KAMLOOPS
2019-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver)
BC Rivers Day – North Thompson River Clean-up

We’ll meet up at the North Thompson River for a shoreline clean-up and to learn about BC rivers. We’ll provide garbage bags, warm drinks and snacks. Please bring a mug along with you, so we don’t make more garbage.

Please RSVP here and feel free to bring a friend along. We’ll meet in Rayleigh and ramble along the shoreline.

Meet at the end of Helmcken Dr at 10am https://goo.gl/maps/5D6gryhD4JSKc6Li7

VICTORIA
2019-09-28 11:00 - 16:00
Hawk Watch!
We have been generously invited to join our adult nature club and nature mentors at the Victoria Natural History Society (VNHS) to learn about the phenomenon of the fall migration and to join them for a BBQ at 3 p.m.
It’s migration time! From mid-September to late October, birds gather in East Sooke Regional Park riding the thermals and waiting for the perfect opportunity and good weather to cross 27 km of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Washington State and further south. At the peak of migration as many as 1000 Turkey Vultures can be seen kettling over the coastal hills along with a mix of other raptor species, including Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, American Kestrel, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier, Osprey, and Bald Eagle. If you’re lucky, you may spot some other rare raptors that pass through at this time of year, including the Golden Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Goshawk, and Broad-winged Hawk.
Meet at 11 am near the VNHS tent at the far end of the parking lot, Aylard Farm entrance of East Sooke Regional Park. If you come late and just want to join us for the BBQ- this will be in the same spot, in the grassy area at the far end of the Aylard Farm parking lot.
WHAT TO BRING? Appropriate clothing for changeable weather (it can be cooler and windy on Beechey Head), sturdy shoes for the walk up to Beechey Head (mostly easy except for a short steep and rocky section at the end), binoculars if you have them (if not, there are some available to borrow). Also snacks and water (no water available on site). If you plan to stay for the picnic BBQ starting at 3, you may want to bring a picnic blanket and/or lawn chairs and picnic supplies (plates/cutlery/drinks). Don’t forget your Passports to Nature!

BULKLEY VALLEY
2019-09-28 13:00 - 15:00
Anniversary Nature Walk at Tyhee Lake
We are looking forward to slowing down and connecting in nature with you at Tyhee Lake Group campsite. Come celebrate our one year anniversary as a Bulkley Valley Chapter! Join us as we explore Aldermere trail, and enjoy the lake. We have plans to doing some foraging, building, stem challenges, geocaching, and most importantly playing while connecting in nature with families.

LANGLEY
2019-09-28 17:30 - 19:00
Light Up the Sky
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will join us for a an evening about the impact of human produced light on our skies. This is your family’s chance to ask all your Space questions to experts. Jupiter and Saturn will also be low in the sky, we will have telescopes available to view them.
Location: Willoughby Recreation Centre
To register follow this link: https://form.jotform.com/91806332141247

SOUTH OKANAGAN
2019-09-29 10:00 - 13:00
Kettle Valley Rail Trail Bike Ride
Join us for a bike ride from Naramata to Penticton on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVR) – it’s an easy 15km ride on a gradual downhill grade. This would be suitable for kids 6 and older on their own bike, with smaller kids on a bike trailer or on a rear seat.
We’ll meet at Hoodoo Adventures around 10am with our bikes, helmets and backpacks. Hoodoo will shuttle us to Naramata and drop us off at the KVR (I think Arawana would be a good starting point). We’ll then bike back to Penticton, and have a picnic lunch stop along the way.
Hoodoo Adventures has offered us a great deal on a shuttle to Naramata. They will transport you and your bike from Penticton to Naramata for $12 per person (their normal price is $20pp).

NORTH OKANAGAN
2019-09-29 13:00 - 15:00
Stream Clean-up
Join us for an afternoon of stewardship in partnership with the North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club. We will help them with their Adopt-a-Stream project, and clean up of the BX Cree.
Location: meet on Deleenheer Road

More details coming soon!

NANAIMO
2019-09-29 13:00 - 15:00
Ancestor Feast
To welcome everyone back to NatureKids after the summer break we thought that a potluck would be a nice way to re-connect with one another and to meet our new members. As a way to celebrate the upcoming Ancestor Appreciation day we would like to invite you all to our Ancestor Feast!
An Ancestor Feast is a potluck gathering that gives us the chance to celebrate our family lines through food, stories and music. This type of gathering has been honoured for thousands of years and is a tradition within 8-Shields schools and communities all over the world!

