Raincoast Education Society

Plankton Tuesdays!
2022-07-26 13:00 - 16:00, 2022-08-02 13:00 - 16:00, 2022-08-09 13:00 - 16:00, 2022-08-23 13:00 - 16:00, 2022-08-30 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | Ocean Outfitters, 368 Main Street, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
Plankton Tuesday!
Though you may not always see them – plankton are out there, and some will become a feast for tiny fish or giant whales. Come observe plankton from up close and learn more! Stop by the breezeway next to Ocean Outfitters – plankton samples will be ready for microscope observation of these fascinating creatures.
Date: Every Tuesday in July and August
Time: 1:00-4:00pm
Location: Outside Ocean Outfitters (368 Main St.)
Cost: Free

Magical Mushroom Talk with Andy MacKinnon
2022-08-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
“Fairy rings, elfin saddles and witch’s butter…enter an enchanted realm!”
Saturday 7 pm
August 27: George Fraser Room; Ucluelet Community Centre
*admission is by donation and seating limited so will be first come
Andy is the best-selling co-author of “Mushrooms of BC”. Join us for an entertaining evening program−yes you can buy his book! Andy has taught rainforest ecology field courses for UVic and UBC and co-taught the RES course “Mushrooms of the West Coast” since 2010.
MacKinnon poster 2022 proof

Magical Mushroom Walk with Andy MacKinnon
2022-08-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Amphitrite Lighthouse, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 2A0, Canada
“Fairy rings, elfin saddles and witch’s butter…enter an enchanted realm!”
Wild Pacific Trail free guided walk into the magical realm of mushrooms
Meet at Amphitrite Lighthouse August 28, 10 am
Andy is the best-selling co-author of “Mushrooms of BC”. Join us for an entertaining evening program−yes you can buy his book! Andy has taught rainforest ecology field courses for UVic and UBC and co-taught the RES course “Mushrooms of the West Coast” since 2010.
MacKinnon poster 2022 proof

Mushrooms of the West Coast 2022
2022-10-07 19:00 - 2022-10-09 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!

Course Registration is $250 per person, and includes lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm)

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

Saturday (9:00 am – 4:30 pm, and 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm)

Field collection of wild mushrooms at field site.
Group lunch (provided).
Sorting of mushroom collections, spore prints, microscope ID session.
Mushroom cooking demonstration and tasting.
Evening presentation on foraging and identifying edible mushrooms.

Sunday (9:00 am – 1:00 pm)

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

About the instructors:

2021 Mushroom Course Photos!

Let's talk about Seaside Snakes
2022-11-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
A Seaside Snake Story: Neighborhood Garter Snakes and their Amazing Relatives

Snakes are amazing critters that live in many regions of the world. They are misunderstood and feared in ways that has contributed to their decline in many areas. In B.C., there are nine species of snake, six of which are of conservation concern.
The remaining three species however (all garter snakes) are often quite abundant locally and might even live in your backyard.
Come learn all about garter snakes and the cool part that they play in the west coast ecosystems around us!
When: Wednesday, November 9th @ 7pm
Where: George Fraser Room; Ucluelet Community Centre
*admission is by donation and seating limited so will be first come
A Speaker Series event presented by Raincoast Education and Wetland Stewards Societies
Krysia Tuttle, M.Sc., R.P.Bio: Krysia is a passionate wildlife biologist, park naturalist, and outdoor enthusiast, with over 20 years experience working with wildlife and in the great outdoors. She began catching snakes and frogs at a very early age and studied Plains Garter Snakes in the aspen parklands of Alberta (which means she caught and hung out with over 600 snakes during the summers!!!).
She works at LGL Limited environmental research associates on a wide variety of wildlife and fish projects. She specializes in long-term wildlife population monitoring, wetland restoration, amphibian and reptile studies (herpetology), small mammal monitoring, remote camera work, radiotelemetry, and Species at Risk projects.
She has been involved with several educational and outreach programs, and loves giving talks to communities including elementary school programs in Victoria, UVic Biology Dept., BC Parks, Let’s Talk Science programs, and Saturna Island Marine and Research Education Society.
She lives in Victoria, B.C. with her husband, two daughters (Brea and Maisie), and their dog Sandpiper.

