Plankton Tow & Teach!
2025-07-02 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | Tofino Resort & Marina, 634 Campbell Street Tofino, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0
Plankton Tow & Teach! Free Event
Plankton are the wanderers of the sea. In sizes from microscopic to gigantic they live their lives at the mercy of ocean currents. Yet their seemingly aimless drifting is the key to life as we know it. Come down to the courtyard at Tofino Resort and Marina to explore this hidden and dynamic world of plankton. Watch us collect samples from our own oceanic back yard via plankton tow, or test out your microscope skills as you scan the micro-verse.
When: Every Wednesday
Time: 1:00-4:00pm
Location: Tofino Resort & Marina – down below, in the courtyard between the Adventure Centre & Shelter
Free…Free…Free

Beach Seine Thursdays
2025-07-03 13:00 - 16:00 | Tofino Sea Kayaking, 320 Main Street, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
Explore intertidal eelgrass meadows and learn about the animals that live in this important habitat at a beach seine this summer! FREE EVENT
Most of us have probably encountered eelgrass – from spending hours in the ocean alongside these green ribbons, or exploring eelgrass-filled mudflats. Eelgrass meadows create habitat for a myriad of coastal species and act as a highly productive ecosystem. And it’s thanks to eelgrass that today’s halibut fish fry or tonight’s salmon dinner is possible. The meadows form a buffer in the water that softens the impact of waves and currents, reducing coastal erosion and creating a calm habitat. This provides a nursery for many juvenile fish, including rockfish, salmon and halibut, and also provides an ideal habitat for herring to spawn. These fish are preyed upon by waterfowl such as: Great Blue Heron, migrating shorebirds and ducks. In addition, eelgrass blades act as a substrate for diatoms and other algae, which get grazed upon by many eelgrass-dwelling invertebrates such as nudibranchs, crabs and shrimp.
We will work together to pull the seine net up on to the beach, and learn how to handle the animals we catch with care. All animals collected will be gently returned to the ocean.
Gumboots recommended – this program will run rain or shine!
When: Every Thursday
Time: 1:00-4:00pm
Location: Tofino Sea Kayaking (320 Main Street)

Tonquin Trail Walk
2025-07-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Tonquin Trail, Arnet Road, Tofino, BC
The Tonquin Trail showcases some of the regions most iconic species and unforgettable views. Join RES for an interpretative walk and take a journey from rainforest to kelp forest. We will discuss a myriad of species, explore the diversity of ecosystems in the coast, and find ourselves enmeshed in their connections. Bring your walking shoes, water, and sense of wonder! Free….Free…Free. No dogs please!

When: Friday, July 4 I Thursday, July 17 l Wednesday, July 30
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Location: Tonquin Trail access at the Tofino Community Hall

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2025-09-10 17:00 - 20:00 | Tofino Visitor Centre, 1426 Pacific Rim Highway, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0
The West Coast Ambassador Program: This three-hour orientation session delivers the “big picture” of living in Tofino. Learn about local history and basic ecology, cross-cultural understanding, businesses and activities, festivals, host etiquette, and important civic information. This is a great way to get up-to-date local’s information about living and working in Tofino.
Location: Tofino Vistitor Centre Conference Room
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dates: September 10th

The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce , Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Mushrooms of the West Coast 2025
2025-10-10 19:00 - 2025-10-12 13:00 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
This weekend field course will introduce participants to the wonderful world of West Coast Mushrooms. Topics to be covered include introduction to fungi (what are they, and what is their role in our forests?), essentials of collecting and identifying fungi in the field, edible, medicinal and poisonous fungi, cooking with wild mushrooms, and more!
Thank you to Dr. Andy MacKinnon & Dr. Shannon Berch for joining us on the West Coast to share their knowledge & passion!
Course Registration is $350. per person.
Friday (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm)

Presentation – overview of wild mushrooms, different fungus groups, role of fungi in ecosystems, and mushroom identification.

Saturday (8:30 am – 5:30 pm)

Field collection of wild mushrooms at field site.
Sorting of mushroom collections, spore prints, microscope ID session.
Afternoon presentation on foraging and identifying edible mushrooms.
Mushroom cooking demonstration and tasting with Chef Ian Riddick of Heartwood Kitchen!

Sunday (8:00 am – 1:00 pm)

Field collection and identification of wild (edible) mushrooms.
Group lunch and course wrap-up.

About the instructors:

2024 Mushroom Course Photos!

Raincoast Education Society's Online Auction
2025-10-15 08:00 - 2025-10-29 23:59
Raincoast Education is celebrating 25 years of exploring, learning, and sharing the treasures of Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds! Over the years, we’ve brought students, researchers, and community members together to experience the coast firsthand, fostering curiosity, awareness, and connection with the natural world.
To mark this milestone, we’re thrilled to launch our online fundraising auction — a curated collection of unique experiences, original artwork, and coastal treasures, all highlighting the best of our region. Each item has been generously donated by local individuals and businesses who share our passion for education, research, and the coast we all value.
Date: Now through midnight, Wednesday, October 29th.
Online Auction Here!
Why participate?
Your bids help Raincoast Education continue:

Hands-on learning, including teaching our local youth the BC Science Curriculum outdoors
Promoting awareness of our region and what it offers
Engaging the community in meaningful educational and research experiences

We’re proud to be part of a vibrant network of local non-profits, all doing amazing work in the region.

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2025-10-15 17:00 - 20:00 | Tofino Visitor Centre, 1426 Pacific Rim Highway, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0
The West Coast Ambassador Program: This three-hour orientation session delivers the “big picture” of living in Tofino. Learn about local history and basic ecology, cross-cultural understanding, businesses and activities, festivals, host etiquette, and important civic information. This is a great way to get up-to-date local’s information about living and working in Tofino.
Location: Tofino Vistitor Centre Conference Room
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dates: Wednesday, October 15th

The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce , Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Raincoast's 25th Anniversary Party
2025-10-17 18:00 - 22:00 | Ucluelet Brewery, 1601 Peninsula Rd, Ucluelet, V0R 3A0
This year we’re hitting a big milestone — we’re turning 25! 🎉
To celebrate, we’re throwing a community party at the Ukee Brewery on October 17th from 6 – 10pm. We hope you can come join us for an evening of good food, good people, some meanders down memory lane, and music by the one and only Geoff Johnson.
The food will be delicious, Ukee’s finest beer will be on tap, and we’ll even have some limited-edition RES merch for sale. Come on out and celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together, and let’s toast 25 years of education, research, and community engagement!
This year we have decided to ditch the silent auction for an online auction so that folks can contemplate and bid at their own pace. The auction is live now and ends at midnight on Wednesday, October 29th. We have an incredible catalogue of unique experiences, stunning original art, and some fun little treats too — all generously donated by local individuals and businesses, and all highlighting the best of what our region has to offer. Bid, celebrate, and help us keep bringing education & research to Clayoquot & Barkley Sounds. 🌊
friends + online auction + music + food + drink = fun
Space is limited, so book your tickets now!
🙏🏽 If ticket price is a barrier, please contact us.
