Nature House Week 6 Events: August 7 - 10

This week’s events invite you to get messy with clay, curious about physiology, and hands-on with soil, sea creatures, and herbal treats. Whether you're sculpting nature-inspired art, puzzling over plant-powered teas, or meeting creatures with zinc fangs (yes, really!), there’s plenty to spark wonder across all ages.

Flower-powered cookies and mystery tea tastings — a sensory adventure at Family Fun Day!

Thursday, August 7

10:00 AM Wild Creatives: Clay Chaos

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

Get your hands dirty at the Nature House this Thursday making clay figures and magnets! We will start by molding some nature inspired forms using our hands, stamps and floral pressings, then painting our creations. Imagination is the limit with this one, and you are welcome to come for as little or as long as you would like to complete your clay masterpieces.

Friday, August 8

10:00 AM Junior Biologists: Lets get Physiological!

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

Why do sheep have square eyes? How do 200 ft trees transfer water from their roots to their leaves? Put these burning questions to rest this Friday and explore the basics of physiology with us. With examples from the Portal’s resident sheep, we will discover what systems allow animals, including us, to grow, breathe, eat and move. 

2:00 PM Expert Excursion: Soils with Ian Ralston (youth, adults)

Location: 412 Klahowya (meet in the Driveway)

This Expert Excursion begins with a peaceful, silent walk through the Meadow Valley forest, awakening your senses and attuning you to the living landscape beneath your feet. From there, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of soil - how it forms, the hidden life it sustains, and what it reveals about our relationship with the natural world. Through hands-on exploration, you’ll learn to identify various soil types, observe key characteristics, and interpret the subtle indicators soil provides. Whether you're gardening, planning irrigation, or building with natural materials, understanding soil can transform how you engage with the land - deepening connection, enhancing sustainability, and grounding your practice in harmony with nature.

Saturday, August 9

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Taste the Garden at Family Fun Day (all ages)

Location: Forbes Hall (outside)

Today we’ll be joining the Family Fun Day festivities! Drop by our table in front of Forbes Hall to discover the flavours, aromas, and hidden powers of nature in this hands-on activity. Decorate cookies with edible flowers and herbs from our medicinal garden - the People’s Apothecary Garden (PAG), then put your taste buds to the test with a blind tasting of herbal teas made from plants like lavender, chocolate mint, lemon balm, fennel, and rosemary. Can you guess which is which? Learn how these plants support health and well-being while having fun with the whole family!

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

Location: Telegraph Harbour Marina

You are invited to observe the otherworldly pileworm burrowing in our non-touch tank. This clam seeking predator has powerful fangs made of zinc and four eyes, and was found in the intertidal at the marina. We will be doing a short feeding session to see its reversible jaws and learn about the distinct lifestyle of our earthworm related inmate. Finally, you can observe the distinctive undulating movement of the clam worm when walking, swimming, and burrowing. 

Sunday, August 10

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!

2:00 PM Sensational Sunday Speaker Series: The Orca-stra of the Salish Sea with Kendra Nelson (youth, adults)

Location: Forbes Hall 

Orca expert Kendra Nelson will discuss the importance of conserving the Southern Resident Killer Whales - a unique population of orcas that calls the Salish Sea home. She’ll also highlight the need for a watershed-wide approach to conservation and restoration, emphasizing how actions taken upstream affect the entire ecosystem downstream.

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.