Raincoast Education Society

Birding Adventure for Kids
2019-05-04 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | Tofino Botanical Gardens, 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
with Heather Fleming from Tofino Nature Kids
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Tofino Nature Kids @ Tofino Botanical Gardens (meet at the barn; 1084 Pacific Rim Highway)
Kids age 3 – 12 years old
By donation (to Tofino Nature Kids)
It’s never too early to get into birds! For this fun event, we will craft our own sets of ‘binoculars’ and go for a walk to see what we can see. We’ll tune into our senses, listen and look for movement in the bushes and on the mudflats to see what kinds of feathered friends we can spot in the woods and on the water.
This is a drop-off-your-kid event! Tofino Nature Kids waiver must be signed by prior to event.
Register your child here (in details panel to the left), only 8 spots available for this creative event for kids!

Tofino Nature Kids asks that a parent/guardian sign the waiver and release form found below. If you are unable to bring the signed form with you to the event, Heather will have some ready for signing upon arrival!

Birds & Botanicals Artist Workshop - Printmaking
2019-05-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Tofino Botanical Gardens, 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
with Allison Tremain
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Darwin’s Café @ the Tofino Botanical Gardens (1084 Pacific Rim Highway)
Beginners welcome, open to all ages, 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult
$60 per person materials included
Allison will guide you through an ancient technique of printing with real plants from the rainforest. You will bring a visual and personal representation of the west coast home creating your very own authentic botanical print. Plants will be provided, please do not gather plants from the national or regional parks.
Please preregister for these workshops by calling 250-726-3934 or emailing allison.tremain@gmail.com

Voyage to Cleland Island Seabird Colony
2019-05-04 14:00 - 17:00 | Jamie’s Whaling Station, 606 Campbell Street, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
with birding guide Ian Cruickshank from Parks Canada
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Saturday
Jamie’s Whaling Station (606 Campbell Street)
$79 + tax/fee
Join us for a unique trip through some of the most ecologically important and spectacular habitats on the west coast. This trip leaves Tofino and explores the waterways of Clayoquot Sound as we venture offshore to the Cleland Island Ecological Reserve, one of the premier sites in Clayoquot Sound for seabirds. Past trips have enjoyed great looks at spectacular Tufted Puffins, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Black Oystercatchers, as well as a variety of other species. Whales, seals, sea lions and sea otters can also be seen in this area.
This is an unparalleled opportunity to bird two unique habitats with options from the comfort of a large cruiser with indoor/outdoor seating, toilets and hot drinks, or from the hardy open seating of an adventurous Zodiac vessel.
This three-hour trip will be led by an experienced guide who can help with spotting and identification.
Departing at 2:00pm from Tofino on the M.V. Lukwa (45 passengers, washroom, snack bar, inside heated seating, and outdoor viewing decks)
Please book online at Jamie’s Whaling Station or call 1-800-667-9913.

Shorebird Science in the Pacific Rim National Park
2019-05-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Tofino Botanical Gardens, 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
with Parks Canada Ecologist Dr. Yuri Zharikov
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ecolodge Classroom @ Tofino Botanical Gardens (1084 Pacific Rim Highway)
$5 admission at the door
We will get together after a full day of adventure and birding to recap the highlights of the day and share observations.
Dr. Yuri Zharikov, Parks Canada Ecologist will then present “Shorebird Monitoring and Beach Patrol in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve”. The talk will focus on PRNPR efforts to monitor seasonal and spatial distribution of shorebirds in the Long Beach area and their interactions with park visitors over an 8 year period. Yuri will discuss the issues facing shorebirds here in Tofino, as well as PRNPR efforts to mitigate disturbance to migrating birds. Yuri will also present some preliminary results from a recently initiated collaborative study of shorebirds in Tofino that seeks to clarify the patterns of occurrence and habitat use of several different species using radio telemetry.

Dr. Yuri Zharikov was born in the city of Odessa on the Black Sea in what was then the USSR. He graduated from Acadia U in 1994 and Trent U in 1998 with BSc (Hon) and MSc respectively. He then graduated from Uni of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia in 2002 (PhD). Yuri briefly worked at SFU and Uni of Queensland doing post-doctoral research. Since 2007, Yuri has been with Parks Canada Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Most of his research and professional involvement has focussed on coastal environments in general and shorebirds in particular.

