A week of looking closer - at the shoreline, at the intertidal zone, and at the underwater world hiding in plain sight. We're kicking things off with a special schedule change: this week, TIME Jr. gives way to the Annual Seastar Count on Thursday morning, and we'd love for TIME Jr. families to join us! The week carries through with intertidal exploration at the SLC, sun printing at Wild Creatives (fingers crossed for sunshine!), and closes with Dr. Sara Ellison inspiring us t

This Sunday at Forbes Hall, Dr. Sara Ellison invites us to see our local waters through a whole new lens, or rather, through a snorkel mask. BC's coastal waters are teeming with extraordinary life, much of it accessible without scuba gear, and Sara is here to show us where to find it and what to look for. Whether you're a seasoned snorkeller or have never considered taking the plunge, this talk will make you want to get in the water.

This week, Nature House steps out of its usual rhythm for something a little different. Wild Creatives makes way for Family Fun Day on Saturday, and in place of our regular S4 talk, we're closing the week with something truly magical - Music in the Forest on Sunday afternoon. In between, Dr. John Errington guides us through a hands-on apple grafting workshop, while the SLC, PAG, and TIME Jr. keep the week grounded in the natural world we love. Last year's average score was 4

Welcome to Week 5, and to August! This week we're heading into the forest to forage wild edibles along the Lawrence Valley Trail, getting hands-on and intuitive with local artist Marcia Aftimus in a truly unique outdoor art experience, and diving deep into the world of eelgrass - one of the most vital and overlooked ecosystems on our coast. Eelgrass takes centre stage all weekend at the SLC and carries through to Sunday's S4 talk with Nikki Wright. And with August now upon us

Join us on Sunday, August 2, 2–4 PM at Forbes Hall as Nikki Wright explores the vital role of eelgrass in our coastal ecosystems, and the community efforts bringing these underwater meadows back to life.

August's S4 - Sensational Sunday Speaker Series - is shaping up to be another incredible month! Every Sunday from 2–4 PM at Forbes Hall, we'll be welcoming guest speakers diving into the wild and wonderful ecosystems around us, with the exception of August 9, where we'll be trading the hall for a musical walk in the woods. All are welcome and admission is free. S4 is generously supported by the Thetis Island Community Fund.

What a week it's been - first, a heartfelt thank you to our friends at Community Climate Resilience (CCR) for putting on an extraordinary Nature of Forests Weekend. The talks, walks, and conversations were truly inspiring, and we're so grateful to everyone who joined us. Now, on to another full and exciting week! We're diving into the deep sea, learning about sustainable fisheries, printing with the sun, and following water from its headwaters all the way to the sea - capped

This Sunday at Forbes Hall, Katrina Adams of Peninsula Streams Society takes us on a journey from wetlands to ocean shoreline, tracing the full arc of a watershed and the remarkable web of life it supports. And before the talk, join Katrina at The Portal from 9–11am for a hands-on beach seine - hauling in the net to see who's living in the shallow coastal waters of Thetis Island.

This week we're exploring the connections that hold our island ecosystems together - from the mucky business of green crab monitoring with TIME Jr., to the buzzing world of native pollinators at the PAG, to the remarkable journey of a salmon from forest stream to open sea at the SLC. And it all builds toward something very special: the Nature of Forests Weekend on July 18 & 19, co-presented with Community Climate Resilience. Two days of field workshops, indigenous knowledge,

Our friends at Community Climate Resilience have put together something truly special for Thetis Island, and we are proud to be lending our support. The Nature of Forests Weekend, July 18 & 19, brings together some of the most compelling voices in forest ecology, indigenous knowledge, and fire resilience. From a FireSmart field workshop with retired Salt Spring Fire Captain Mitch Sherrin, to an exploration of the underground fungal world with forest ecologist Dr. Andy MacKinn

We have a special treat this week with not one but two Tides to Trails outings - join local experts in the forest and on the beach as we explore the living landscapes of Thetis Island. Meanwhile, young navigators chart their course at TIME Jr., edible seaweeds take centre stage at the SLC, and Alistair Howes joins us Sunday to talk food security and community resilience. A full and inspiring week - we hope to see you out there! Who you calling slimy? Join Andy Lamb at Clam Ba

How do we build stronger, more resilient food systems in our own communities? Join us for our next S4 talk, where Alistair Howes of FED Urban Agriculture will share how communities can think outside the box to strengthen local food systems - and the variety of food security projects FED has underway.