Working the night shift: Urban racoons in Canada
2023-01-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom Event
Life At Night, Speakers Series 2023
Working the night shift: Urban racoons in Canada
They work at night, traveling unseen through the city like masked bandits, one of the true success stories of species adapting to human disturbance. How do raccoons (Procyon lotor) survive so well in the urban jungle? And are humans unwittingly creating an ‘Uber raccoon’? In this talk I will explore what we know about raccoons, how they live alongside us, and how they may eventually take over the world…if we let them!
About our speaker: Dr. Suzanne E. MacDonald is currently a University Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University, appointed to the graduate programs in both Psychology and Biology. She has three main areas of research expertise, including memory and cognition (“how animals think”), the psychological well-being of captive animals, and the impact of human activity on wildlife. Her research is conducted both in the field, at sites in Kenya and throughout Canada, as well as at the Toronto Zoo, where she has volunteered as their Behaviorist for over 25 years.

Best of both worlds: Moth antenna on a smelling drone
2023-02-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom Event
Nature has developed amazing chemical sensors which greatly surpass man-made sensors in sensitivity and speed. A male Manduca sexta hawkmoth can sense the female’s pheromone in concentrations as small as 1 in 10^17 molecules of air! To learn more about and mimic the way moths locate food and mates, I equipped a small palm-sized drone, dubbed “the Smellicopter”, with a live moth antenna to smell odors. This autonomous drone flies in a way inspired by how moths seek out the source of an odor, and is able to do so even while flying around obstacles. Join me and learn about the amazing smelling ability of moths and the Smellicopter!
About our speaker: Dr.Melanie Anderson is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington under Professor Tom Daniel in the Biology Department and is funded in part by her Fellowship through the UW CoMotion Startup Incubator. She received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2021. Her research focuses on biohybrid robotic systems, especially those that fuse multisensory input towards fully autonomous operation. She has received the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (2018-21), the UW Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Dissertation Award (2022), her Fellowship through the UW CoMotion Postdoctoral Entrepreneurship Program (2022-23), and has recently been selected for a Washington Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023-2026). Her most notable academic achievement is the creation of the Smellicopter, a biohybrid palm-sized drone which uses a live moth antenna as a chemical sensor to autonomously seek out the source of a chemical odor. The Smellicopter has been featured in news articles and film segments such as UW News, IEEE Spectrum, WIRED, and Oregon Public Broadcasting. Melanie Anderson currently is working towards exploring commercialization of her biohybrid technologies which, in the future, she hopes can be used in scenarios such as detecting pests and disease in agriculture, locating bombs/drugs in law enforcement or the armed forces, or even quickly locating survivors in disaster scenarios with search-and-rescue services.

The Magical World of Bats
2023-03-02 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Event
Life At Night, Speakers Series 2023

The Magical World of Bats
Like bats or not, you will after hearing and seeing for yourself what Dr. Tuttle has learned about these mysterious but magical animals. As you’ll see bats come in an amazing variety, as cute as any panda or as strange as any dinosaur, ranging from giant flying foxes with up to six-foot wingspans to tiny bumblebee bats that weigh less than a penny. Highly sophisticated, they maintain long-term social relationships similar to humans, sharing food and information, taking turns babysitting and even adopting orphans. They provide billions of dollars annually in crop protection without which we would be threatened with more deadly pesticides and pay higher prices for products from cotton to sugar, rice, chocolate and macadamia nuts. And that’s not even to mention their roles as essential pollinators and seed dispersers from deserts to rain forests, all of which Dr. Tuttle will illustrate through his personal experiences and stunning photography.

