NatureKidsBC

Virtual Ecosystem Explorer Day - #4 Grasslands: Burrowing Owls in BC
2024-03-06 18:00 - 18:30 (America/Vancouver)
Join us for a Virtual Ecosystem Explorer Day! This is the fourth virtual event of a four part series that will run during fall and winter of 2023/2024! Our focus will be on ecosystems!
Explore the dry grasslands of British Columbia and learn about the endangered burrowing owl! For over 30 years the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC has been working on the reintroduction of the endangered burrowing owl back to the interior grasslands of BC. We will explore the lifecycle of the owls, how they are released and how the society is working to improve their habitat.
The event will take place on Zoom. Click here to register!
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

NICOMEKL - Signs of Spring
2024-03-09 10:00 - 11:30
Join NatureKids Nicomekl and look for signs of spring on a beautiful forest walk in Sunnyside Acres.

To register email nicomekl@naturekidsbc.ca
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

VANCOUVER - Tour of Trottier Observatory
2024-03-09 10:30 - 12:00
Feel the mystery and excitement of the universe with a visit to the Trottier Observatory and an Astronomy workshop on Saturday, March 9th, 10:30-12:00. With our guides, we’ll participate in hands-on activities and demonstrations exploring the wonders of astronomy, from planets and galaxies to constellations. Explore the mysteries of gravity, unravel the timeline of key astronomical events, and discover the Doppler effect. Other activities may include an outdoor walking tour of the Trottier Observatory with introduction to star charts, a cosmic calendar, sun dial and a peep into the telescope inside the dome (weather-permitting). This Explorer Day is recommended for children ages 5 and up.
Nestled within the heart of the Simon Fraser University, Burnaby campus, the Trottier Studio for Innovative Science Education and the Trottier Observatory and Science Courtyard have been bringing science education and astronomy to students, families, and the general public since 2014.
The event is now FULL. If you’d like to be placed on a waitlist please email vancouver@naturekidsbc.ca
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

COMOX VALLEY - A day with MARS Wildlife Rescue!
2024-03-10 10:00 - 11:30
Join the Comox Valley NatureKids BC club while we are hosted by the lovely people and animals of MARS wildlife rescue Center.
We will get to hear the stories of their animal patients and learn about the care they receive while at MARS. We will get to view recovering Bald Eagles, visit non-releasable ambassador owls, eagles, and albino crows, and meet one of the ambassador birds up-close with a handler!
Click here to register!
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

SALMON ARM - What is a Watershed?
2024-03-10 13:00 - 15:00
Join the Salmon Arm NatureKids BC club and explore what a watershed is through fun activities. Be prepared to go outside.
For questions about this event email salmonarm@naturekidsbc.ca

KAMLOOPS - Creating Maps
2024-03-10 13:00 - 15:00
Come join us to learn how to create a map! We’ll meet at Dufferin Wetlands, near the Dufferin Elementary School.

Please dress for the weather and bring snacks and water
Bring your friends! All are welcome and feel free to share this.

Please RSVP yes, if you will join us, but don’t stress if you decide to join at the last minute. We always bring extra supplies! 🙂

To register email kamloops@naturekidsbc.ca
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

TRICITIES - Exploring Wildlife at Mossom Creek Hatchery
2024-03-16 10:00 - 11:30
Join the TriCities NatureKids Club for the first explorer day event of the spring!
This is a close-up, hands-on experience in the Mossom Creek Hatchery and its education centre, in the nearby forest, and at the creek. Learn about the life cycles of salmon species and study the aquatic insects the young salmon eat in the creek.
You will be guided through the activities by the co-founder of the Mossom Creek Hatchery and nationally recognized environmental education specialist, Ruth Foster.
This event is now FULL
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

TEXADA - Investigating Invasive Species
2024-03-16 11:00 - 13:00
Join NatureKids Texada and the Invasive Species Council of BC to learn about local invasive species! Play fun games, make new friends and learn how to support biodiversity.

