 5 km we will hike south from the Sixth Line to Limehouse. The route incorporates the portion of trail removed from the Fifth Line thanks to those who support the Bruce Trail. We'll also pass the seed orchard where native species are grown for the seeds to be replanted to re-naturalize other parts of the trail. Those who want a shorter hike may drop out at Limehouse where information and refreshments will be available at the Memorial Hall. The second part of the hike will be a loop through the Limehouse Conservation area featuring the limestone kilns, stone arched bridge, and a climb through the "hole in the wall". Expect some slightly rocky terrain underfoot and a few moderate hills. Hiking boots or good shoes designed for walking are a must. Those completing the full 9 km will also have a chance to drop in at the Memorial Hall to learn more about the Bruce Trail and refreshments. You must register and prepay the bus fare on the Bruce Trail Conservancy Website (registration opens Sat Sep 20 8:00 PM (Bus Fares $25 Members/$32 Non-Members (Children under 12 $10/$14). Bus fares are non-refundable and the hike goes rain or shine. Registration Link: [https://hikes.brucetrail.org/event/bus-hike-bruce-trail-day-limehouse/2026-10-04/](https://hikes.brucetrail.org/event/bus-hike-bruce-trail-day-limehouse/2026-10-04/)