About our speaker: Dr. Merlin Tuttle is a resident of Austin, Texas. He is an internationally recognized leader in research, conservation and photography of bats. His photos and research have been featured in five National Geographic articles, the journal Science, and many other leading publications. He founded Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation (MTBC) where he is currently and solely active. Merlin also founded and led Bat Conservation International for nearly 30 years before leaving in 2009.
Through MTBC Dr. Tuttle continues to provide the world’s finest bat photo gallery and the most up-to-date responses to grossly exaggerated disease speculation about bats. This is also the only place to access his more than 60 years of unique expertise or support his work. At age 80, he is still passionately teaching the world to understand and appreciate the vital roles of bats. Since founding MTBC, he has continued his worldwide efforts from Brunei, Bulgaria, and Cambodia, to Taiwan, and Thailand, and from Brazil, Chile, and the Vatican, to South Africa.
His first book, America’s Neighborhood Bats, published in 1988, played a key role putting unfounded fear in perspective and in outlawing the then widespread poisoning of American bats living in buildings. His 2022 publication, The Bat House Guide, is the most comprehensive bat house book yet. His
inspiring autobiography, The Secret Lives of Bats: My Adventures with the World’s Most Misunderstood Mammals, was published in 2018, with top reviews, including from The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker and National Geographic. And in 2019, he served as science editor and sole photographer for the Smithsonian book, BATS: An illustrated guide to all species. He also serves as a Research Fellow in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin and still takes approximately a thousand new photos annually.
To learn more and support his work visit MerlinTuttle.org.

Owls: A short tale about long-ears
2023-03-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom Event
Since 1984 my wife Patsy and I have studied owls in Manitoba, Canada. Recently we wanted to start a new research project using camera traps to record owl breeding behaviour. In 2015 a pair of Long-eared Owls nested on our farm literally a stone’s throw from our house. This was a great chance to test this method and camera equipment on this enigmatic nocturnal species that has never been studied in this manner.

Join us as we peer into to the secret lives of this widespread migratory owl based on an intensive analysis of 128,694 images collected over 15 d during the nestling period. In this study we reveal new information on Long-eared Owl behaviour and diet. Experience their struggles to incubate eggs, and then raise and defend their young from extreme weather and predators. The results from this study were presented at the World Owl Conference in Pune, India, and it is a pleasure to now share it with you. This study demonstrates the advantages and limitations of nest camera traps for research now underway on Great Gray Owls and Barred Owls in Manitoba.
Joining me to help deliver this presentation will be Rusty, a live female Long-eared. Rusty is one of our education ambassadors, a dear feathered friend and a ruthless heckler. Hope she doesn’t steal the show, again!
About our speaker: Dr. James Duncan obtained a Ph.D. in 1992 from the University of Manitoba for research on the Great Gray Owl. Throughout his biology career Jim was active in diverse local, national, and international conservation initiatives until his retirement in 2018 as Director of Manitoba’s Wildlife and Fisheries Branch.
Jim claims that his various jobs were simply a way to support his obsessive habit of studying owls with his life partner and fellow zoologist, Patsy. Together, they have researched owls for over 35 years, have banded over 2,500 owls, and have published hundreds of articles, papers and several symposium proceedings on owls. Jim’s three beautifully illustrated books on owls of the world are an example of the importance Jim places on sharing scientific knowledge with the public in an engaging manner.
In 2018 Jim established a social enterprise called Discover Owls* which conducts education, research and conservation programs on owls in Manitoba and around the world. To date he has delivered over 480 live owl presentations to school classrooms and other venues and has delivered over 170 lectures and keynote talks on owls and conservation.
If people want to donate to Discover Owls, they can contact me at owlfamily@mts.net
More info on our website & follow us on Facebook

Galactic Archaeology: The history of our home in the cosmos
2023-03-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom Event
Life At Night, Speakers Series 2023
Galactic Archaeology – This is the encore presentation of February 23

The history of our universe spans 13 billion years, 99.998% of which humanity did not yet exist. Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is at least ten billion years old, having survived what we believe is a violent history including several galactic collisions. While it is difficult to comprehend how ancient the majority of the night sky is, the physical scale of the Universe is also staggering. Despite being responsible for all life on Earth, the Sun is an average star – dwarfed by true stellar giants hundreds of times its size. And the Milky Way? Miniature compared to the ancient “red dead” galaxies littering the night sky. Join me as Galactic Archaeologists for the evening as we tour the cosmos, spanning both space and time. Together we’ll navigate the smallest atomic scales, through to the Solar System, into the Milky Way and beyond. We will explore questions like when and how did the hydrogen, oxygen and iron in our bodies form, what are the physical processes that govern the Earth, how does the history of our Galaxy compare to others and how will the Universe end?
About our speaker: Dr. Stephanie Monty is an astronomer primarily working in the fields of Galactic Archaeology and astronomical instrumentation. The aim of her research is to understand the history of the Milky Way and how both the light and dark components came to be. Stephanie is currently employed as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Astronomy within the University of Cambridge. Prior to that, she completed my PhD in Astrophysics at the Australian National University and her BSc in Physics & Astronomy at the University of Victoria, Canada. For more info visit Dr. Monty’s website.
‘In her heart I’ll always be a West Coast Canadian, happiest when on rainy forest walks surrounded by cedars and firs.’

