Koffler Scientific
Reserve at Jokers Hill

Teach & Learn

With its stunning natural beauty and wealth of educational resources, KSR is an exceptional destination for teaching and learning.

Teaching Facilities

All institutions of higher education are welcome to use Koffler Scientific Reserve at Jokers Hill for diverse, off-campus instructional activities.  

Course field trips can take advantage of our lecture rooms and teaching lab space. Sleeping and dining facilities can serve residential field courses for up to 20 students.

Contact the KSR Director for information on availability, logistics and fees.

Teaching at KSR

KSR is a hidden gem and so close to the city – 887 acres to explore, excellent overnight facilities, and an expansive lab. Even in winter my students collected a wide range of data from the ponds, sprawling forests, and areas active with wildlife, using the lab as an effective and warm staging ground. KSR affiliates generously shared their research and project ideas. Overnighting on site, students were able to bond and socialize together in the evenings.

Dr. Sean Doherty, Wilfrid Laurier University, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

KSR’s hills and variety of ecosystems are great for drone remote sensing, especially for forestry where you have many great vantage points. KSR has been an essential element of my research over the past eight years and it has continued to be a valuable field site even after I took up an appointment at the University of Windsor. The facilities are excellent. My students enjoy having a space for their field research so close to the amenities of a city, and forming productive partnerships with other research groups.

Dr. Cameron Proctor, The University of Windsor, School of the Environment

The work myself and my students have done has resulted in publications that wouldn’t have been possible without KSR. As a student, post-doc, and faculty member, KSR has continually provided a wonderful space to do meaningful research in an inclusive, caring, and helpful environment.

Dr. Rosalind Murray, The University of Toronto, Department of Biology

Graduate/Undergraduate Research at KSR

KSR is a beautiful property with all the resources needed to conduct high-quality field experiments in numerous types of study systems. Overall, my experiences doing field research and on departmental retreats at KSR have all been excellent.

Dr. Lucas Albano, PhD from the University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus

It was really easy working at KSR. I completed part of my Master’s thesis there collecting insects and never had issues getting access to areas to fields or lab space to do dissections.

Eric Etzler, PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus

KSR represents a rare pristine site dedicated to science. I came to KSR in 2021 and 2022 to picture Impatiens capensis flowers and collect leaves and seeds in order to assess the effect of urbanization on flower shape and size. I had a wonderful experience when sampling there: the application process was quick and easy, communication with the KSR manager or director was great and my sampling ran smoothly both years I was there.

Jérôme Burkiewicz, PhD Candidate at the Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal

Learn in the field

KSR hosts undergraduate field courses for budding researchers to gain invaluable skills outside of the classroom.

Temperate Field Biology
(EEB405 – University of Toronto)
Field Methods in
Physical Geography
(GGR390 – University of Toronto)
Forest Products in
Sustainable Forestry
(FOR301 – University of Toronto)
Environmental Studies Field Camp
(GESC451 – Wilfrid Laurier University)
Diversity of Insects
(EEB380 – University of Toronto)
Field Methods in Forest Conservation
(FOR301 – University of Toronto)
Aircraft Design
(AER406 – University of Toronto)
Introduction to Soil Science
(GGR205 – University of Toronto)