VICTORIA – Discover Intertidal Life Mysteries

What creatures might we see? Three kinds of crabs (or their shells/exoskeletons); small and large anemones; red sea cucumbers; sea stars, shallow water fish; clams; barnacles of all sizes; limpets, green, brown and red seaweeds, and more!

• When: Sunday, June 14, 2026, 8:45 – 10:45 AM.
• Where: North Beach, Glencoe Cove – Kwatsech Park,  Gordon Head, Saanich
  • • Meeting location: From the small parking lot, take the Shoreway Beach Access trail (3 – 5 minute walk) that leads to a stairway. We’ll meet at the bottom of the stairs.
    • Parking: There is a small parking lot at the park entrance. There is also ample street parking close by on Shore Way and Gordon Point Drive.
• Who: All ages – bring the teens too! This is also a great Explorer Day to invite friends who aren’t NatureKids members. They can register at the same link.
• Weather: We go rain or shine! However, this event will be canceled in the case of heavy rain. I will be in touch with you a few days before the event to confirm details.
• What to bring:
  • • Your own intertidal field guides if you have any, but we will have some to share.
    • Sunscreen, hat, waterproof jacket depending on weather.
    • Footwear that has a good grip and you don’t mind getting muddy or wet. Knee high boots if you’d like to explore a near shore rock ‘island.’
    • A magnifying glass and camera can be useful. Binocs to see birds and marine mammals, such as seals.
    • Snacks and water. This sandy beach is a great place for a mid-morning picnic.

Register Here

What challenges do you think these underwater species face when exposed to the land and sky? To survive the low tides, these species have to protect themselves from predators, and prevent dehydration. Some of the many ways they do this are: attaching firmly to rocks and closing their protective “doors,” burrowing beneath the sand, sheltering under the moist seaweed, and hiding in abandoned shells, just to name a few! During this Explorer Day, we’ll have the opportunity to observe some of these remarkable adaptations firsthand.

There will also be Scavenger Hunt sheets available for explorers of all ages.

You may be wondering why we’re starting so early on a Sunday morning! That’s due to the low tide—one of the lowest of the year—at 9:21 AM. Starting a little earlier gives us full access to the lowest parts of the shoreline before the tide starts to come back in. However, don’t worry if you’re late – just come!

This beach is also a great place to dig up clay and try some modelling. Plus, I’ve heard there is a lot of sea glass there, which is always fun to find. Depending on the weather, people might also want to go for a swim.

Lastly, as we are all good ocean stewards, we’ll have a container for any garbage we find on the beach. Just let an adult know if you see some garbage, and we’ll collect it safely.