Birding on the Mudflats
2019-05-05 08:00 - 10:00 | Grice Bay, Pacific Rim Highway, Tofino, BC, Canada
with birding guide Ian Cruickshank from Parks Canada
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Grice Bay
FREE event
Join us for some more birding on the Tofino mudflats! Grice Bay is a local hotspot for migrating shorebirds, and is timed to coincide with an ideal tide to permit close observation of feeding shorebirds (low tide at 7:59 am). This is a great event for both new and experienced birders, and Ian will be setup to help with spotting and identification. Park pass required.
Bring your binoculars or spotting scope, or else we will have a couple to share. No dogs please.

Voyage to Cleland Island Seabird Colony
2019-05-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Jamie’s Whaling Station, 606 Campbell Street, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
with birding guide Mark Maftei from the Raincoast Education Society
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Jamie’s Whaling Station (606 Campbell Street)
$79 + tax/fee
Join us for a unique trip through some of the most ecologically important and spectacular habitats on the west coast. This trip leaves Tofino and explores the waterways of Clayoquot Sound as we venture offshore to the Cleland Island Ecological Reserve, one of the premier sites in Clayoquot Sound for seabirds. Past trips have enjoyed great looks at spectacular Tufted Puffins, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Black Oystercatchers, as well as a variety of other species. Whales, seals, sea lions and sea otters can also be seen in this area.
This is an unparalleled opportunity to bird two unique habitats with options from the comfort of a large cruiser with indoor/outdoor seating, toilets and hot drinks, or from the hardy open seating of an adventurous Zodiac vessel.
This three-hour trip will be led by an experienced guide who can help with spotting and identification.
Departing at 9:00am from Tofino on the Zodiac vessel (12 passengers, open seating)
Please book online at Jamie’s Whaling Station or call 1-800-667-9913.

Shorebird Interpretation Hike (Tofino Shorebird Festival)
2019-05-05 11:00 - 14:00 | Combers Beach, Pacific Rim National Park, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
with birding guide Ian Cruickshank from Parks Canada
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Combers Beach Parking Lot to Greenpoint Campground (meet in Comber’s Beach parking lot)
FREE event
Join us for an interpretive birding hike starting at Combers Beach parking lot in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This hike (moderate pace on mostly level ground) will cover some of the prime beach habitat used by migrating shorebirds. Enjoy the spectacular scenery along one of the region’s most dynamic beaches and bird along the way with Ian Cruickshank – Parks Canada interpreter, bird biologist, and birder extraordinaire! Park entry pass required. Please note that pets are not permitted.

Small Town, Big Picture - TAP Session
2019-05-08 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-05-09 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-05-15 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-06-05 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-06-12 17:00 - 20:00 | Tofino Community Hall, 351 Arnet Road, Tofino, British Columbia, V0R3A0, Canada
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 locals information about living and working in Tofino.
This course is a suggested prerequisite for other courses.
Location: Tofino Community Hall in the multi-purpose room (351 Arnet Road)
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dates: May 1, May 8, May 9, May 15, May 22, June 5, June 12, June 13
Participants of the Ambassador course will receive an Ambassador Card. Show your card for discounts and benefits at many local businesses!
This program is offered as a joint initiative of the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Raincoast Education Society. Thank you to the District of Tofino for donating this space. Tourism Tofino is the main sponsor of this FREE program, along with the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards gala event (May 9th).

Nuu-chah-nulth Land & Waters - TAP Session
2019-05-13 17:30 - 20:30, 2019-05-27 17:30 - 20:30, 2019-05-28 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-05-30 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-06-06 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-06-10 17:30 - 20:30 | Tofino Community Hall, 351 Arnet Road, Tofino, British Columbia, V0R3A0, Canada
This three-hour session is an introduction to Nuu-chah-nulth homelands, culture, and language. Learn about local history, cross cultural understanding, Nuu-chah-nulth language, and cultural world view. Explore the ancient and continued interconnections between the local landscape, the ocean and First Nations culture.
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
Location: Tofino Community Hall in the multi-purpose room (351 Arnet Road)
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm or *5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Dates: May 13*, May 27 *, May 28, May 30, June 6, June 10*
Participants of the Ambassador course will receive an Ambassador Card. Show your card for discounts and benefits at many local businesses!
This program is offered as a joint initiative of the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Raincoast Education Society. Thank you to the District of Tofino for donating this space. Tourism Tofino is the main sponsor of this FREE program, along with the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards gala event (May 9th).

