Raincoast Education Society

Small Town, Big Picture: Ucluelet
2024-05-13 17:00 - 20:00, 2024-06-10 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | George Fraser Room @ Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Mattison Dr, Ucluelt, BC, 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: June 10, 17, 24
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2024-05-14 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 14, 21 & 28, June 4, 11, 18
Zoom Date: June 25
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Marine Ecology
2024-05-15 17:00 - 19:30, 2024-05-22 17:00 - 19:30, 2024-05-29 17:00 - 19:30, 2024-06-12 17:00 - 19:30 | Ucluelet Aquarium, 180 Main St, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0, Canada
Part of the West Coast Ambassador Program:
This 2 – 2.5-hour 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. Learn about the rich marine environment that plays an integral role in life on this coast. This course will cover the intertidal and pelagic ecosystems 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: Ucluelet Aquarium
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
In Person Dates: May 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12

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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Coastal Raincoast Ecology
2024-05-16 17:00 - 19:30, 2024-05-30 17:00 - 19:30, 2024-06-13 17:00 - 19:30 | Yellowgate Trail across from Pacific Sands Resort, Tofino
Part of the West Coast Ambassador Program: .Who knew old-growth forests are so dynamic? Far from being a static ecosystem our coastal temperate rainforest is always changing! From the forest floor to the top of the canopy, this course will explore the many interactions that make up the fabric of this iconic habitat. This is being led by Dr. Estelle Arebellay, join Estelle while we explore questions and ideas utilizing the Yellogate Trail & the Ancient Cedar Loop on the Wild Pacific Trail.
This course is in 2 different locations depending on the date: The Ancient Cedar Trail on the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet & the Yellowgate Trail in Tofino
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 Ucluelet: May 9, 23 & June 6
Dates in Tofino: May 16, 30 & June 13
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 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
2024-05-21 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 21 & 28, June 4, 11, 18
Zoom Date: June 25
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Coastal Raincoast Ecology
2024-05-23 17:00 - 19:30, 2024-06-06 17:00 - 19:30 | Ancient Cedar Loop/Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2024-05-28 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 28, June 4, 11, 18
Zoom Date: June 25
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2024-06-04 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: June 4, 11, 18
Zoom Date: June 25
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Marine Ecology
2024-06-05 17:00 - 19:30 | Ucluelet Aquarium, 180 Main St, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0, Canada
Part of the West Coast Ambassador Program:This 2 – 2.5-hour 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. Learn about the rich marine environment that plays an integral role in life on this coast. This course will cover the intertidal and pelagic ecosystems 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: Ucluelet Aquarium
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
In Person Dates: May 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12

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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Sensational Seaweeds and How to Celebrate Them
2024-06-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
Dr. Bridgette Clarkston & Dr. Bridgette Clark present Seansational Seaweeds and How to Celebrate Them! Join us Friday June 7th @ the Ucluelet Community Centre.
Seaweeds are weird. Weird, but oh so wonderful. And for coastal marine ecosystems, they are vital — creating habitats, providing food, stabilizing shorelines, and looking gorgeous. This talk will explore the diversity and ecology of some of British Columbia’s most charming red, brown and green seaweeds, including recent initiatives to conserve our iconic canopy-forming kelps, Nereocystis luetkeana and Macrocystis tenuifolia (yes, the name just changed! Come find out why.). We will also touch on the growing use of iNaturalist to document our local marine flora, with tips for high-quality iNaturalist observations specific to seaweeds. Finally, we will share a growing body of free, locally-produced educational materials so that you too can spread the love of seaweeds far and wide.
(Not a ticketed event but there is limited seating.)
Dr. Bridgette Clarkston loves seaweeds and thinks you should too. Bridgette is an Associate Professor of Teaching at the University of British Columbia and co-author of the field guide Pacific Seaweeds: A Guide to Common Seaweeds of the West Coast (Harbour Publishing). A delightful moment in a lifetime spent appreciating BC’s seaweeds was discovering a new genus of beautiful red seaweeds and naming it after the Salish Sea (Salishia). A Vancouver Island settler, Bridgette was born and raised on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.
Dr. Jennifer Clark has 10+ years of research and cultivation experience of seaweeds in Canada and Australia where she focused on understanding climate change impacts on seaweeds. Although Jennifer received her PhD in Australia, the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest were calling and she returned to Canada to undertake a postdoctoral research position with the University of British Columbia, Hakai Institute . In her current role as Chief Scientist at Cascadia Seaweed, Jennifer leads the research and cultivation of kelp seed used to grow nutritious, regenerative kelp for use in agricultural products and restoration efforts.