SALMON ARM
2019-09-29 14:00 - 16:00
Calling the Salmon Home

Come and learn about Salmon with a local mentor Brenda Melnychuk and walk the trails, look for Salmon, other activities.
Bring snack and wear outdoor clothing for the weather, water, binoculars if you have. Also if you have a smart phone you could listen to part of the Story Trails

Location: The Adams River Interpretive cabin , Tsutswecw Park

NORTH VANCOUVER
2019-10-06 13:00 - 14:30
Forest Chatter
Explore the forest using your ears! We’ll discover the sounds that we can hear, such as bird songs, and then delve deeper into the sounds that we can’t hear with our human ears. Using technology to assist us, we’ll listen in on bat conversations and even hear the inner workings of trees.
Register Here

NANAIMO
2019-10-06 13:30 - 15:30
Englishman River Park Nature Walk
Join us for in Englishman River Park for a nature walk. We will be walking along the trail that gives us a good view of the side channel to see if there are any salmon arrived yet for spawning, and learning a bit about the salmon life cycle. We will also be learning about tree identification through leaf characteristics (shape, arrangement, margins and venation patterns) using some materials that I will bring and what we can find on our exploration.
If you have a guidebook on trees, feel free to bring it. If you have a nature sketchbook and some pencils or crayons to make drawings or rubbings, that would be great. Dress for the weather, the trails can be muddy.

PRINCE GEORGE
2019-10-12 10:00 - 12:00
Hug a Tree
Join us and our Nature Mentors from Adventure Smart Canada as we learn about how to stay safe outside and what to do if we ever get lost in a forest.

RIDGE MEADOWS
2019-10-13 12:00 - 15:00
Scales, Talons and Claws
We will be learning about salmon, aquatic invertebrates and other river-roaming wildlife. We plan to catch and release some fish for inspection and possibly even dissect a dead salmon or two. We are very excited to have been invited to join Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society (K.E.E.P.S.) for this event.
The event will be from 11am until 3pm but NatureKids will be joining at noon. So you can come and go as it fits your schedule anytime between 11 and 3.
Location: This event is at the fish fence at the bottom of 240th street in Maple Ridge, 240th and Kanaka Creek Rd.

DELTA HL
2019-10-17 11:00 - 14:00
Cougar Creek Exploration!
We will be learn about the geology of the area, look for wildlife and maybe spot some salmon! We will meet David Smith, our guide, at the access point on Lyon Road, between Ryall Crecent and Stewart Road/ Newport place, just a few blocks from Seaquam High School.There are no signs on the street, just a pathway opening.
Rubber boots are highly recommended, otherwise be prepared to get soaking feet. If it hasn’t been raining, it might be possible for athletic people in hiking shoes to avoid getting soaked, but no promises ;). Bring water and snacks.
If it is raining heavily we will do a shorter walk and will enter the canyon from a different spot.

LANGLEY
2019-10-19 13:30 - 15:00
Ninja Sports Training!
Join us for a morning of climbing and jumping during this family Ninja training session! Feel free to dress in your Halloween costume for this one! Activities are restricted to ages 5+.
Location: Ninja Sports Club Langley (near Langley Costco).
To register follow this link: https://form.jotform.com/92257519444261

NICOMEKL
2019-10-20 10:20 - 12:00
Agate Hunt
We will be hunting for agates with rock hounder Trevor Christie!
Gumboots are not required but please wear firm-soled shoes as “it can get tough on the feet walking on the rocks after a while”. Dress for the weather – this event will happen rain or shine – and bring a lunch and/or snacks & drinks.
Location: Gill Bar on the Fraser River, near Rosedale (east of Chilliwack). Meet at the Rosedale Traditional School at 50850 Yale Road, which is not far from the Annis Road exit off Hwy 1.

KELOWNA
2019-10-20 13:00 - 15:00
Bats with BEEPS!
We will learn about bats and their role in the local ecology, watch a live feed of the colony, and do a craft! Afterwards, families who want can walk the bat trail.

