Nature House Week 4 Events: July 24-27
- ThINC
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
From marine monitoring and youth adventures to expert-led walks and water-focused site visits, this week offers a little something for everyone. Whether you’re exploring rocky shorelines, tracking local wildlife, or diving into conversations about groundwater, each event is a chance to connect with Thetis Island’s unique ecosystems - and the people who care for them.
Thursday, July 24
Wild Creatives: Not Running due to Sea Star Monitoring Event
9:45 AM Annual Clam Bay Sea Star Count (Please RVSP)
Location: 120 Clam Bay Road (Lamb residence)
Parking: Along Clam Bay Road
The Annual Purple Sea Star Count is back! Be part of this fun, hands-on marine monitoring event at Clam Bay. Last year, over 1,600 stars were counted - let’s aim even higher!
Meet at 120 Clam Bay Road (behind the house) for a brief orientation before heading out in small groups to survey different sections of shoreline. Volunteers should come prepared with sturdy, waterproof footwear (the rocks can be wet and slippery), sun protection, and a flashlight or headlamp to help spot sea stars tucked into crevices.
RSVP: Please email amelia@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org to help us plan.
Friday, July 25
10:00 AM Junior Biologists: Wildlife Detectives (youth)
Location: The Nature House at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
Put your detective skills to the test! We’ll be looking for evidence of all sorts of organisms, from marine to terrestrial, and use our sleuthing skills to conjure up a scene. With the help of our trusty scientific instruments, compasses, we will track down some wildlife and explore their way of life.
2:00 PM Expert Excursion: The Lawrence Valley with Bill Dickie (all ages)
Location: Lawrence Valley Trailhead (293 Mission Road)
Join local expert and steward of the Lawrence Valley Trail, Bill Dickie, as we walk the 2.8km loop and discuss the history and the future of the Lawrence Valley wetland.
Saturday, July 26
Day 1 of ‘The Nature of Water’ Weekend - Site Visits (all ages)
Location: 5 locations across Thetis Island
Community Climate Resilience (CCR), in collaboration with ThINC, invites you to a Water Fair this weekend - a hands-on celebration of local water wisdom!
Join us today as we learn from our neighbours and the land. Explore how water moves through our island, how to conserve and collect it, and how we can work together to build climate resilience - starting with water.
On site tours at:
10:30 AM - Matthias and Jutta Zapletal (313 Forbes Road)
12:00 PM - Mike and Shirley Harris (237 Plateau Road)
1:30 PM - Doug Fenton (195 Pilkey Point Road)
3:00 PM - Vicki Walker (221 Pilkey Point Road)
4:30 PM - Alex Rosewicz and Pauline Harwood (217 Pilkey Point Road)
5:30PM - Community Picnic - Bring your own picnic and join us at the end of Pilkey Point to wrap up the day together.
Questions? Contact us at: ccr@thetisisland.net
Come for one stop or all. Everyone is welcome!
Sunday, July 27
Day 2 of ‘The Nature of Water’ Weekend - Talks (adults)
Location: Forbes Hall
Join us for the second day of The Nature of Water, hosted by Community Climate Resilience (CCR) in partnership with ThINC. Today’s focus is on in-depth learning, with a series of engaging talks at Forbes Hall that explore the geology, groundwater, and freshwater resources of Thetis Island and beyond.
Whether you're a long-time resident or new to island living, this is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of how water works beneath our feet, and how we can better manage and protect it.
Talk Schedule:
1:15 - 2:15 - Mike Harris - Thetis Island Geoscape and Groundwater: a Field Geologist's Perspective
2:30 - 3:30 - David Slade - Water Wells 101. All About Rural Wells, Pump Systems, Water Quality, Water Treatment, and Conservation
3:45 - 4:45 - Tobi Elliot - Freshwater Footprint: The Island's Trust's Water Balance Project on Gabriola Island
Questions? Contact us at: ccr@thetisisland.net
All are welcome - come be part of the conversation on protecting our island’s most vital resource.
9:30-11:30 PAG Drop-in (all ages)
Location: The People’s Apothecary Garden, 62 North Cove Road
Drop by the PAG for a wander - or to harvest a few treasures. A rich variety of culinary herbs is yours for the picking, and many medicinal plants are now in bloom!
Things to keep in mind for this summer's Nature House program:
Supervision: Children under 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all events.
Events at The Portal (254 North Cove Road):
Parking: Please park at Heneage House - the first red building you'll see on the driveway. From there, follow the signs down to the Nature House.
Sheep Neighbours: We share the area with some friendly sheep! Please don’t feed them, and do not touch the electric fence - it delivers a painful shock. For everyone’s safety (including the sheep's), please leave dogs at home.
Washrooms are available on-site.
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