Shorebird Soiree
2023-04-27 17:00 - 21:00 | Roar @ Hotel Zed, 1258 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Canada
We are having a party, a celebration of the shorebird migration and the Raincoast Education Society!! 🎉
Thursday April 27th, the Raincoast Education Society will be having our annual Shorebird Soiree fundraiser from 5 – 9pm at Roar & Hotel Zed.
This event will be a magical evening of good food, good people, shorebirds flying in the disco room, a nod to the much missed lantern festival, and music played by Hayden Roth. The evening will highlight our years of shorebird research and educational initiatives.We have a lineup of incredible items for our silent auction – thank you to our amazing business community (door prize!) and the release of our first ever mushroom long-sleeve t-shirts and stickers!
friends + silent auction + food + drink + music = fun
Keep an eye on @rainncoasted for the silent auction preview with all their generous donations!

♦ Purchasing your ticket in advance automatically enters your name in the door prize draw for a 2-night stay at Hotel Zed.
🙏🏽. If ticket price is a barrier please contact us.
soiree 2023 poster_pg1a

Birding on the Mudflats
2023-05-02 10:00 - 13:00 | Hotel Zed Tofino, 1258 Pacific Rim Highway, Tofino, British Columbia, V0R 2Z0, Canada
On the birding platform at Hotel Zed
FREE Drop-by Event
Tuesday May 2, 10am – 1pm / Wednesday May 3, 11am – 2pm / Thursday May 4, 11am – 2pm / Friday May 5, 12 – 3pm
Find fellow birders, spotting scopes and bird guide Mark Maftei from the RES!
This is the best opportunity to spend some time down on the Tofino mudflats to view flocks of shorebirds foraging and resting during their annual migration north. The mudflats at this location offer some of the best and most accessible high-quality shorebird habitat in Tofino. We’ve timed these session to coincide the rising tide when birds are pushed up towards the upper mudflats for a better view. This is a great event for both new and experienced birders, as well as anyone interested in learning more about the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area.
Bring your binoculars or spotting scope, or else we will have a couple to share. Free Parking at Hotel Zed. No dogs please.

Coastal Raincoast Ecology
2023-05-02 17:00 - 19:30 | Yellowgate Trail across from Pacific Sands Resort, Tofino
Part of the West Coast Ambassador Program: This 2 – 2.5-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 alternates between Ucluelet & Tofino, alternating weekly.
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
Tofino Location: Yellowgate Trail across from Pacific Sands (Park at the Tofino Visitor Centre)
Time: 5:00 – 7:30pm
Dates in Tofino: May 2 & 23
Dates in the Pacific Rim National Park: May 9 & 30
Dates in Ucluelet: May 16 & June 6
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.
Photo: Two Corvids, April Bencze, Capturing the Coast 2018

Marine Ecology
2023-05-03 17:00 - 19:30, 2023-05-10 17:00 - 19:30, 2023-05-17 17:00 - 19:30 | Ucluelet Aquarium, 180 Main St, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0, Canada
The West Coast Ambassador Program: This 2 – 2.5-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 and Barkley Sounds, including seaweeds, invertebrates, and marine mammals (and more!) as well as local oceanographic conditions. The sessions will alternate their regional focus between Ucluelet and Tofino on a weekly rotation (regional focus noted alongside dates listed below).
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
Location: Ucluelet Aquarium
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
In Person Dates: May 3, 10, 17, 31, June 7
Zoom Dates: May 24
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce,, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2023-05-04 17:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-18 17:00 - 20:00 | Načiks/Monks Point, 174 West St., 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.
We are extremely grateful to be able to offer this course on Načiks/Monks Point property , a heritage site full of fascinating history. Such a perfect location to host this course.
This course is a suggested prerequisite for other courses.
Location: Načiks/Monks Point
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In Person Dates: May 4, 11, 18, June 1, 8, 22
Zoom Dates: May 25, June 15 & 29
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Photo by Shaun Stewart, Capturing the Coast submission.