Seaweeds of the West Coast 2024
2024-06-07 19:00 - 2024-06-09 13:00 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
This weekend field course, based out of the Ucluelet Community Centre, will introduce participants to the world of west coast seaweeds. Topics to be covered in this year’s course include an introduction to seaweeds (What are they? What is their role in coastal ecology? How are they used in B.C. aquaculture? How are seaweeds impacted by climate change?) Learn of the biodiversity of west coast seaweeds, essentials of collecting and identifying seaweeds, seaweed foraging, the relationship between seaweeds and people, pressing and preserving seaweeds, cyanotype and more!
We are excited to welcome back course instructor Dr. Bridgette Clarkston and to introduce Dr. Jennifer Clark, coming to Ucluelet to share their seaweed knowledge and expertise with us.

Course registration is $330 per person.

Friday, June 7th (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm)

Presentation – overview of west coast seaweeds, different seaweed groups, role of seaweeds in coastal marine ecosystems.

Saturday, June 8th (8:30 am -8:30 pm, with breaks) Low tide is at 8:44 am (0.6 feet / .2 m)

Field trip to explore seaweeds on Ucluelet’s rocky coast and practice naturalist skills, including fundamentals of seaweed identification.
Collection of seaweeds at field site.
Workshop to practice using dichotomous keys, field guides and online databases to identify unknown specimens
Create your own scientific and artistic seaweed presses.
Cynaoptype, Seaweed as art: create your own beautiful botanical blueprint using the traditional method of cyanotype printing.
Presentation – seaweeds and people: from traditional uses to modern foraging, and everything in between.

Sunday, June 9th (8:30 am – 1:00 pm) Low tide is at 9:27am (1. feet / .3 m)

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.
Course wrap-up.

About the instructor:

Dr. Bridgette Clarkston loves seaweeds and thinks you should too. Bridgette is an Associate Professor of Teaching at the University of British Columbia and co-author of the field guide Pacific Seaweeds: A Guide to Common Seaweeds of the West Coast (Harbour Publishing). A delightful moment in a lifetime spent appreciating BC’s seaweeds was discovering a new genus of beautiful red seaweeds and naming it after the Salish Sea (Salishia). A Vancouver Island settler, Bridgette was born and raised on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land. Learn more about Bridgette on the UBC Botany website here.

Dr. Jennifer Clark grew up on the coast on the traditional lands of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in BC and always knew that she would pursue a career studying the ocean, especially with the ocean as her backyard. She has 10+ years of research and cultivation experience of seaweeds in Canada and Australia where she focused on understanding climate change impacts on seaweeds. Although Jennifer received her PhD in Australia, the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest were calling and she returned to Canada to undertake a postdoctoral research position with the University of British Columbia, Hakai Institute in collaboration with the Heiltsuk and Wuikinuxv First Nations. During this time, she learned the importance of coastal foods to coastal communities and the nutritional and health benefits of seaweeds. In her current role as Chief Scientist at Cascadia Seaweed, Jennifer leads the research and cultivation of kelp seed used to grow nutritious, regenerative kelp for use in agricultural products and restoration efforts. Jennifer is passionate about seaweeds due to their status as a renewable and nutritional food source, beneficial in their ability to buffer the effects of climate change and their vital role in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems.

Check out photos of the previous years:

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2024-06-11 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: Načiks/Monks Point
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In Person Dates: June 11, 18
Zoom Date: June 25
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Small Town, Big Picture: Ucluelet
2024-06-17 17:00 - 20:00 | George Fraser Room @ Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Mattison Dr, Ucluelt, BC, 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: June 17, 24
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2024-06-18 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: June 18
Zoom Date: June 25
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Small Town, Big Picture: Ucluelet
2024-06-24 17:00 - 20:00 | George Fraser Room @ Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Mattison Dr, Ucluelt, BC, V0R 3A0, Canada
Due to low enrollment and delayed plane travel for our instructor, this date has been cancelled. Please contact info@raincoasteducation.org if you have a group of 5 + who are interested, we can rescedule.
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: June 24
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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino (via Zoom)
2024-06-25 17:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Event
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.
This course is a suggested prerequisite for other courses.
Location: Zoom
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Zoom Date: June 25
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, and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Learn about the Intertidal Life with the RES on the Wild Pacific Trail
2024-07-09 10:00 - 16:00 | Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet, Canada
Have you ever wondered what the inside of a barnacle looks like? How do sea stars eat? Don’t miss the chance to learn more about intertidal life with our RES Interpreters on the Lighthouse Loop of the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet.
🦀 Free Program!
🌊 Where: Lighthouse Loop of the Wild Pacific Trail
🌊 Time: 10am-4pm
🌊 When: July 9th & August 13th

Plentiful Plankton!
2024-07-10 13:00 - 16:00 | Tofino Resort & Marina, 634 Campbell Street Tofino, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0
Plentiful Plankton!
Though you may not always see them – plankton are out there, and some will become a feast for tiny fish or giant whales. Come and observe plankton up close and learn more! Stop by – we will be outside with plankton samples ready for microscope observation of these fascinating creatures.
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
Dates: July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7, 14, 21, 28

