Beneath the BOG: 10am Saturday July 2nd from the Whale Parking Lot
Discover the secrets of dwarf trees, carnivorous sundews and the unique plants that thrive above an acidic pool of water. This guided walk will help you explore a world seldom given the attention it deserves as a climate hero. This section of trail is a quiet refuge worth exploring more than once.
TALKING TREES and Fantastic Fungus: Sunday July 3rd from the Brown's Beach (SeaStar) Parking Lot
Let’s explore the surprising life of trees! Question: Do trees share food, communicate information and sleep?
Learn about recent research that will change the way you look at trees, mushrooms, mosses and lichen.
Drive just past Black Rock Resort on Marine Drive to the Brown's Beach (Sea Star) parking lot to join this program of emerging discoveries.
Salmon Trail Booth: 10am to 1pm Tuesday July 5th at the Lighthouse Discovery Tent
Question: How can fish and forests make eachother healthy?
Visit Redd FIsh Restoration Society's booth to share forest, fish and ecosystem insights. Restoration is our passion!
Build-A-Whale: 10 am Wednesday July 6th 10am to noon at the Lighthouse Discovery Tent
This kid-friendly event is a rare chance to construct an actual size orca skeleton!
Question: Do orca have sharp teeth?
Join Strawberry Isle Research Society staff to learn about these remarkable whales and why some populations are endangered.
BEAR Walk: 10am Thursday July 7th from the Whale Parking Lot, Coast Guard Road
Our newest interpretive walk sharing fun facts and tips about black bears on the west coast. Did you know that a bear can smell six times better than a dog? They have even learned how to open car doors if they smell food. Join this walk to learn how to avoid conflict visiting bear country.
Beach Tidepool Exploration: 10am Friday July 8th from the Picnic area below Big Beach Parking Lot at Marine and Matterson Road
Join Ucluelet Aquarium naturalists for a first hand discovery of an astonishing array of creatures such as crabs, tidepool fish and sea urchins livinging the intertidal zone. If you visit a shoreline on your own remember to be coast smart, never approach the edge of the sea where waves can suddenly emerge. “Take only photographs, Leave only footprints”. It is important to leave shells on the beach so that calcium can return to the water and help build the next generation of snails, sand dollars and chitons.
Question: why is it hard to find sea stars?
Rubber boots or sturdy footwear is highly recommended so we can explore the treasures of the tides. Rocks are NOT suitable for toddlers.
Read below for more dates or open our calendar poster.
TALKING TREES and Fantastic Fungus: Sundays from the Brown's Beach (SeaStar) Parking Lot
Let’s explore the surprising life of trees! Question: Do trees share food, communicate information and sleep? Learn about recent research that will change the way you look at trees, mushrooms, mosses and lichen. Drive just past Black Rock Resort on Marine Drive to join this program of emerging discoveries.
FOREST Walk: Most Tuesdays from the Whale Parking Lot, Coast Guard Road
Question: What makes old growth and second growth forests so different? Why is the rainforest in such a small area?
Join Redd FIsh Restoration Society's guide to share forest, fish and wildlife insights. Restoration is our passion!
SEA WOLF WALK: from the Whale Parking Lot
Take a walk on the wild side! Investigate the lives of our local coastal sea wolves, find out what makes them so extraordinary and what you can do to help protect them! Bring your curiosity, questions and stories. Dogs must be on a leash.
Force of Nature: from the Whale Parking Lot, Coast Guard Road
Survival on the edge of the Wild Pacific has shaped the plants, animals and famously ruggid coastline. Learn about this rare ecosystem and why it is vital for climate health.
Tidepool and Beach Exploration: 10am Fridays
Question: Why are micro plastics harmful to sea creatures? Join the Ucluelet Aquarium and our Trail Ambassador for a first hand discovery of plants and animals livingin the intertidal zone. Follow us into an ecosystem that can adapt to constant flood and drought changes 4 times a day!
Rubber boots or sturdy footwear is highly recommended so we can explore the treasures of the tides. Rocks are NOT suitable for toddlers.
Beneath the BOG: 10am Saturdays from the Brown's Beach (SeaStar) Parking Lot
Discover the secrets of dwarf trees, carnivorous sundews and the unique plants that thrive above an acidic pool of water. This guided walk will help you explore a world seldom given the attention it deserves as a climate hero. This section of trail is a complete change for the restless surge of the ocean, be sure to visit at least once.
Build-A-Whale by Strawberry Isle Marine Research: June 8th This kid-friendly event is a rare chance to construct an orca skeleton.
Pacific RIm National Park: Interactive booth June 15th at the Lighthouse Discovery Tent
BC WildSafe: learn about predators and how to keep them wild. June 16th at the Lighthouse Discovery Tent
The Salmon Trail by Redd Fish Restoration: June 21 and 28th at the Lighthouse Discovery Tent
Thanks also to the Ucluelet Aquarium who will lead Tidepool Walks on Fridays this summer!
BIRDING with Ian Cruickshank: learn about birds and their environment from an expert guide. Did you know songbirds can sing so well because they have two voice boxes? July 17, 2022.
The Wild Pacific Trail is a unique outdoor classroom that offers incredible opportunities to connect people to nature. Trail signage and events offer revolving topics for all ages.