Birding on the Mudflats
2023-05-05 12:00 - 15:00 | Hotel Zed Tofino, 1258 Pacific Rim Highway, Tofino, British Columbia, V0R 2Z0, Canada
On the birding platform at Hotel Zed
FREE Drop-by Event
Friday May 5, 12 – 3pm
Find fellow birders, spotting scopes and bird guide Mark Maftei from the RES!
This is the best opportunity to spend some time down on the Tofino mudflats to view flocks of shorebirds foraging and resting during their annual migration north. The mudflats at this location offer some of the best and most accessible high-quality shorebird habitat in Tofino. We’ve timed these session to coincide the rising tide when birds are pushed up towards the upper mudflats for a better view. This is a great event for both new and experienced birders, as well as anyone interested in learning more about the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area.
Bring your binoculars or spotting scope, or else we will have a couple to share. Free Parking at Hotel Zed. No dogs please.

Birds of the West Coast
2023-05-05 19:00 - 2023-05-07 13:30 | Ucluelet & Tofino
The west coast of Vancouver Island features some of the best birding opportunities in North America. Lying directly along the Pacific Flyway, this region hosts huge numbers of migrating birds of all kinds each spring and fall. In the winter, the diversity and abundance of non-breeding birds remains high thanks to wide range of habitats and a mild climate.
Expansive mudflats near Tofino provide an ideal stopover site used by tens of thousands of shorebirds each spring and fall, highly productive coastal waters sustain several large colonies of seabirds and a mix of coastal rainforest and deciduous forest habitats attract a wide variety of breeding songbirds. A little further south down the coast, Amphitrite Point in Ucluelet offers some of the best sea watching opportunities on Vancouver Island.
In this weekend workshop (Friday evening until Sunday afternoon), participants will be introduced to the general ecology and biology of birds with an emphasis on commonly encountered species. This course is specifically scheduled to overlap with the peak shorebird migration as well as the presence of large numbers of other migrating species.
Topics covered will include: basic ID skills, breeding biology, physiological adaptations, migration ecology, and conservation issues. This course is designed as a way to learn more about birds in general rather than how to ID specific species. Extensive birding experience is NOT required.

Course Registration is $330. per person, and includes Sunday’s boat trip.

About your instructors:
Mark Maftei serves as Executive Director of the RES and he draws on nearly 20 years of experience as a field biologist specializing in the ecology of birds. From the Arctic to the Antarctic to the open ocean, Mark has traveled the world studying birds. His research has included work on migration ecology, population biology and the census of poorly known species. His work in BC (including several years spent working with the Wildife Research Division of Environment and Climate Change Canada) was focused on colonial seabirds and migratory shorebirds. One of Mark’s greatest pleasures is sharing his passion for birds with like-minded nature lovers, and there is nowhere he’d rather doing that than his home on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Kaiden Bosch: Ever since one fateful encounter with a bird feeder at age 13 Kai has been an avid birdwatcher. Working as a field technician/guide for many years Kai has birded a diverse range of habitats, from the Andean cloud forests of Colombia to the frozen continent of Antarctica. Despite all of his travel’s, Kai’s favourite place on earth is still coastal British Columbia and its unique biodiversity.

Weekend Schedule (subject to change):
Friday Evening (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
George Fraser Room at the Ucluelet Community Centre

Opening night lecture introducing birds in BC. Life History – what are the strategies and adaptations birds have evolved to thrive in virtually every single habitat on earth?

Note: this evening talk will be open to the public. Course participants do not have to pay admission as it is included in the cost of the course.
Saturday (8:30 am – 4:00 pm)
First 1/2 of the day will be in Ucluelet & the later 1/2 in Tofino.
· Basic ID skills – what to look for in the field

We will spend the day outside looking at birds in a number of habitats around Tofino
Forest Birding in the morning (Ucluelet 8:30- 11:30am)
Shore Birding on the mudflats in the afternoon (1pm)
These sessions will be informal and focus on helping participants identify common birds as well as put these species into an ecological perspective.

Saturday Evening (6:00 pm – 8:00 pm) Hotel Zed in the Rec Room.
This time is extremely flexible – consideration for group preference; to condense the day vs. have a few hour break will be discussed – group decision)

This lecture focus on shorebirds & will include current studies & research analysis.