SALMON ARM
2019-10-20 13:00 - 15:00
Shelter Building

Create shelters in small groups. Play games and make mini-shelters. Dress for the weather. Bring rope if you have. Bring a snack and water.

Location: Coyote Park, Salmon Arm

COWICHAN VALLEY HL
2019-10-22 10:00 - 11:30
Mushroom Hunting!

We will meet in the parking lots of the store and our mushroom naturalist Rob Garbutt will lead us via car caravan to the spot where we will learn about and hunt for mushrooms! There some beautiful chanterelles that we can pick and bring home! So bring a bag and proper foot wear! Can’t wait for our treasure hunt!!
Location: we’ll meet in the parking lot of the Masons’ Store in Shawnigan Lake

DELTA HL
2019-10-24 09:30 - 12:00
Bird Box Cleaning
Join us at the Kings Links Golf Course where we will be helping the Delta Naturalists examine and clean bird boxes!

OTTER HL
2019-10-25 10:00 - 12:30
BioBlitz! Wetland Planting in Aldergrove Regional Park
Come join as as we do some planting in a newly constructed wetland in the park. Metro Vancouver will provide tools (gloves, shovels, etc.) and refreshments (water, snacks, pizza.) The event will run rain or shine so participants should dress appropriately for the activity and weather. Site conditions will like be muddy. It is after all a wetland! As such, rubber boots or waterproof hiking boots are highly recommended.

NELSON
2019-10-26 18:30 - 20:00
Astronomy Night!
Come and join us and mentor Wayne Holmes while we take a look through his telescopes. He will have a quick talk and then he will position the scopes so we can see a variety of interesting things (cluster, double stars, planets, etc). He has a variety of nice telescopes and will introduce the kids to many cool things to see. An event worth checking out!

This event is outdoors only so come dressed appropriately. I’ll try to have a warm drink station available to keep up toasty, but hats, mitts and coats are a good idea!
Location: Taghum Hall

KAMLOOPS
2019-10-27 10:00 - 11:30
Nature Art

Please bring your arty ideas as we’ll be creating art with found objects in the park. We will supply glue and paper, but feel free to bring your favourite notebook or other art supplies. We can even practice drawing leaves and bugs!

It might be chilly out and we’ll be staying in one place, so please bring cosy clothes. We’ll have tea to warm you up. Please RSVP here and remember you can feel free to bring friends along. Just look for the guest pass on the website.

Location: Alberta McGowan Park

VICTORIA
2019-10-27 12:00 - 14:00
Creepy, Crawly Critters at Swan Lake
Are you squeamish, or do you mind having critters crawl on you? Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is putting on a public event sponsored by the Victoria Natural History Society and the Victoria Bug Zoo. Come join us on this Explorer Day to learn fascinating facts about spiders and other insects. They may introduce you to the bug zoo’s famous tarantula. If the bugs are too much, you can take in the local wildlife by taking a walk along the nature trails throughout the park.
WHERE to meet and park: Follow the signs to the Swan Hill Sanctuary off McKenzie Avenue and you will get to a parking lot close to the Nature House. The event will be set up in the Nature House, so we will meet in there.
RSVP HERE
MAP LINK: https://www.swanlake.bc.ca/visit-explore/hours-location/
OTHER LOGISTICS: Admission is by donation and the suggested donation is $5 per person.
Dogs are not allowed in the park so please leave your animals at home.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.swanlake.bc.ca/about-us/the-sanctuary/

NORTH VANCOUVER
2019-10-27 12:00 - 16:00
Reptile Hissss-travaganza!
Open House at the Ecology Centre from Noon to 4 pm
Help us celebrate reptiles! Join the Westcoast Reptile Education Society for our annual visit with these beautiful and often misunderstood animals. You’ll discover that reptiles aren’t as scary as you might think.
Suggested donation: $2 per person or $5 per family

COMOX VALLEY
2019-10-27 13:00 - 15:00
Focus on Fungus!
We are lucky to have Alison Maingon from Comox Valley Nature joining us as our guest leader, helping us to find and learn about various forest fungi located in the park. It might be fun to bring a magnifying glass on this trip as mushrooms can look pretty cool close up! Mushroom photos are fun too if you have a camera or phone you want to use for pictures.

