Join the PFN

Join one of Canada's premier naturalist communities

Discover what we have to offer and support environmental education and conservation in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Join the Peterborough Field Naturalists by signing up for an annual membership today.

Join the PFN
Sample atmospheric CO2

Atmospheric CO2

Are atmospheric CO2 levels stabilizing? Weekly means for atmospheric CO2 originate from the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory. Check it out, along with other Citizen Science resources.

Sample atmospheric CO2

The Peterborough Field Naturalists (PFN) is a registered charity and active club in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. We are currently holding Zoom meetings each month with intriguing topics and speakers. These are members - only events and we send an email out each month with details. Sign up to be a member now, don't miss out!

Read the Orchid

Each year our hard working volunteers distribute 8 issues of our monthly bulletin to members. The Orchid is full of excellent articles that can help keep you connected to nature in Peterborough.

Upcoming Events

Due to Covid 19, we will require registration and will limit the number of participants.  As a result, outings will be for members only until further notice.

Junior Naturalists

We offer events geared towards kids aged 5-12. Events are led by PFN members and individuals from Peterborough community organizations. Come out and try an event to see if you'd like to join!

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting: Tentatively Scheduled as Members’ Slide Show Night

In the past, the slideshow night has been a highly anticipated annual PFN tradition in which members share their photos of a recent trip or great nature moments or wildlife…

Read More

Monthly Meeting: Monitoring Natural and Anthropogenic Drivers of Boreal Forest Ecosystem Dynamics

Francis Quinby is a fourth-year PhD student in Dr. Dennis Murray’s lab at Trent University where he is pursuing a long-held desire to use quantitative skills to study environmental issues…

Read More

The Miniature World of Lichens

Usually overlooked, lichens are fascinating and beautiful organisms. As our leader, Lou Smyrlis wrote in his June 2023 Orchid article, lichens are not simple plants or even individual organisms. They’re…

Read More

A “Mystery” Outing

An outing is being planned for this date but details weren’t ready at the Orchid deadline. When there is more to share, it will be posted on our website and…

Read More

Junior Naturalists! Join us for “Turtle Encounters: Up Close & Personal”

Meet the education ambassador turtles at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. We’ll have the opportunity to see them up-close and hear their stories. We’ll also learn about the 8 different…

Read More

Birding a Hotspot

Join Drew Monkman for a birding outing to the Lakefield Sewage Lagoons. The lagoons are the number one birding spot in all of Peterborough County. More than 12 species of…

Read More

Miller Creek – A Treasured Wetland

Miller Creek was managed for many years by the PFN. Members built a viewing platform overlooking the marsh, built trails and installed signs. It is now managed by the Otonabee…

Read More

Fabulous Fungi

For those who couldn’t attend the Fungi outing in September, we are offering another opportunity. Fungi come in an incredible variety of different sizes, shapes, and colours and Mark S.…

Read More

Monthly Meeting: Reflections on Seven Years as an Ornithologist in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula presented by Richard Feldman

Richard Feldman is currently a Wildlife Landscape Ecologist with the Ontario Ministry Natural Resources and Forestry. After graduating from Queen’s in Biology, he completed a Master’s in Forest Science at the University of…

Read More

Peterborough Junior Naturalists POLLINATOR POWER Workshop! 

September 29 is a PA day in Peterborough, making it a perfect opportunity to join the Peterborough Junior Naturalists for a POLLINATOR POWER Workshop! Otonabee Conservation staff will lead the…

Read More