Events Calendar

For Details on Events, Email [email protected]

• Saturday, 4 April: Witness the Fawn Lily show at Stamp Falls

There is an incredible number of White Fawn-lilies every year here. We’ll meet at 9:30 AM at Stamp Falls Provincial Park parking lot.

• Saturday Apr 6: A visit to the Englishman River Estuary with the Arrowsmith Naturalists:

Meet up at Victoria Quay 8:30 a.m. to arrange carpool. The Englishman River estuary was historically used as a log dump, a campground and a cattle grazing farm. Between 1981 & 1993 The Nature Trust acquired 76 hectares of the estuary land. There had been a significant loss of wildlife and fish habitat due to urban and agricultural encroachment. Learn how the Arrowsmith Naturalists, local government and other organizations have worked with Nature Trust for the past 20 years to help restore it back to a thriving estuary. This is an easy flat walk, length 1 1/2 – 2 hrs. There are NO toilets but lots of big trees.

We will carpool from Port Alberni and meet up with Arrowsmith Naturalists at 9:30 a.m. at 330 Craig St in Parksville. Here we will again consolidate as best we can as there is little parking at the trail entrance.

• Tuesday Apr 9: Monthly Meeting, Speaker TBA
• Saturday, 20 April: Expedition to the Big Trees of the Nahmint Valley

The Nahmint valley is a special place. It’s known for huge trees, elk and other wildlife, and magnificent scenery. Our guide will be Greg Herringer, a forest technologist whose job it is to find and save big old trees for BC Timber Sales. This is an excellent opportunity to experience an incredible place. Bring a lunch! We will meet at 9:00AM at the Riverbend Store for a last minute bathroom break and a cup off coffee before carpooling to the valley. Please do not park in the Riverbend parking lot. The trip will take about an hour over bumpy logging roads. 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended, but not required. Good clearance is mandatory.

• Saturday April 27: Broom Busting at the DU property on the Somass Estuary

This is a work party, so bring loppers, pruning saws and gloves. We’ll meet at the gate where the dirt road along the river starts, at 9:00 AM and work until noon or we are exhausted.

• Sat May 4th Explore the Somass mudflats

We will meet at 1PM and walk in to the flats. Wear rubber boots, old sneakers, or water sandals. High tide at 10:15 AM; Low tide at 4:20 PM

• Tuesday May 7th: Path clearing at the Ducks Unlimited Property
  This is another work party to clear the trail that runs along the west edge of the property. Bring garden shears, clippers,pruning saws and work gloves. We’ll meet at the gate where the dirt road along the river starts, at 9:00 AM and work until noon or sooner if we finish early.
• May 9 -12 BC Nature Annual Conference Parksville. Registration information will be sent out.
• May 14: Monthly Meeting
• Thursday 16 May: Devil’s Den Bluff Flowers hike

Spring Flowers at their finest. Easy hike at a slow place Meet at Victoria Quay at 9:00 AM

• Sat 25 May: Visit Land of Milk and Honey Bluffs

This, oddly named trail, is on the eastern slopes of Mount Porter. It is a moderately difficult hike but offers great views and a chance to find an unusual fern on one of the bluff.

• Sat June 8th Walk and Wade to Sandy Island

This is a mild adventure. We will drive onto Denman Island from the ferry and to a spot where on a low tide, you can hike to Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park. This day has been especially chosen to coincide with a low tide in the middle of the day, making it possible to reach the island. Be prepared to walk in shallow water and see lots of wonderful intertidal life.

• Sat June 22 Expedition to the top of Mount Washington

We’ll take the chairlift up the mountain and hike down through the alpine meadows. There is a good chance of finding the endangered Vancouver Island Marmots. This is a tentative date at the resort starts its summer tour season in late June-early July. There will be a charge to use the chairlift. Prices aren’t set yet, but you can expect to spend at least $20.

• Sat July 6th Long walk/Hike to Snag Lake

This expedition is a 7.5 km long walk along an old logging road at the bottom of the upper Kennedy River Valley. At the end of the road a rough trail climbs up to a rock bluff which provides a great view of an old slide that blocked the River and created Snag Lake, named after all the dead trees that died after the slide happened. This is an all-day trip to see an amazing place. But you will be tired when you get home! We’ll get an early start from Victoria Quay, 8:30 AM sharp. Bring lunch and water.

• Sat August 10th Stage 2 of the Alberni Inlet Trail

Of the tree stages of the Alberni Inlet Trail, this one is the most level. Much of it follows the grade of an old railway that was never finished. But there some steep bits too. There are lots of views of the Inlet and a couple of cobble beaches. It is 9 km long and around 3.5 hours of hiking. We will arrange to have transportation back to the start to avoid a two way hike. Bring a lunch and water.