To register email texada@naturekidsbc.ca
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

SALT SPRING ISLAND - Middens, Moss and Mergansers
2024-03-17 10:00 - 12:00
Hey NatureKids let’s mix it up with moss, middens and mergansers at Ruckle Park! How are they connected? We’ll walk in the footsteps of the First Nations’ peoples, looking for evidence of old village sites. With luck, we’ll see all 3 of the different mergansers which hide out in the bays at Ruckle through the winter. The mosses! They are sprouting fruiting bodies. Let’s have a closer look. Using a quadrant, magnifying glasses, graph paper and coloured pencils we will plot the different types and explore how they create wonderful ‘micro-forests’ on the rocks.
This outing may cover a lot of ground, possibly about 2 km, some of which will be challenging. Of course we’ll have marvelous views and lovely places to stop for snacks.
A few pairs of binoculars will be available along with the magnifying glasses.
Dress for the weather with good hiking shoes or boots.
Bring your NatureKids’ passports!
Place: Meet at the picnic tables beside the lower parking lot at Ruckle Park
Date and Time: March 17, 10 – 12 noon
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

WildRoots - Bird Sanctuary Visit
2024-03-19 10:00 - 11:30
We’ll explore the wetlands, natural marshes and low dykes of this beautiful bird sanctuary in the heart of the Fraser River Estuary. This is an area of refuge for millions of birds as a feeding and resting area during their annual migrations along the Pacific Coast. A nature mentor will guide us to explore the sanctuary, and you’re welcome to stay afterwards to explore further on your own.
Registration is FULL but you are still welcome to join the waitlist.
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

MERRITT - Day on the Farm
2024-03-23 10:00 - 11:30
Join the Merritt NatureKids BC club for a day on the farm! Make new friends and meet some fuzzy farm animals.
To register email merritt@naturekidsbc.ca
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

VIRTUAL - Earth Hour with NatureKids BC. A light pollution lights out activity for the whole planet!
2024-03-25 19:30 - 20:30
Join us for a NatureKids BC virtual explorer day and learn more about one of the easiest forms of pollution to fix, light pollution, and have some fun in your own homes before lights out time!
The event will take place on Zoom. Click here to register!
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

BURNABY - Discover the Hidden Traits of Wintering Plants
2024-03-30 10:30 - 12:30
Join the Burnaby NatureKids Club and explore the hidden world of wintering plants!

When seasons change and plants lose their leaves, it may seem like a dull and sleepy time of year— but there is much to observe and get excited about the outdoors! In fact, there are some plant traits that you can only clearly observe in winter. Wintertime is a great time to build your plant identification skills and hone your observational abilities.
In this session, we will begin with an indoor lecture where you will learn the basics of winter plant identification, including key traits and terms. The second part of the class will be an outdoor walk around the garden, where we will stop and observe the interesting features of various native shrubs and trees.
Julia Alards-Tomalin is an instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby, Canada. She studied Forestry and Ecological Restoration at BCIT and completed a Master of Education at Simon Fraser University. Her background is diverse, including horticulture, arboriculture, invasive species management and ecological restoration, but is united by a common theme of plants.
Starting in 2019, Julia began to work with her students to create an Open Education textbook focusing on the winter identification of plants entitled Buds, Branches and Bark: A Guide to Winter ID in the Pacific Northwest. Buds, Branches and Bark is free to download, and the 2nd edition is currently available on the BCIT website. In 2022, Julia was awarded the Teaching Excellence in Open Education Employee Excellence Award at BCIT for her involvement in this Open Education Resource. In 2023, the 2nd edition of Buds, Branches and Bark was awarded the Open Education Global Award for Excellence in the Open Pedagogy category and the BC Campus Award for Excellence in Open Education.

Click here to register!

This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

KELOWNA - Green Guardians - Kids Clean Up!
2024-04-01 11:00 - 12:30
Join the Kelowna NatureKids BC club for a morning of making new friends and help clean up Kelowna City Park as we head into spring! The more green guardians help protect our nature the cleaner our parks and waters will be!