Marine Ecology - TAP Session
2019-05-16 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-06-03 17:00 - 20:00 | Tofino Community Hall, 351 Arnet Road, Tofino, British Columbia, V0R3A0, Canada
This three-hour session focuses on the rich marine environment that plays an integral role in life on this coast. This course will cover the intertidal and pelagic ecosystems of Clayoquot Sound, including seaweeds, invertebrates, and marine mammals (and more!) as well as local oceanographic conditions.
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
Location: Tofino Community Hall in the multi-purpose room (351 Arnet Road)
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dates: April 30, May 16, June 3
Participants of the Ambassador course will receive an Ambassador Card. Show your card for discounts and benefits at many local businesses!
This program is offered as a joint initiative of the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Raincoast Education Society. Thank you to the District of Tofino for donating this space. Tourism Tofino is the main sponsor of this FREE program, along with the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards gala event (May 9th).

Seaweeds of the West Coast 2019
2019-05-17 19:00 - 2019-05-19 13:00 | Tofino Botanical Gardens, 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
This weekend field course, based out of the Tofino Botanical Gardens, will introduce participants to the world of west coast seaweeds. This year we are running the course on the Victoria Day long weekend to give everyone (and the instructors) a little bit more time to enjoy the beautiful west coast. Come spend your holiday with us in Tofino!
Topics to be covered in this year’s course include an introduction to seaweeds (What are they? What is their role in coastal ecology?), biodiversity of west coast seaweeds, essentials of collecting and identifying seaweeds, seaweed foraging, the relationship between seaweeds and people, pressing and preserving seaweeds, and more!

Course fee is $240 and includes lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Dr. Bridgette Clarkston is a seaweed enthusiast and co-author of the field guide, Pacific Seaweeds: A Guide to Common Seaweeds of the West Coast. She is a science educator and avid photographer with over 11 years of teaching and outreach experience. She has worked with initiatives such as the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre and the Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative at the University of British Columbia. She specialized in seaweed taxonomy during her PhD at the University of New Brunswick where she discovered several new species of red seaweed, including one she named Euthora timburtonii. Currently, she is a faculty member in the Botany department at the University of British Columbia. To find out more about Bridgette visit http://bridgetteclarkston.blogspot.com/p/im-nature-nerd.html

Dr. Katy Hind is a seaweed biologist and Hakai Scholar. She is currently working as the Senior Laboratory Coordinator at UVic. In her research, she has described new species of seaweed using an integrative approach that combines molecular techniques, historical DNA, morphology, biogeography, and ecology. To find out more about Katy’s research visit www.katyhind.com.

COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Friday (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm)
Evening Classroom
• Introductory presentation: An overview of west coast seaweeds, different seaweed groups, role of seaweeds in coastal marine ecosystems.
Saturday (8:00 am – 5:00 pm; 7:00 – 8:30 pm)
Field and Classroom
• Field trip to explore seaweeds on Tofino’s rocky coast and practice naturalist skills, including fundamentals of seaweed identification.
• Collection of seaweeds at field site – bring journals and cameras to record habitat info.
Low tide is at 7:11 am (1.7 feet / 0.52 m)
• Seaweed identification and pressing workshop.
• Practice using dichotomous keys, field guides and online databases to identify unknown specimens.
• Create your own scientific and artistic seaweed presses.
• Seaweeds and people: from traditional uses to modern foraging, and everything in between
Sunday (8:00 am – 1:00 pm)
Field
• Putting it all together: field trip to identify seaweeds and their communities in nature, including opportunities to share what you’ve learned with the group. Group lunch and course wrap-up.
Low tide is at 7:53 am (1.4 feet / 0.43 m)

Our Seaweeds of the West Coast course has been featured on Ocean Outfitters’ blog!