Please come prepared for the weather as we tend to go out rain or shine. If the weather is looking “iffy” I will send out an email confirming whether or not we are going out by 11am. Generally speaking, we only call it off if there is a heavy wind making it potentially unsafe in the forest.

Location and directions: Nymph Falls Nature Park. Take Piercy Road from Condensory Road heading to Inland Island Highway 19. Turn Left on Forbidden Plateau Road. The main parking lot is on the left hand side.

VANCOUVER
2019-10-27 14:00 - 15:30
Fall Walk at Deer Lake
On Sunday October 27th at 2 pm, the Vancouver Club will meet for a walk around Deer Lake. Please bring your binoculars and bird field guides (we’ll bring some too) and we’ll have a look at the ducks that are on the water. Also in honour of fall, we’ll look for all things nature-related that are red. We may see some red-breasted or common mergansers (they have red bills), and there might be some pretty maple trees as well.

We’ll meet at the parking lot off of Sperling Ave where there is the small beach and boat rental location. It is about a 3 km walk around the lake and should take us 1 – 1.5 hours. Register here.

VANCOUVER
2019-10-27 14:00 - 16:00
A Fall Walk at Deer Lake

The Vancouver Club will meet at Deer Lake on Sunday October 20th at 2 pm for a walk around the lake. Please bring your binoculars and bird field guides and we’ll have a look at the ducks that are on the water. Also in honour of fall, we’ll look for all things nature-related that are red. We may see some red-breasted or common mergansers (they have red bills), and there might be some pretty maple trees as well.

We’ll meet at the parking lot off of Sperling Ave where there is the small beach and boat rental location.

It is about a 3 km walk around the lake and should take us 1 – 1.5 hours. Register here.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

BULKLEY VALLEY
2019-11-01 15:00 - 16:30
Interpretive Bat Walk
Join us for an interpretative walk, Friday, November 1st, 3:00-4:30pm. Led by our nature mentor: Ashleigh from Skeena BC Bats, to check out a local bat habitat.
We will be learning more about bats in our area, the importance of them, why they are in danger, and what we can do to protect them in their environment.
Meet at Willowvale Marsh trail, this is beside Elks Park and behind Ambleside Subdivision (behind Canadian Tire).
Bat Week is Oct 24-31, 2019. For more fun citizen science activities check out the links below to explore with your family.
https://batweek.org/
https://1d50c56e26.nxcli.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/13_Bat-Champion-Explorer-Day.pdf

Looking forward to learning alongside you and your kids –

Sarah Wright and Alethia Perry

VICTORIA
2019-11-02 13:00 - 14:00
Mushroom Walk and Talk
The weather is cooler and the days are becoming shorter. This coincides with the emergence of mushrooms, or fungi. Mushrooms are a vital part of the forest ecosystem. On this Explorer Day, we will go on a mushroom hunt. We will learn about the different kinds of mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. Some are safe to eat and others are not. Can we figure out how to tell the difference?
We will be joining our Nature Mentor Katie Turner from the CRD on a walk through the beautiful Francis/King Regional Park. The park is home to some of the largest Douglas fir trees in the Victoria area, and hopefully a lot of mushrooms!
WHERE: We will meet at the Francis King Nature Centre (next to the parking lot) Saanich, Francis/King Regional Park.
COME PREPARED: Wear warm layers for being outdoors in the woods; it can get chilly among the trees.
Bring your magnifying glass if you have it and don’t forget your NatureKids passports!
Please RSVP here if you can make it.

COMOX VALLEY
2019-11-04 08:00 - 17:00
Rosewall Creek Provincial Park Exploration

We’ll go on a hike in the forest and then have some creek based activities, look for evidence of spawning chum salmon, and we’ll also check out the recent work BC Parks has been doing to restore streambanks and protect from erosion.

I hope many of you can make it. There are some picnic tables, or we might find another spot along the trail for a little snack – so pack a little something and maybe a thermos of hot chocolate and we can enjoy a “year end” snack together as well, as this is the last Explorer Day scheduled for 2019.

Location: The park is about 30mins south of Courtenay and can be accessed by the Cook Creek interchange off Hwy #19 or from Hwy #19a.

Guests are welcome to try out an Explorer Day, so feel free to bring along family or friends.