Gloves and bags will be provided. Parking and public transportation is readily available.
To register for this event email kelowna@naturekidsbc.ca

WILDROOTS - Why should I care about invasive plants?
2024-04-02 13:00 - 14:30
Learn why you should care about invasive plants and see how many invasive plants you can spot. Join us and learn about invasive plants with Erica Mulder from the Capitol Hill Tree Keepers. Erica is a European settler who grew up in Burnaby. Since the beginning of the pandemic, she’s been exploring her relationship and responsibility with invasive plants. She’s passionate about the importance of native plants within our cities.
Accessibility: We will be walking along a dirt trail that is not very accessible. There are some steeper sections and often roots and such along the way. If that is a barrier or if you need additional support, please let me know.
Click here to register!

This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

COWICHAN VALLEY - Junior Birders
2024-04-07 11:00 - 12:00
Join the Cowichan Valley NatureKids Club for a fun morning of birding! What birds can you spot? Join us for a fun morning of learning about birds and making new friends.

Click here to register!
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

NELSON - Primal Skills - Shelter and Fire
2024-04-07 13:00 - 15:00
Inspired by coyote mentoring, bushcraft skills and elemental wisdom – expect forest play, games, songs & stories that reconnect us to our ancestors and to the land.

This Explorer Day is free for members of NatureKids BC. Non members may attend if there is space. Please email us if you are not currently a club member: nelson@naturekidsbc.ca. For kids age 5-12 and their families.

Click here to register!
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

EASTERN FRASER VALLEY - Foraging in the Forest
2024-04-14 11:00 - 12:00
Join the Eastern Fraser Valley NatureKids BC club for a morning of making new friends and learn about foraging in the forest with nature mentor, Raeanna, owner of Foraging in the Forest.

Location: Thompson Regional Park – click here for location map

Accessibility: There is parking and washrooms on site. This park is not accessible by transit.

This explorer day is limited to 20 participants.

Click here to register!

If you register and are unable to attend please make sure to cancel your registration so other families can attend.

This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

DELTA - Rain Garden Walk
2024-04-14 11:00 - 13:00
Spring is coming and let’s have a walk in nature together.

The Cougar Creek Streamkeepers is a volunteer group focusing on protecting waterways in the Delta Area. Their principal projects are stream monitoring, instream improvements, streamside restoration, salmon release and creation of rain gardens to reduce stormwater damage to the creeks.

Our Club invited Deborah Jones, Rain Gardens Coordinator of Cougar Creek Streamkeepers, to have a walk with us at their “Rain Garden Ramble” in the Social Heart of North Delta. It will definitely be a lovely walk!

It will be an almost 2 hours walk activity, please consider before register. Thanks a lot!

Learn more about Cougar Creek Streamkeepers Here
Click here to register!
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

VANCOUVER - Searching for the Elusive Fairy Shrimp!
2024-04-14 13:00 - 15:00
Have you ever heard of a Fairy Shrimp? Pacific Spirit Park Society (PSPS) is conducting monitoring activities for the Oregon Fairy Shrimp, and they have invited us to join them to learn about these invertebrates and to try pond-dipping ourselves. We might be able to catch some fairy shrimp – and perhaps a few other critters! After this activity (time dependent), we’ll take a short walk to the “Beaver Pond” area to listen for frogs and birds.
We are fortunate to have several Nature Mentors for this Explorer Day from the Fairy Shrimp Monitoring Team: Caitie, Emily, Daniel and Lisa, as well as Laura, Program Coordinator of PSPS, and volunteer.
Register here
Please note: If the form accepts your registration, you are confirmed, and you will receive a reminder email a few days before the Explorer Day. If the form is not accepting registrations, it is full. You can be placed on a waitlist by replying to this email with the number of people that would be coming.
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

SALMON ARM - Birding for Families
2024-04-21 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-04-28 09:00 - 11:00
Join the Salmon Arm NatureKids BC club, Shuswap Naturalists club and the Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Society for a fun morning of birding!
Enjoy a morning walk on the wharf with local nature experts. Bring your family and learn about Western Grebes and other waterfowl and we’ll have several spotting scopes to help children and adults get great views of common birds.
No registration is required. Please meet the group at SABNES Nature House parking lot at the Salmon Arm Wharf.
For questions about this event email salmonarm@naturekidsbc.ca

MERRITT - Earth Friendly Crafts
2024-04-27 10:00 - 12:00
Join the Merritt NatureKids BC club for a morning of crafting with the Nicola Valley Arts Council! Spaces are limited and registration is required.
To register email merritt@naturekidsbc.ca
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

BURNABY - Spring Nature Treasure Hunt!
2024-04-27 10:00 - 13:00
Join the Burnaby NatureKids Club and find the hidden treasurel!

