If we want more trees, we need more seeds. Learn how to collect seeds from six species: yellow birch, black walnut, silver maple, bur oak, swamp white oak, and northern red oak.
The Access, Collection, Organization, and Redistribution of Nuts and Seeds (ACORNS) course consists of a self-paced online component and a live workshop led by the instructors. The online course takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete. You can choose to watch everything, or just what’s interesting to you, from tree identification to seed development to tools you might need.
Participants will develop a personalized collection plan, receive a certificate of completion, and gain access to networking and collection opportunities with partner organizations. You may opt to purchase a discounted copy of the Forest Gene Conservation Association’s Seeds of Ontario Trees & Shrubs field manual.
The online portion is followed by a half-day in-person workshop.
Both the online and in-person sessions are required to complete the course.
Choose one of the available field days at registration.
Find out more about collecting tree seed.
Workshops and field days will be listed at the bottom of this page when they are available.
Registration closes August 20, 2025, for the online course and all field days.
Friday, September 5, 2025
ACORNS: collecting tree seeds - Rochester
1 - 4:30 p.m.
Silver Lake Park
Saturday, September 6, 2025
ACORNS: collecting tree seeds - Rochester
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Silver Lake Park
Friday, September 12, 2025
ACORNS: collecting tree seeds - Golden Valley
1 - 4:30 p.m.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Saturday, September 13, 2025
ACORNS: collecting tree seeds - Golden Valley
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Friday, September 19, 2025
ACORNS: collecting tree seeds - Carlton County
1 - 4:30 p.m.
Carlton County oak orchard
Saturday, September 20, 2025
ACORNS: collecting tree seeds - Carlton County
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Carlton County oak orchard