EXPLORE NATURE CLOSE TO HOME
Operation Wild provides hands-on environmental education and
accessible nature experiences for people living with disabilities to
promote well-being, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion.
Tucked away just 20 minutes outside of Hamilton, Ontario, you’ll find 95 acres of natural land and clean, fresh air. This is a secret retreat where trees reach for the sun’s warmth, wildlife comes out to play, and you live and learn through your senses.
When you step off the bus into lush fields of green, the first thing you’ll notice is how quiet and peaceful it is.
The city sirens and traffic noise just fade away…
All you can hear are wildflowers dancing in the breeze and birds chirping as they soar over a sparkling pond, inviting you to explore this little slice of heaven for the next few hours.
Welcome to Cedar Haven Eco-Centre
IN FREELTON, ONTARIO
For people living with barriers or disabilities,
this is a gateway to real wonder, rare serenity, and a
newfound respect and appreciation for the natural world.
“After I had my stroke they told me I would never get to do stuff like this, and now here I am. I love being in nature and doing this kind of stuff.”
– Participant
THE EXPERIENCE
Operation Wild is about more than making nature accessible to everyone.
It’s an opportunity to explore the beauty of the world around us, so we can cultivate a love that inspires us to care for it. It’s an inclusive space to make new friends and find a place of belonging in our local community. And it’s an invitation to reconnect with nature and feel rejuvenated.
FREE PROGRAMMING
We’re funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, so our program is currently free for all participants and includes transportation if required.
1-3 HOUR session
Let us put together an itinerary or interactive workshop for your group that blends fun, relaxation, and education.
CUSTOMIZED FOR YOU
We take groups of 5-12 and customize our activities and programming for your group’s interests, abilities, and schedule.
ADVENTURE
Get your hands dirty, turn your binoculars skyward to watch winged wonders, and explore your natural curiosities at Cedar Haven.
EDUCATION
Experience nature in a hands-on way, building the practical skills and confidence to support a
sustainable world.
CONSERVATION
Discover easy ways to care for creation in the city, like building a backyard bird feeder or growing an
indoor herb garden.
What's included?
Hands-on learning, guided walks, and skill-building activities
Free bus transportation to and from Cedar Haven if required
Occasional take-home handouts and workshop projects
WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS BRING?
Seasonally appropriate clothing and walking shoes
Any water, snacks, or lunch required for your day trip
At least one support worker needs to be in attendance with each group
feel like a kid again
“A participant came to two of our events – a wildflower themed day and the end of year stargazing event. At each of the visits, I had a chance to chat with her, and she told me all about her childhood, as she had grown up on a farm. Every flower, animal, and star reminded her of another happy childhood story, and I was amazed by the ways nature brought back the same joy it had brought her in the stories she was recalling.”
– Operation Wild Staff
Activities & Workshops for Everyone
From hands-on educational workshops to relaxing recreational activities,
we’ve got something for everyone. Whether your group wants to
explore our forests and fields, participate in fun conservation projects, or
learn simple ways to create green spaces at home and in their cities, we can
design a meaningful experience that engages them in creation care.
Our most popular programs include, but are not limited to...
* For a full list of currently available programs click the "Plan Your Visit" button at the top of the page. *
Guided Nature Walk
Discover different species of plants, trees, and flowers — plus their surprising medicinal and culinary uses! Gain an appreciation for the diverse habitats we have in our cities.
Wellness Walks
Studies show that being out in nature eases stress, brightens our mood, and makes us more mindful of our surroundings. Our guided walks give participants a chance to soak in the sights, smells, sounds, textures, and tastes of nature.
Seasonal Workshops
Whether it is creating wildflower bouquets or harvesting fruits and vegetables, there’s always something fun going on at Cedar Haven. Participate in interactive workshops that give you a chance to bring home the fruits of your labour!
Practice Creation Care
Join our on-site scientists to help us collect data on the different species of plants, fish, birds, and insects living at Cedar Haven, so you can help us care for their natural habitat. Monitor the growth and health of milkweed, trout, butterflies and native plant species.
Birding
Break out those binoculars to observe different bird species in their natural habitat on one of our bird walks! Learn about their breeding and nesting habits and how you can use feeders and nest boxes to help the birds thrive in your own backyard.
Urban Creation Care
Let the Operation Wild team come to you! Opportunities to connect with nature in the city are everywhere if you know where to look. We’ll introduce you to community gardens, local conservation projects, and accessible green spaces in your neighbourhood.