Get ready to run around the beautiful Burnaby Mountain Park and solve the mystery of the hidden Spring Treasure! You will have to solve puzzles, decipher clues, and find our hidden creatures to get to the treasure. To celebrate your triumph, we will gather under the cherry trees and enjoy a perfect spring picnic (make sure to bring your favorite snack and lots of water!) and give away some fun NatureKids prizes.
Make sure to bring a yummy lunch, weather appropriate clothing (probably a hat and sunscreen are a great idea), and a picnic blanket or lawn chair. There will be fruit to share!
You can park for a free at the park, there are public bathrooms, and the park is accessible for strollers.
*Registration is limited to 20 families.
Click here to register!

TEXADA - Spring Celebration
2024-04-27 11:00 - 13:00
Join NatureKids Texada at the Texada Home and Garden Centre for some fun nature-based activities to celebrate the arrival of spring!

To register email texada@naturekidsbc.ca
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

RIDGE MEADOWS - Goodbye Chums Fry Release
2024-04-27 11:00 - 14:00
Join NatureKids BC and KEEPS – Kanaka Education & Environmental Stewardship Society, to release some baby chum back into the Kanaka River!

​Located in beautiful Kanaka Creek Regional Park in Maple Ridge.
Click here to register!
Discover watershed stewardship and the wonders of nature at the Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Centre.
Here, you’ll find:

A fish hatchery
Stormwater management landscaping
Large outdoor education spaces and gathering areas
Indoor facilities for education and community programs

Explore the centre’s grounds, view interpretive signs and venture into Kanaka Creek Regional Park along connected trails. Meet volunteers and join programs to speak with people who work on stewardship projects and lead education activities.
This centre is the result of extraordinary working relationships between Metro Vancouver, the Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society (KEEPS) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.​
You will have the opportunity to release some chum and learn about the lifecycle of the salmon from spawning, to eggs, to eyed eggs, to alevins, and finally to fry ready to be released!

This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

NICOMEKL - Rocky Shore Animals
2024-04-27 14:00 - 15:30
Join NatureKids Nicomekl and explore the intertidal life on the rocky shore!

Meet at the Boat Launch at West Beach, White Rock Beach

To register email nicomekl@naturekidsbc.ca
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

NORTH VANCOUVER - City Nature Challenge
2024-04-28 13:00 - 14:30
Join us in the park to find and photograph wildlife in the city! Started in 2016 as a competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the City Nature Challenge (CNC) has grown into an international event, motivating people around the world to find and document wildlife in their own cities.
Click here to register!
This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

KAMLOOPS - Baskets and Birds
2024-04-28 13:00 - 15:00
Join Kamloops NatureKids and learn about making baskets and cordage from local plant materials. Learn how to use basic supplies to make loose baskets to contain nest making fluff for birds!
To register and for more information email kamloops@naturekidsbc.ca

This event is for NatureKids BC members. Become a member today!

JERICHO - Plants & People Making Connections
2024-05-03 13:00 - 14:30
Join the Jericho NatureKids BC club for an afternoon of learning with the Sierra Club of BC.
Invites learners into relationship with the beings just outside their doors. This is done through systems thinking, inviting place-based connections into the broader picture. Learners explore how ecosystems offer many connected pathways between plants, humans, and other beings; celebrating sustainability, biodiversity, and storytelling centered in place-based authentic voice. (anticipated program duration is 1-1.5 hours).
This program from the Sierra Club of BC is recommended for children in grades 3 to 5. Younger or older children who might be interested by the material are also welcome.
Click here to register!