Spineless Wonders: the amazing diversity and adaptations of invertebrates. 🐚 ⁠
2024-07-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
Join us for an evening presentation with Dr. Gregory Jensen on Spineless Wonders: the amazing diversity and adaptations of invertebrates. 🐚 ⁠
⁠
Friday, July 19th, 7 – 9pm @ the Ucluelet Community Centre⁠
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Like all other animals, invertebrates have to deal with the challenges of things like finding food, reproducing, and avoiding predators. For marine species living in the intertidal it Is even more daunting, dealing with the stresses of aerial exposure, waves, terrestrial predators, and more. Here we will look at the strange and creative ways in which they approach these tasks, given their bewildering variety of body plans.⁠
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By donation.⁠

Marine Invertebrates of the West Coast
2024-07-19 19:00 - 2024-07-21 13:00 | Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
In this weekend field course get up close and personal with the invertebrates that inhabit the shallow waters of our western shores! in this weekend course you will learn all about the fascinating strategies that they use to survive the rigors of the intertidal zone; their varied and often bizarre means of reproduction, the critical roles they play in marine ecosystems, and much more.
We are excited to be adding this course to the Raincoast Institute weekend field course options, and thankful for having Dr. Gregory Jensen coming to Ucluelet to share his knowledge and expertise with us.

Course registration is $347 per person. (includes the Aquarium admission)

Friday, July 19th (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm)

Presentation: Spineless Wonders: the amazing diversity and adaptations of invertebrates.

Saturday, July 20th (8:30 am -8:00 pm, with breaks)
Field exploration to explore invertebrates on Ucluelet’s outer coast and practice naturalist skills, including fundamentals of identification.

Collection of invertebrates on the outside of the peninsula, returning to the lab for the afternoon
We’ll observe firsthand how they move, feed, and other behaviors, and discover myriad organisms that were too small to see in the field.
Evening Presentation at the Ucluelet Aquarium: What’s love got to do with it? Reproduction in marine invertebrates.

Sunday, July 21st (8:30 am – 1:00 pm)
Field exploration to explore the habitats on the protected side of the peninsula.

Investigating the different suite of organisms inhabiting these sheltered waters, to compare and contrast how they differ from those on the more exposed side.
If time allows we will also look at the animals attached to the docks.
Course wrap-up

About Dr. Gregory Jensen:

Greg Jensen is a marine biologist that has spent the past five decades researching and photographing marine invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. His main research interest is in the ecology and systematics of crabs and shrimps; despite their great ecological and economic importance, remarkably little is known about the myriad roles they play in marine food webs. Another facet of his work involves creating user-friendly identification guides to Pacific coast invertebrates and fish, and he is actively involved in the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, a citizen science organization that recruits divers to collect information on fish and invertebrate populations. It was his love for diving and photography that led him to publish his first book in 1995: an identification guide on the unique crab, shrimp, and lobster species along the Pacific Coast. Recently expanded, the new edition of Crabs and Shrimps of the Pacific Coast increases the total number of species described from 163 to nearly 300. He is also co-author of Beneath Pacific Tides: Subtidal Invertebrates of the West Coast and Nudibranchs & Sea Slugs of the Eastern Pacific.

Mushrooms of the West Coast 2024
2024-10-11 19:00 - 2024-10-13 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. Kem Luther for joining us on the West Coast to share their knowledge & passion!

Course Registration is $330. 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.

Sunday (8:00 am – 1:00 pm)

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

About the instructors:

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2023 Mushroom Course Photos!

Small Town, Big Picture: Tofino
2024-11-21 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: November 21st

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 and Tourism Tofino. The Raincoast Education Society is responsible for course curriculum, registration, and program delivery.

Introduction to the ecology and diversity of earthworms
2025-01-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Event
Join Dr. Sam James as he uncovers the fascinating world of earthworms, nature’s ecosystem engineers. Learn how these remarkable creatures aerate soil, recycle nutrients, and support sustainable agriculture. Discover groundbreaking research on their biodiversity, ecological importance, and the challenges they face. Travel the globe with Dr. James as he shares stories of weird and wonderful earthworms and the adventures behind his research expeditions, from local landscapes to far-flung corners of the world. Don’t miss this captivating look at the hidden heroes beneath our feet!
About our Speaker, Dr. Sam James: I am a specialist in the diversity of earthworms, their classification and their evolutionary history. My interest in nature, ecology and other natural sciences began at an early age, and was maintained in spite of exposure to many other areas of learning, all interesting but none with the appeal of being in the natural world looking and finding. Now I am 71 years old and still happier in the forest than in the lab. My three children have gone in other directions but they all got to see what their father does by coming along on expeditions to tropical forests and other places. Presently I am retired from university duties I have discovered and described (often with collaborators) hundreds of new species of earthworms, and continue to add to the list. There are thousands more out there, and hundreds more in my collections. I have also worked on figuring out the evolutionary history of earthworms using DNA and other molecular data.