Terrestrial Ecology - TAP Session
2019-05-23 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-05-29 17:00 - 20:00, 2019-06-04 17:00 - 20:00 | Tofino Community Hall, 351 Arnet Road, Tofino, British Columbia, V0R3A0, Canada
This three-hour session, taught by Barb Beasley, focuses on coastal terrestrial ecosystems. From the forest floor to the top of the canopy, this course will explore the interactions that occur in our local terrestrial ecosystems and the many species that inhabit them.
This course is run outdoors, so please come prepared with a sweater or jacket and some sturdy shoes. You may also like to bring a cushion or small pad/tarp to sit on for a few of the lessons (stops in the forest or elsewhere) as well as a portable notebook. We will meet outside the Tofino Community Hall multi-purpose room, then walk from there.
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
Location: meet outside the Tofino Community Hall multi-purpose room (351 Arnet Road)
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dates: May 23, May 29, June 4
Participants of the Ambassador course will receive an Ambassador Card. Show your card for discounts and benefits at many local businesses!
This program is offered as a joint initiative of the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Raincoast Education Society. Thank you to the District of Tofino for donating this space. Tourism Tofino is the main sponsor of this FREE program, along with the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards gala event (May 9th).

Small Town, Big Picture - TAP Session
2019-06-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Tofino Community Hall, 351 Arnet Road, Tofino, British Columbia, V0R3A0, Canada
~ CANCELLED ~
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 locals information about living and working in Tofino.
This course is a suggested prerequisite for other courses.
Location: Tofino Community Hall in the multi-purpose room (351 Arnet Road)
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dates: May 1, May 8, May 9, May 15, May 22, June 5, June 12, June 13
Participants of the Ambassador course will receive an Ambassador Card. Show your card for discounts and benefits at many local businesses!
This program is offered as a joint initiative of the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Raincoast Education Society. Thank you to the District of Tofino for donating this space. Tourism Tofino is the main sponsor of this FREE program, along with the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards gala event (May 9th).

Invertebrates of the West Coast 2019
2019-06-21 19:00 - 2019-06-23 19:00 | Tofino, Tofino, BC, Canada
This weekend field course, based out of the Tofino Botanical Gardens, will introduce participants to the diversity and ecology of Pacific Northwest invertebrates.
Topics to be covered in this year’s course include an introduction to invertebrates (What are they? What is their role in coastal ecology?), invertebrate biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest, morphology and adaptations of common phyla, scientific drawing, and creating invert art!

Course fee is $250 and includes lunch on Saturday and Sunday and admission to the Aquarium

Dr. Kylee Pawluk
Dr. Kylee Pawluk is a marine ecologist and invertebrate lover. Kylee’s research has focused on understanding how environmental and biological factors influence marine invertebrates and seaweeds. She has been an instructor at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre and the University of Victoria teaching various courses such as marine invertebrate zoology and coastal conservation. She is currently the Regional Projects Coordinator for the Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP) working on marine spatial planning.
To find out more about Kylee visit http://kpawluk.com/

FRIDAY, JUNE 21st

Classroom Session (19:00 – 21:00)
• Introductory presentation: In this first lecture we will discuss what makes an invertebrate and how they differ from other groups of organisms. We will then go over the major groupings of invertebrates and delve into some of the most common ones we find on the west coast.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd

Intertidal Field Trip (8:30 – 12:00)
Low tide is at 10:55 am (1.7 feet / 0.52 m)
• Field trip to explore the intertidal zone on Tofino’s rocky coast and practice naturalist skills, including fundamentals of invertebrate identification and characteristics of common phyla.
• Work on observational drawings at field site – bring journals and cameras to record habitat info.
Lunch (12:00 – 13:00)
• Sandwiches provided, bring your own snacks and drinks. We will stay on the beach to eat if it’s nice!
Visit to the Ucluelet Aquarium! (13:00 – 17:00)
• This will give you the opportunity to spend some time looking carefully at certain invertebrates and hopefully see some we weren’t able to find in the field. This is your opportunity to pick a few invertebrates to get to know well!
Invertebrate Printmaking (19:00 – 21:00)
with nature printmaker Allison Tremain
• Allison will guide participants in the art of carving an invertebrate. The workshop will include knowledge sharing and the integration of art in science.
• Each participant will print and create their own invertebrate print to take home as a keepsake of their experience in the course.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23rd

Classroom Session (8:30 – 9:30)
• Lecture topic TBA
Intertidal Field Trip (9:30 – 12:30)
Low tide is at 11:35 am (3.0 feet / 0.9 m)
• Putting it all together: field trip to identify invertebrates and their communities in nature, including opportunities to share what you’ve learned with the group.
Lunch (12:30 – 13:00)
• Group lunch and course wrap-up.

