Wed, July 26
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm drop-in
Harvest Hours at The PAG (all ages)
Location: The People’s Apothecary Garden, Lot 62
Thurs, July 27
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm drop-in
Wild Creatives: Rock Paintin' (all ages)
Location: The Nature House at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
Are you ready to rock?! We are thrilled to invite you to a rock painting session at the Nature House to create more plant ID's for our ever-growing medicinal plant garden (The PAG), including calendula, marsh mallow (yes, that's a plant!), coastal mugwort, feverfew, wormwood, comfrey, salal, and Oregon grape, to name a few. If that's not your scene, feel free to just get creative and express yourself artistically! Paints and rocks will be provided, but feel free to bring ones that inspire you!
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
ThINC Tank: Bats! Bat Count with Rob Welsh (youth, adults)
Location: The Nature House at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
Bats in the Belfry? Bats in the Basement? Bats on the Brain?
Come and join Rob, the Thetis Island BAT MAN, for a real Bat Count and information so interesting you will want to cry BAT!
We will meet in the Nature House at 8:00 pm for an introduction and preparation for an “official” bat count. Just before sunset we will walk to Heneage House ready to count bats leaving their roost at about 9:00 pm.
More about the BC Community Bat Program here.
Fri, July 28
10:00 am start
Young Naturalists: Wild Bee Identification Day with bee expert Jane Lakes (all ages)
Location: The People’s Apothecary Garden, Lot 62
How many different types of bees live on the island? More than you would BEElieve! Beekeeper and wild bee expert Jane will be teaching us about pollinators, identifying wild bees, and catching some for us to see up close! Learn about how different bees carry pollen, their unique habits, and diverse ecosystem services. This event is for youth but will be interesting to people of all ages.
1:00 pm start
Expert Excursions: Sustainable Systems with Doug Fenton Location: 195 Pilkey Point Road (please park at top of the driveway to the north and along Lawrence Rd. or along Porlier Rd to the south)
Tucked away on the eastern shores of Thetis Island is a small cabin. But this is no ordinary cabin! Being mindful of how his actions impact the land he lives on, and water we all depend upon, Doug Fenton has steadily been transforming his home into a passive space that captures renewable energy, cycles and recycles resources, and helps to protect the shoreline. This Friday, Doug, and his loyal sidekick, Duncan, will lead us on a walk and talk around his property, sharing the practices and systems he applies.
For a sneak peek into what project’s Doug as on the go, see ThINCPod episode from 2020: www.thetisislandnatureconservancy.org/single-post/2020/08/13/thincpod-episode-4-environmental-systems-with-doug-fenton
Sat, July 29
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Seaquarium Drop-in
Location: The Nature House at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
There are some new critters in the Seaquarium this week - fresh from a recent dive! Come find out what species are new, who has laid all the spiral eggs in the tank…Drop in with your family, friends, or solo anytime from 2-4pm.
Sun, July 30
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Harvest Hours at The PAG (all ages)
Location: The People’s Apothecary Garden, Lot 62
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Beach Walk & Snorkel with Andy Lamb
Location: The Portal, 254 North Cove Road
(meet at the beach; parking at Heneage House or Fairyslipper Forest)
Low tide is the perfect time for peering in nature’s aquarium: tide pools! Come down to the beach at the Portal for a guided beach walk with marine biologist, Andy Lamb. Also, if it's toasty, feel free to take a dip! We’ll be exploring tide pools and collecting new critters for the Seaquarium together. Bring buckets, sun hats, rain boots or water shoes, and snorkel and swim gear!