Sunday (8:30 am – 1:30 pm)
Field

We will spend the day on the water observing and learning more about seabirds, the coolest birds of all!
Half day boat adventure in Barkley Sound (some offshore if weather permits) with Jamies Whaling Station!

Recommended Equipment and Reading

Any good bird guide (Sibley’s, Peterson’s, National Geographic)
A decent pair of binoculars
Field notebook and pencil
Camera
Appropriate clothing for all day in the field—rain or shine
Bring lunch, snack, water/drinks on both days

Coastal Raincoast Ecology
2023-05-09 17:00 - 19:30 | Rainforest Loop A Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Part of the West Coast Ambassador Program: This 2 – 2.5-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 in 3 different locations depending on the date: Tofino, Pacific Rim National Park & Ucluelet.
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
New Location: Rainforest Trail A Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Time: 5:00 – 7:30pm
Dates in Tofino: May 2 & 23
Dates in the Pacific Rim National Park: May 9 & 30
Dates in Ucluelet: May 16 & June 6
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.
Photo: Two Corvids, April Bencze, Capturing the Coast 2018

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2023-05-11 17:00 - 20:00 | Načiks/Monks Point, 174 West St., 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.
We are extremely grateful to be able to offer this course on Načiks/Monks Point property , a heritage site full of fascinating history. Such a perfect location to host this course.
This course is a suggested prerequisite for other courses.
Location: Monks Point
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In Person Dates: May 4, 11, 18, June 1, 8, 22
Zoom Dates: May 25, June 15 & 29
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Photo by Shaun Stewart, Capturing the Coast submission.

Small Town, Big Picture: Ucluelet
2023-05-15 17:00 - 20:00 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
The West Coast Ambassador Program: This three-hour orientation session delivers the “big picture” of living in Ucluelet. 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 Ucluelet.
This course is a suggested prerequisite for other courses.
Location: George Fraser Room at the Ucluelet Community Centre
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In-Person Dates: May 15, June 12, 19, 26
Zoom Dates: May 29
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Coastal Raincoast Ecology
2023-05-16 17:00 - 19:30 | Ancient Cedar Loop/Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet
Part of the West Coast Ambassador Program: This 2 – 2.5-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 in 3 different locations depending on the date: Tofino, Pacific Rim National Park & Ucluelet.
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
Ucluelet Location: The Ancient Cedar Trail on the Wild Pacific Trail
Time: 5:00 – 7:30pm
Dates in Tofino: May 2 & 23
Dates in the Pacific Rim National Park: May 9 & 30
Dates in Ucluelet: May 16 & June 6
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.
Photo: Two Corvids, April Bencze, Capturing the Coast 2018

Coastal Raincoast Ecology
2023-05-23 17:00 - 19:30 | Yellowgate Trail across from Pacific Sands Resort, Tofino
Part of the West Coast Ambassador Program: This 2 – 2.5-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 in 3 different locations depending on the date: Tofino, Pacific Rim National Park & Ucluelet.
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
Tofino Location: Yellowgate Tofino across from Pacific Sands Resort (park at the Visitor Centre)
Time: 5:00 – 7:30pm
Dates in Tofino: May 2 & 23
Dates in the Pacific Rim National Park: May 9 & 30
Dates in Ucluelet: May 16 & June 6
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.
Photo: Two Corvids, April Bencze, Capturing the Coast 2018

Marine Ecology - via Zoom
2023-05-24 17:00 - 19:30 | Zoom Event
The West Coast Ambassador Program: This 2 – 2.5-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 and Barkley Sounds, including seaweeds, invertebrates, and marine mammals (and more!) as well as local oceanographic conditions. The sessions will alternate their regional focus between Ucluelet and Tofino on a weekly rotation (regional focus noted alongside dates listed below).
Small Town, Big Picture is a suggested prerequisite for this course.
Location: Zoom
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
In Person Dates: May 3, 10, 17, 31, June 7
Zoom Dates: May 24
The West Coast Ambassador Program is a joint initiative of the Raincoast Education Society, the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce,, Tourism Ucluelet and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Photo by Dane Stabel, Capturing the Coast submission.
