Niagara Parks School of Horticulture

Your next adventure begins at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture

Nestled within the iconic, 99-acre Botanical Gardens, the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture is a one-of-a-kind educational experience on a living campus. Our extensive team of instructors, curators and industry leaders work closely with our students in developing horticultural knowledge and technical skills in a project-based, team setting.

Our programs offer unique alternatives to traditional post-secondary education formats, where students can break free from stuffy classroom settings and apply their learning in a world-renowned, working garden.

Located along the Niagara Parkway, between the cities of Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture boasts some of the most internationally recognized horticultural gardens in Ontario. In addition, the backdrop of the old growth Carolinian Forests flanking the Niagara river host some of the greatest plant diversity observed in Ontario just steps from our campus.

To find out how to be a part of the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture experience and include us in your story visit schoolofhorticulture.com and let’s continue the conversation.

Life at Niagara Parks School of Horticulture

What does the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture Experience Offer?

Small Classes and Focus Groups

The Niagara Parks School of Horticulture developed a cohort learning style where class sizes are no more than 12 students, with many opportunities for instructor / student contact.

Over 86 Years of Experiential Learning

Experiential learning isn’t just one activity we offer, it’s a way of life. The focus of our program is experiential learning with over 1,000 hours per year spent outside of the classroom, developing the horticulture skills and knowledge essential in the industry.

Unprecedented Industry Contacts

The Niagara Parks School of Horticulture provides many contact points for our students to start networking within the industry. Included are mentorship opportunities, internship placement, study tours, trade shows, seminars, guest speakers, and alumni connections.

Applied Leadership & Resume Building

Our third-year students receive first-hand experience as crew supervisors, leading student crews on horticulture tasks within the gardens. This indispensable learning experience offers important leadership experience that looks great on your resume.

Horticulture Technician Apprenticeship

Upon graduation from the Niagara Parks Diploma Program (NPD), the student meets the criteria for the Horticulture Technician Apprenticeship in Ontario. Graduates are then eligible to write the provincial exam to gain the certificate of qualification.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Our school is fully recognized by OSAP, and we have one of the highest ratios of internal scholarships to students. Many industry-based scholarship and bursary opportunities are also available.

Low Tuition Rates

Some of the lowest tuition rates in Ontario, our tuition can be optionally paid in 3 instalments.

More Learning Time

Over the course of the 3-year (36-month) program our graduates have logged over 5,000 instructional hours from both a practical and academic standpoint where approximately 3,000 of those hours are paid.

Get Paid to Learn

The Niagara Parks School of Horticulture is based in experiential education where all of our students are registered apprentices and employees of Niagara Parks. Students receive payment for their practical-based learning on the Botanical Gardens.

Other Services and support available to Niagara Parks Students: