ThINC's summer Nature House program will be up and running again, starting next week! Other than the Monday sea star count on July 3rd, the program takes place every Wednesday - Sunday until August 27th. Details about each event will go out at the start of each week on eSPOKES and on our ThINC blog.
There's something for everyone:
Harvest Hours at the PAG (People's Apothecary Garden) - Includes drop-ins and harvesting, as well as garden and medicinal plant related workshops (Wednesdays and Sundays)
Wild Creatives - nature inspired arts/crafts for all ages (Thursdays)
ThINC Tank - an evening media and discussion series (Thursdays)
Young Naturalists - our junior science program, previously known as Junior Biologists (Fridays)
Expert Excursions - community led science/sustainability walks/talks/workshops (Fridays)
Seaquarium Drop-in at the Nature House - learn about the denizens of the underwater world off the shores of Thetis Island by exploring our seaquarium (Saturdays)
S4 (Sensational Sunday Speaker Series) - guest speakers from a wide variety of environmental, cultural, and sustainability disciplines (Sundays)
Also! For anyone wanting a ThINC t-shirt, or to learn more about our programs, drop by the Howling Wolf Market every Saturday between 10-2 and say hi (we are the blue tent!).
Our Nature House coordinator team is Eden Luymes from Vancouver and Erica Ralston from Thetis Island.
For any questions you have about this summer's Nature House program, please get in touch with Eden at eden@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org
Details about the first week below:
Funky fella at the Sea Star Count at Clam Bay in summer 2022
Monday, July 3
10:30 am - 12:30 pm Family Team Seastar Challenge! (all ages)
Location: 210 Clam Bay Road
Bring your team of 4, rubber boots or beach shoes, and a flashlight and help count seastars at Cedar Beach (Andy and Virginia Lamb’s home). Park on Clam Bay Rd and meet in front of the Lamb’s house (water side) at 10:30 am. If you don’t have a family team, come and join one for this all ages fun community science event. There might be prizes!
Wednesday, July 5
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Harvest Hours at The PAG (all ages)
Location: The People’s Apothecary Garden, Lot 62
Drop by the PAG anytime between 2:00 - 4:00 and meet our new ThINC team members, Erica Ralston and Eden Luymes. The garden is bursting with life and colour, so please take a wander and learn more about the myriad of medicinal plants at the PAG. And don’t forget to harvest! Lots of good herbs, including some tasty mints for refreshing iced teas.
Thursday, July 6
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Wild Creatives: The Soul of Trees (all ages)
Location: The Nature House at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
Erica would like to invite you to a tree ring printing art day with Brazilian artist Marcia Aftimus on Thursday, July 6th. We are hopeful that our finished pieces will represent our interconnectedness with nature by showing our similarities with trees. We will be drawing, writing, and painting on our prints. Anyone of any age who is interested is welcome to join.
To check out some of Marcia’s beautiful works, see: www.marciaaftimus.com
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ThINC Tank: Screening of Island of the Seawolves (youth, adults)
Location: The Nature House at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
Join us for a documentary screening of the first episode of Island of the Sea Wolves (2022)! This series explores the wildlife of the Vancouver Island coast and sheds light on the unique species of sea wolves that inhabit the coast. Join us to view some exceptional cinematography and gain some insight into the world of the sea wolves. It will be followed by a discussion of the episode.
Friday, July 7
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Young Naturalists: Orca Education Day (kids, 8-12)
Location: The Nature House, The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
Come learn about the incredible orcas that call these waters home! We will be learning about orca behaviour and echolocation, and exploring what it is like to experience and map the world through sound just like these cetaceans do. We will also talk about some of the threats to the local Southern Resident Killer Whales and ways we can protect them. If we’re lucky, maybe a pod will pass by the Portal!
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Expert Excursions: Agricultural Land Management with Emily McIvor (youth, adults)
Location: The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
Join local farmer and landscape designer, Emily McIvor, for a talk about ecological land management and farming. She asks: ‘what does this land need to heal and decolonize?’ and ‘what is possible to create within given means?’ This talk will include a walk and discussion of invasive species management, storm-water management, and sustainable, land-based industrial activities.
Saturday, July 8
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Seaquarium Drop-in
Location: The Nature House at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
In preparation for our new residents, we will be giving a demonstration of how the seaquarium works and provide some info on the critters we might find this summer. This will also be a good time to explore the Nature House and its eclectic collection of curios, and the stunning nearby shoreline.
Sunday, July 9
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm S4: ‘Solar Power: A Real Solution to Climate Change? Reality Check’ with Tom Mommsen and Risa Smith (adult)
Location: Forbes Hall
Tom and Risa, directors of the Salish Sea Renewable Energy Coop (SSREC), will be coming to Thetis to speak about solar energy on the Southern Gulf Islands. They’ll be explaining everything you wanted to know about solar – from theory, to relevance, to impact, to practice.
Largely as a result of the work of SSREC the Southern Gulf Islands have become a residential solar powerhouse in BC. Learn how Thetis can join the revolution.
Tom and Risa’s talk will be followed by a community discussion. Come with your questions.
For more information about SSREC check out the website: www.ssrec.org and Facebook www.facebook.com/ssrec.org/
Examples of Wild Creatives art activity this week: The Soul of Trees
Things to keep in mind for this summer's Nature House program:
Parking: For events taking place at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road, please park at the Fairyslipper Forest parking area or at Heneage House, the first red building you'll meet on the driveway and walk down to the Nature House. There will be lots of signage!
Sheep: We also have lovely sheep neighbours around The Portal, but please do not feed them anything and do not touch the electric fence. The shock is not a fun zap, but a painful shock! Also, as this is a working sheep farm, please do not bring dogs (big or small) onto the property at The Portal.
Supervision: Kids under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Hope to see you at the Nature House this summer!