Plankton!
2019-07-02 11:30 - 13:00 | Ocean Outfitters, 368 Main Street, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
Come learn about Plankton every Tuesday in July and August!
Where: Ocean Outfitters (368 Main St.)
The plankton (from greek planktos, meaning wanderer) are marine organisms that live in the water column and cannot swim against the current. Some are photosynthetic and use the sun’s energy to grow, while others are true animals, eating other organisms to grow. In fact, most marine invertebrates start off their lives in planktonic form! Though you may not always see them – plankton are out there, and some will become a feast for tiny fish or giant whales.
If you want to observe plankton from up close and would like to learn more, stop by Ocean Outfitters (368 Main Street Tofino). Plankton samples will be ready for microscope observation of these fascinating creatures.

Raincoast Walk
2019-07-03 13:00 - 14:30 | Cox Bay Beach (meet on beach at end of public access trail across from Visitors Centre), Canada
Join us every Sunday and Wednesday this summer for a free rainforest walk!
Cox Bay Beach (meet on beach at end of public beach access trail across from Visitors Centre)
Coastal temperate rainforests are one of the world’s rarest ecosystems, comprising less than 0.1% of the earth’s surface. British Columbia is home to more than 25% of the earth’s remaining old-growth temperate rainforests, with Clayoquot Sound containing the largest tracts of ancient rainforest on Vancouver Island. Our guided rainforest walks will provide you with a unique understanding of this globally significant ecosystem, from the impressive diversity of flora and fauna to the interconnections with the marine environment to the rich environmental and cultural history that defines the landscape to this day. The ancient rainforests of Clayoquot Sound provide a rare glimpse into the evolutionary potential of this magnificent coastal landscape. Our expert guides draw on both scientific and cultural perspectives to provide you with a strong understanding of what makes these rainforests so significant.
If tides permit, we will also touch on the intertidal ecosystem. Tide pools exist in the rocky intertidal zone (intertidal: the area between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide). Our coast is subject to two high-tides and two low-tides everyday (~6 hrs between each change); thus, half the time the rocky intertidal zone is underwater and half the time it is exposed to the air. Not only do the hearty marine creatures that inhabit this rugged environment have to deal with fierce waves, cold water and marine predation when the tide is in, they also have to adapt to being out of the water for extended periods and avoid terrestrial predation when the tide is out.

Ocean Camp (Tofino)
2019-07-08 09:00 - 2019-07-12 15:00 | Tofino Botanical Gardens, 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
This camp is all about salt water and anything that lives in it! Explore coastal nooks and crannies on a paddle-board (all levels), build your own raft to enter in a race and roast treats over a beach campfire – these are just a few activities that will take place during Ocean Camp.

Cost: $195
Ages: 6-12
Registration: Max. 20 campers
Parents drop off at TBG at 9:00 and pick up at TBG between 14:30 and 15:00

Register your child for Ocean Camp (Tofino) through Tofino Recreation:
Online: http://tofino.ca/recreation
By Phone: 250-725-3229 ext 704 or 705
In Person: District office, 121 Third Street, Tofino

Ocean Camp (Ucluelet)
2019-07-22 09:00 - 2019-07-26 15:00 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
This camp is all about salt water and anything that lives in it!
Explore coastal nooks and crannies on a paddle-board (all levels), build your own raft to enter in a race and roast treats over a beach campfire – these are just a few activities that will take place during Ocean Camp.

Cost: $195
Ages: 6-12
Registration: Max. 20 campers
Parents drop off at UCC at 9:00 and pick up at UCC between 14:30 and 15:00

Register your child for Ocean Camp (Ucluelet) through Ucluelet Parks and Recreation:
Online: https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/recreationucluelet/Home
By Phone: 250 726-7772
In Person: Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive
