Nature House Week 5 Events: July 31 - August 3

As we approach August, we’re excited to kick off the second month of the Nature House program! Thank you to everyone who’s joined us so far. Your curiosity and enthusiasm have made the season so special. There’s plenty more to explore this week and beyond!

What’s New This Week

• The August calendar is now available! Plan ahead and take a peek at all the exciting activities we have lined up for the month ahead.

Nature House Calendar - August 2025.pdf

Download PDF • 236KB

• Updated age policy: Children under 8 years old (previously 12) must now be accompanied by an adult during programs.

Kicking Off August: The Summer Bio Blitz Challenge!

Our second month of Nature House programming introduces the island-wide Summer Bio Blitz - a fun and meaningful way to engage with the natural world around you while contributing to real scientific research.

Learn to identify local plants, animals, and marine life through hands-on activities and guided experiences. The Bio Blitz will be woven into programs like: Expert Excursions, Junior Biologists, and Sea Life Centre critter ID sessions.

You’ll be helping us document the island’s biodiversity - and there are prizes for the top participants with the most observations and species identified by August 24!

Join the Bio Blitz here:  iNaturalist Project Page

Have questions? Reach out to Amelia at: amelia@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org

What to look forward to this week:

Thursday, July 31

10:00 AM Wild Creatives: Mending Workshop (all ages)

Location: The Nature House at The Portal, 254 North Cove Road

Have any tattered clothes in need of repair? Want to revive a sweater or two? Come by the Nature House this Thursday and let's give the art of mending a whirl! Please bring any of your own worn clothes or fabrics you’d like to repair. While we will have enough sewing needles and materials to go around, we encourage you to bring your own funky fabric if you have some!

Friday, August 1

10:00 AM Junior Biologists: Geology Rocks! (youth)

Location: End of Pilkey Point Road 

We will welcome a recent Geology undergraduate who will help us explore all things rocks, from the honeycombs we see on sandstone to reading Thetis Islands’ geological history. 

Learn about honeycomb weathering at this week's Junior Biologists!

2:00 PM Expert Excursion: Dive Demo with TIME (all ages)

Location: The Sea Life Centre at Telegraph Harbour Marina 

Dive into the world of SCUBA with local Thetis Island Marine Explorers (TIME) and renowned divers Bill Golley and Andy Lamb, and discover hidden treasures nestled at the bottom of the marina. We’ll be able to take a sneak peak of them with our underwater camera, and who knows what else we will find lurking! 

Saturday, August 2

9:30-11:30 AM PAG Drop-in & Harvest Hours (all ages)

Location: The People’s Apothecary Garden, 62 North Cove Road

Drop by the PAG and explore what’s in bloom!

1:00 - 3:00 PM Drop-in at the Sea Life Centre (all ages)

Location: Telegraph Harbour Marina

Inspired by our recent sea star count success at Clam Bay, we will be featuring our various sea stars in the seaquarium! We just welcomed a Pink Star, a few juvenile Mottled Stars, some Leather Stars and a few Purple Sea Stars to the tank… Do you know the difference between these local Stars? Come on by and learn about the world of echinoderms! 

Sunday, August 3

9:30 AM Garden Tour: Pat and Frank English (all ages)

Location: 100 Hollyberry Lane

Mostly wheelchair accessible + benches available for sitting

This week, we’re thrilled to visit another inspiring garden in Hollyberry Lane - a hidden retreat perched at the top of the strata. Designed with care for both the environment and the local ecosystem, this garden features water-wise practices that reduce consumption while supporting healthy plant growth. Native plants, flowering herbs, and thoughtful layout choices create a welcoming habitat for pollinators, birds, and other beneficial wildlife. Whether you’re curious about eco-conscious gardening or looking to make your outdoor space more wildlife-friendly, this stop is sure to spark new ideas!

2:00 PM S4 Speaker Series: Marine Endosymbioses: The Coolest Russian Nesting Dolls (adults)

Location: Forbes Hall

Join marine microbial ecologist, Nicole Coots, for a fascinating look at how tiny marine microbes have shaped life as we know it. Nicole will introduce the concept of endosymbiosis - when one organism lives inside another - and explain how this ancient relationship led to the evolution of plastids, the photosynthetic engines in plants and algae.

She’ll share highlights from her research on Radiolaria, ocean-dwelling microbes that host algae, and explore why understanding these partnerships matters for marine ecology today.

Things to keep in mind for this summer's Nature House program:

• Supervision: Children under 8 years old 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.