Nature House Week 7: August 13-16

A week of looking closer - at the shoreline, at the intertidal zone, and at the underwater world hiding in plain sight. We're kicking things off with a special schedule change: this week, TIME Jr. gives way to the Annual Seastar Count on Thursday morning, and we'd love for TIME Jr. families to join us! The week carries through with intertidal exploration at the SLC, sun printing at Wild Creatives (fingers crossed for sunshine!), and closes with Dr. Sara Ellison inspiring us to pull on a mask and fins and discover what's living just beneath the surface of our local waters.

Holding on - Ochre Sea Stars reclaiming their place on the Thetis Island shoreline.

Thursday, August 13

10:45am-1pm Tides to Trails: Annual Seastar Count (All ages)

Location: Meet beside the picket fence (with a gate) leading into Lot 121 - parking at the end of Clam Bay Road

Note: This event replaces TIME Jr. this week - TIME Jr. families, please come along and join us!

Don't miss this special annual event! Join local sea life expert Andy Lamb for the Ochre Sea Star count at Clam Bay. The Ochre Sea Star is slowly making its comeback from the devastating wasting disease that swept BC's coast, and community counts like this one play a vital role in tracking their recovery. Every pair of eyes matters, and you never know what else you might find along the way!

We start promptly at 10:45 to make the most of the low tide - please don't be late.

Wear grippy shoes that can get wet, and bring a flashlight as you'll be peering into crevasses!

Friday, August 14

1-3pm SLC Drop-in: Intertidal Exploration (All ages)

Location: Sea Life Centre, Telegraph Harbour Marina

The intertidal zone is a world of two halves, sometimes submerged, sometimes exposed, and the creatures that call it home have developed remarkable adaptations to survive in both. Come meet some intertidal species in the touch tank, pick up tidepool tips and tricks, and discover what's living right at the ocean's edge.

The SLC is open Friday-Sunday whenever the seastar flag is flying - drop in anytime!

Turmeric gold meets Prussian blue - two ways the sun can paint for you. Create your own cyanotype print (right) this Saturday at Wild Creatives!

Saturday, August 15

10am-12pm Wild Creatives: Sun Printing (All ages)

Location: Forbes Hall Pavilion

Experience the magic of cyanotype printing! Using nothing but sunlight, plants, and found objects, sun printing captures the natural shapes and textures of the world around us in stunning detail. Cyanotypes produce striking Prussian blue prints with crisp white silhouettes - watch your image appear before your eyes, a luminous portrait of leaves, feathers, or whatever treasures you bring along.

Please note: Sun printing requires sunshine! If rain is in the forecast, we'll swap in an alternative activity - same time, same place. Keep an eye on your morning eSPOKES reminder for any updates.

1-3pm SLC Drop-in: Intertidal Exploration (All ages)

Location: Sea Life Centre, Telegraph Harbour Marina

Missed Friday's session? Same great activity running again today - see Friday for details.

Sunday, August 16

9-11am Harvest Hours (All ages)

Location: The People's Apothecary Garden, Lot 62

This week's harvest: It's been a dry stretch at the PAG, but the mints are holding on - Spearmint, Chocolate Mint, and Apple Mint are ready to pick and wonderfully fragrant. Steep a handful of fresh stems for a cool summer drink.

The PAG is open during daylight hours - plant card decks organized by category are in the box on the back of the gate. Join us during Harvest Hours when we're on hand to guide you through what's ready and how to use it.

1-3pm SLC Drop-in: Intertidal Exploration (All ages)

Location: Sea Life Centre, Telegraph Harbour Marina

Running all weekend - see Friday for details.

2-4pm S4: Snorkelling Adventures Around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands with Dr. Sara Ellison (All ages)

Location: Forbes Hall

The chilly waters of the Pacific Northwest might not be top of your snorkelling bucket list, but they should be. BC's coastal waters are home to some 30 species of sea stars, giant anemones, brilliantly coloured nudibranchs, and of course the giant Pacific octopus. In this talk, Dr. Sara Ellison shares her underwater adventures, covering the gear you need, the creatures you'll encounter, and her personal top picks for snorkelling spots around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

About the speaker: Dr. Sara Ellison is an astrophysicist by trade, but has spent countless hours exploring BC's coastal waters. She is the author of Snorkelling Adventures Around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands: The Ultimate Guide - a #1 bestseller on both the BC and Amazon booklists.