SEE HOW ACCESSIBLE NATURE CAN BE, EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY
“With one group, we did a wildflower activity in which every participant took a bouquet of flowers home with them. A few weeks later, when some of the same people came for stargazing, one man came up to me, remembered my name, and told me about how the wildflowers had lasted a whole week on his kitchen counter and made the whole house smell wonderful.”
– Operation Wild Staff
meet the team
We envision a world where everyone has access to green spaces,
because the more connected we feel to the natural world,
the more we care about protecting and conserving it.
Matt Koning
Program Coordinator
Matt has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and has spent the past 5 years in the developmental services sector. Matt firmly believes in the importance of providing meaningful inclusion opportunities for individuals with a wide variety of abilities, which is why he joined the Operation Wild team! With the majority of people with disabilities living in urban areas, he sees the necessity and value of providing meaningful opportunities for people to explore, learn and be curious in nature.
BEN McCULLOUGH
Cedar Haven Manager & Guide
Ben is excited to reintroduce people to the natural world and help foster a sense of ecological kinship with the rest of creation. With a background in environmental education, Ben creates experiences where people of all abilities can connect over creation care and learn how to positively interact with their environment on a daily basis. Ben is growing Cedar Haven into a paradise for birds, trees, butterflies, bees, and of course, people!
BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS
“One participant said he’d grown up in the country and missed the country life a lot. During his trip, he fed a horse a carrot from between his teeth, sat on the floor in the barn beside a pig feeding it lettuce, traipsed through the garden picking tomatoes, and told us lots of stories about his childhood and how wonderful it is to live in the country.”
– Operation Wild Staff
SPECIAL THANKS to OUR SPONSOR
THE ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION
Working in partnership with our funder, The Ontario Trillium Foundation,
Operation Wild is committed to providing accessible services to people with
barriers or disabilities, building inclusive and engaged communities, and encouraging
others to support a healthy and sustainable environment.
Take Part in Transforming People and Places
Operation Wild is built on the belief that environmental stewardship is rooted in discovery, exploration, and play.
We inspire people to care about the world around them by cultivating a love of nature through
interactive education and meaningful creation care experiences.
Our mission is about more than making nature accessible for
adults with barriers or disabilities. It’s about making nature more
accessible in urban environments and in our homes.
partner
We’re always looking for organizations that are ready to make Operation Wild a part of their regular weekly or monthly programming.
volunteer
Our dedicated volunteers and student interns are what make every participant’s experience more memorable.
donate
If you want to support conservation, environmental education and programs like Operation Wild, donate today to A Rocha Canada.
Book Your Visit at Cedar Haven
We’d love to help you customize a trip for your group!
To get more info and start planning your visit to Cedar Haven, fill out our inquiry form or contact us directly.
Email Matt:
Schedule a call with Matt
faq
We do our best to adapt our programs to meet the needs of each unique group. Although our property isn’t fully wheelchair accessible, please contact us if members of your group use mobility devices and we can discuss the best option moving forward.
We require a minimum of 5 participants for a group trip and can accommodate up to 12.
Most groups plan to be on the property from 1-3 hours. We understand that groups have different interests and abilities, and are happy to customize your trip to meet your group’s needs.
Operation Wild typically offers both morning and afternoon sessions beginning as early as 9am, and ending as late as 4pm. For groups that need to be back home to Hamilton to catch transportation at a specific time, we’re happy to work around your schedule.
We require each group to attend with at least one support workers. We are the experts on the sessions being offered and on adapting sessions to meet the needs of your group. We ask support workers to be the experts of their group and their individual needs. We encourage support staff to fully participate in sessions.
Please give us a call the day of your session if you have concerns about the weather. We are happy to offer programs in the rain as long as we can determine it is safe to do so!
We ask that you bring any water, snacks, and lunch your group requires for the day.
Get email updates on special events and workshops for support staff:
Copyright © 2019.
All Rights Reserved. Operation Wild, A Project of A Rocha Canada. Charity Number: 866638943RR0001
Meet Cedar Haven’s Four-Legged Residents
art
RETIRED HORSE
Art is a gentle giant who likes to greet our visitors with a friendly neigh at the gate.
moses
rescue pony
Mischievous Moses proves that big personality can come in a small package!
molly
rescue donkey
Since the boys pick on Molly a bit, she loves to get extra love (and carrots) from our visitors.
princess
rescue goat
Just like her name suggests, Princess loves nothing more than being spoiled!