We are grateful to program experts such the Ucluelet Aquarium the Raincoast Education Society, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Silva Johansson, Strawberry Isle Research Society and Redd FIsh Restoration Society for their expertise. The trail society sponsors these walks and networks with the District of Ucluelet.
Below are a series of timeless videos created during Covid-19 travel restrictions by our Naturalists that will inspire your experience in Nature.
Did you know a square metre of mudflat contains more calories than a chocolate bar? Enjoy our latest video created by Samantha, our summer naturalist.
Seven entertaining and award winning videos below include fun activities from our 2020 "Learn Where You Live" series.
Episode 1: "What's that smell?" video with our Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist
Join us for seven "Learn Where You Live" videos to inspire you to look closely at Nature.
From the teachings of Banana Slugs--to the secrets of Skunk Cabbage and flammable mosses--you will enjoy this EXPLOSIVE series!
CLICK HERE to download a PDF activity you can do at home.
Special thanks to Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for her guidance.
Video series by Arya Touserkani @tousquared www.waterlogue.ca
Episode 2: " Follow that Slime" -- We have a lot to learn from Nature, we just need to listen!
Special thanks to Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ community, Elder Vi Mundy and Gisele Martin of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for their traditional teachings.
Follow this link for a slug race activity.
This beautiful series was born out of Covid-19 restrictions to our in-person interpretive walks. Narrated by Tanya Nestoruk, trail naturalist, video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 3: "For Peat's Sake" -- explore with our Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist!
Follow our naturalist as she discovers the weird and wonderful species that thrive in a Woodland Bog. Warning, you could get lost.
Follow this link for a COLOURING BOOKLET or a fun WORD PUZZLE.
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Special thanks to Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation. Video by Arya Touserkani.
Send your questions to naturalist@wildpacifictrail.com or post on our Facebook page.
Episode 4: "Force of Nature" will sweep you off your feet.
Explore the unique WEATHER that comes with living on the coast, how species not only manage to survive, but THRIVE!
Fun fact: Can you name an amphibian that has no lungs?
We are proud to acknowledge the skills of our past naturalist Tanya Nestoruk for her work with videographer Arya Touserkani www.waterlogue.ca
in achieving an award of excellence from Interpretation Canada for the video above.
Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation and Dr. Barb Beasley with the Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot and Barkley Sound.
Episode 5: "Remarkable Ravens" a story of the smartest bird in the rainforest
Raven’s are not only role models of communication, fair trade, and savvy intelligence, they play an essential role as ecosystem recyclers.
Challenge: how can you tell the difference between a raven and a crow?
Thank you to Parks Canada for support for this project. Special thank you for footage and raven sound clips copyright by Ian Cruickshank
Note: footage was taken with a telephoto lens to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Raven vs Crow Image by Rosemary Mosco and Dr. Kaeli Swift with BirdandMoon.com @corvidresearch
Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for Nuu-chah-nulth translations.
Additional footage courtesy of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHHHAfzAuKc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEksZdWKqtA – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6K9LbRX15Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJdj-2XvGF4 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6vzGrWP9lc
Also thanks to the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust for funding.
Video production by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 6: "Tree-S-I: Murder by Mushroom" help us solve this mystery.
There’s been a murder in the forest! Who! What? Why!
Follow along as detective Tanya gets to the root of the crime by investigating clues and searching for suspects in the woods… will she discover whodunit in this in-tree-guing case?!
Special thanks to the inspirational Gisele Martin of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for sharing her timeless knowledge of Nuu-chah-nulth language and culture.
So Mush-thanks to Andy MacKinnon, forest ecologist extraordinaire, for sharing his vast scope of marvelous mushroom knowledge and delightful sense of humour.
Stop motion animation on tree communication by Local Ucluelet youth, Riley Gerbrandt. Thank you!
Fun fact: what is our planet's largest organism?
Special thanks to the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust for funding. Video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 7: hašaḥma quuquuʔaca ( language is precious & valuable )
Join special guests Jeneva Touchie and Gisele Martin as they share their personal connections to the Wild Pacific Trail and the importance of Nuu-chah-nulth language.
What wisdom can we learn from ancient languages?
To learn more about the Nuu-chah-nulth language visit:
https://www.firstvoices.com/explore/FV/sections/Data/Nuu-chah-nulth/Nuu%C4%8Daan%CC%93u%C9%AB/Nuu-chah-nulth%20(Barkley)
Jeneva offers free Nuu-chah-nulth language classes Tuesday evenings over Zoom. To find out more please email touchie_jeneva@hotmail.com
To learn more about Nuu-chah-nulth history, culture, news and events please go to https://nuuchahnulth.org/
We are grateful to our special guests and Sam Touchie from Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for inspiring this episode.
Project funded by the WIld Pacific Trail Society and the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust.
Video by Arya Touserkani @tousquared www.waterlogue.ca
Download this activity sheet, use naturalist on your phone, or just use a blank piece of paper to record what you find.
You will be enthralled at the number of species. What do you think each creature eats, or who is looking to eat them?
CLICK HERE to download a PDF activity you can do at home.
We are grateful to the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust for funding several of these interpretive videos.
Send us your questions, or post photos and ideas on Instagram or email naturalist@wildpacifictrail.com.
We will post answers to the best questions. Let us know what you would like to learn!