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
Dr. Kenneth Welch, The University of Toronto, Department of BiologyKSR has been an ideal playground in which to refine and develop our research, and expose our students and trainees to the wonderful, wild world just outside their homes. KSR has been an optimal place to develop and test our field research on ruby-throated hummingbirds. Within the safe and secluded research grounds, I and multiple graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduate researchers have been able to develop novel tracking technologies for use on these tiniest of birds.
Dr. Sean Doherty, Wilfrid Laurier University, Department of Geography and Environmental StudiesKSR 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. Spencer Barrett, The University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyHundreds of students have experienced their first taste of field biology in the fields, marshes and forests of KSR. KSR provides wonderful opportunities for field experiments in ecology and evolution, and for the training of students. Starting with Stephen Wright’s work on sex allocation in Trillium, we have investigated a range of problems in plant reproductive biology using diverse species and approaches. These have included the evolution of wind pollination in Carex (Jannice Friedman) and Thalictrum (David Timerman) and climate adaptation (Rob Colautti) and mating and inbreeding depression (Chris Balogh) in Lythrum.
Graduate/Undergraduate Research at KSR
Eric Etzler, PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto, Mississauga CampusIt 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.
Jérôme Burkiewicz, PhD Candidate at the Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de MontréalKSR 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.
Julia Boyle, PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto, St. George CampusGetting to do fieldwork at KSR has truly been a highlight of my PhD! Living at the field station immersed me in the ecological and evolutionary questions I was asking, and I was provided the resources and support to conduct both short- and long-term experiments on plants and their microbiomes that I couldn’t have completed in a greenhouse.
Learn in the field
KSR hosts undergraduate and graduate field courses for budding researchers to gain invaluable skills outside of the classroom.
(EEB405 – University of Toronto)
Physical Geography
(GGR390 – University of Toronto)
Sustainable Forestry
(FOR300- University of Toronto)
(GESC451 – Wilfrid Laurier University)
(EEB380 – University of Toronto)
(FOR301 – University of Toronto)
(AER406 – University of Toronto)
(GGR205 – University of Toronto)
(FOR1412– University of Toronto)
(FOR3002– University of Toronto)