Presentations:
Nature Salt Spring is excited to announce two illustrated natural history talks at the SSI Conservancy Building at Blackburn Lake. Space is limited to 40 people and registration is required. For the health safety of all, masks are requested inside the building.
Slugs, Slime, and Suction – Nature Stories from the Salish Sea
Presented by David Denning, SSI Marine Naturalist. Friday, June 10, 7-8:30 @ SSI Conservancy, Blackburn Lake ($10 admin./Free for Nature Salt Spring Members)
The Amazing Natural History of BC’s Dragonflies Presented by Claudia Copley, Curator, Royal BC Museum. Saturday, June 11, 7-8:30 pm. @ SSI Conservancy, Blackburn Lake ($10 admin/Free for Nature Salt Spring Members)
Birding:
No matter your skill level, from beginner to ‘seasoned’, you will find these naturalist-led birding walks valuable for improving/building your skills and interests in Salt Spring Island birds. Early Bird Birding will take place on both Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12 starting at 6:30 am @ Xwaaqw’um / Burgoyne Bay.
Families with Children Events:
As part of our NatureKids BC program to provide more nature connections for children and their families, we’ve organized two engaging activities on the June 11-12 weekend led by Kathleen Maser and Jean Wilkinson.
Muddy Buddies – Pond Studies for Families with Children with Kathleen Maser & Jean Wilkinson, Sat. June 11, 1:30 – 2:30 @ SSIC Blackburn Lake
Bonkers about Birds! Birding for Families with Children – with Kathleen Maser & Jean Wilkinson, is on Sunday, June 12 Only – Blackburn Lake. 8-9am.
Nature Walks:
Join local and guest naturalists to explore the fascinating natural history in different Salt Spring habitats. Darren and Claudia Copley are Curators at the Royal BC Museum. Jeff Shatford is a Salt Spring – based Ecosystem Biologist and forest management/recovery specialist. Peter McAllister, David Denning, and Pat Miller are active Salt Spring naturalists and founding organizers of Nature Salt Spring.
Walk and Gawk – Exploring Nature w/ Darren and Claudia Copley (Special guest naturalists) – Two Nature Walks – 1) Saturday, June 11, 10:30 – noon @ SSIC Blackburn Lake and 2) Sunday, June 12, 9:00 am, @ Xwaaqw’um / Burgoyne Bay
Forest Ecology Walk with Jeff Shatford. Jeff will provide insights into the stories trees and forests tell, the natural recovery process and techniques for re-wilding your forested property with native plants. Sunday, June 12, 1:30 – 3:00 @ SSIC Blackburn Lake
Shoreline Nature! – Purple Martins w/ Peter McAllister and Beach Explorations w/ David Denning & Pat Miller. We’ll learn the natural history of the beautiful and melodic Purple Martins now recovering on SSI thanks to the Purple Martin Recovery Project. We’ll also explore the rocks and eel grass below the Fernwood Dock to find some fascinating sea life. Monday, June 13, 9:00 am – 11 @ Fernwood Dock
Nature Restoration:
Xwaaqw’um Watershed Restoration Project Demonstration w/ John Millson & Stqeeye’ Learning Society. An important Salt Spring restoration project at Xwaaqw’um / Burgoyne Bay will be the focus of this walk and talk. Learn about watersheds, restoration techniques and this model partnership project blending indigenous knowledge and scientific methods. Saturday, June 11, 10:30 – noon @ Xwaaqw’um / Burgoyne Bay
Workshops:
Using iNaturalist, Merlin & eBird for Personal and Community Nature Studies – w/Darren Copley. Darren developed innovative techniques to engage citizens in community science data collection using phone/tablet identification and recording Aps. He will share his experience and describe some of the amazing community science studies already in progress. Darren is the Environmental Education Coordinator for Saanich Municipality, teaches at UVic, and is a BC Museum Curator. Saturday, June 11, 1:30 – 3:00 @ SSIC Blackburn Lake
Nature Journaling with Briony Penn, Salt Spring Island geographer, researcher, artist, author and environmentalist. Briony will teach how to capture personal experience and understandings of the natural world through art and writing in a nature journal. ($10 Fee for materials) Sunday, June 12, 1:30 – 3:00 @ SSIC Blackburn Lake
