into the wild - family nature club

the magic of snow

2011-01-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

Something magical happens when you bring together kids and snow. A landscape that can illicit groans of boredom from your average child, once blanketed in a layer of snow is a limitless wonderland of possibility that no child can resist.

Otherwise mundane activities take on a whole other dimension when done in the snow. Sitting on a piece of plastic and riding down a hill, digging a hole and jumping in it, rolling around on the ground, perhaps mildly entertaining under ordinary circumstances, become downright intoxicating when done in soft white powder.

This truth can have some unexpected results. As soon as we arrived at the chain up area off the Strathcona Parkway last month for our Second Annual Snow Spectacular both my kids dashed for the piles of snow before the car had barely come to as stop, so irresistible was its lure. Unbeknownst to my husband and I, as we unpacked the sleds and snowshoes from the trunk of the car, our youngest son was testing the depth of a creek on the other side of the pile. Lou, responding to a muffled cry, found him thigh deep in the freezing cold water moments later. And so the fun times were cut short for the two of them, as Lou was forced to take Malcolm home.

For those of us lucky enough to stay, we were able to surrender ourselves to the snow's spell, to a much happier ending. We sledded, dug, built and played until we were wet and cold and tired. A few hours later, reluctantly and with much convincing and cajoling, we loaded the kids back into warm vehicles and brought them home.

A wonderful afternoon made possible by the magic of snow.

second annual snow spectacular

2010-12-03T21:31:00.000-08:00

Weather forecasters are predicting a cool and wet winter, but that's nothing to be worried about. All that rain translates into lots of snow in the higher altitudes. There's already more than a metre of the white stuff up at Mt. Washington. And all that snow means lots of fun for our next event - the Second Annual Into the Wild Snow Spectacular.

For those of you who didn't join us last year, the Snow Spectacular is a free-for-all party in the powder. Snow forts, snowballs, sledding and snowshoeing. Whatever your idea of snow fun is, bring it along.

Meet at the parking area off the Strathcona Parkway about 10 km up the mountain at 1 pm on Saturday, December 10th. We will bring along some hot chocolate, you bring the mugs. This promises to be a great time for everyone and a fun-filled way to get into the spirit of the season.

snowy walk at snowden

2010-11-23T18:11:00.000-08:00

Oh, the unpredictable nature of the weather. November is supposed to be cool and wet. Perfect for mushroom hunting, right? Well, the end of this November has turned out snowy and downright cold - more appropriate for frost than fungus. Fortunately the cold weather did not deter the hearty souls who joined us at Snowden Forest for a hike and mushroom hunt last Sunday.

Though it didn't feel mushrooming weather we still managed to find quite a few varieties. As one of our hikers said, once your eye gets trained you start to spot them everywhere. We saw some bright yellow witch's butter,

a type of false morel,

a coral mushroom

and even a nice fat chanterelle!

But, I think my favourite was this diminutive specimen of bird's nest mushroom.

It was only a few millimetres wide and filled with lots of tiny "eggs" (actually spores packets). The word "mushroom" is hardly adequate to describe the variety and diversity of species in the Fungi family. What too often overlooked treasures of the forest they are. And what fun to go out and spot them with our own eyes.

Mushroom hunting was not the only fun we had. The trail itself was quite lovely, too. We hiked along Lost Lake and then followed a bike trail up a high ridge. From the top we could see Lost Lake below and mountains beyond, and were able to enjoy the sunny skies and amazingly crisp, warm light.

The cold weather lent a magical air to the whole forest, with the frost, rime, and snow glistening in the late afternoon sun. By the time we had returned to the parking lot we were tired out from two hour walk, but I for one was reluctant to leave such a beautiful time and place.

(Thanks to Mark Wunsch for the wonderful photos)

snowden forest mushroom walk

2010-11-18T22:03:00.000-08:00

The forest is looking decidedly less green these days. All that remains of the brilliant leaves of fall are wet leaf litter on the forest floor. But every season holds it's delights, and November is when the lowly mushroom takes centre stage.

Our recent forays into the forest have turned up all kinds of mushrooms. Like so many things, once I began to actually look for them they seemed to be everywhere. There they were on trees trunks, rotting stumps and poking out of the mossy forest floor in a seemingly limitless variety of sizes, shapes, colours and textures. These cheerful little fellows have certainly brightened up what for me can be a dreary time of year. So I say, hooray for mushrooms!

Which brings me to our next event. For our next gathering we'll be heading out to the Snowden Forest for a hike and mushroom hunt. Meet at the Lost Lake Parking Lot off of Loveland Bay Road on Sunday, November 21st at 1:30. I am no mycologist, but I'll bring a fieldguide along and we can try our hand at identifying some of the fanciful fungi we find. There are edible mushrooms to be found in our region, but it's best to go with an experienced guide, which I am not, before you actually plan on serving them up. So while we won't be picking any mushrooms to eat, it's still fun to check out the many varieties that one can find along the trail. We hope to see you there!

salmon spotting at quinsam river

2010-09-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

Living where we do one can't help but think about salmon at this time of year. Throughout the fall months you are bound to catch glimpses of spawning salmon on any number of local creeks, rivers and waterways. Each time I witness the marvel of salmon struggling upstream I am as amazed as the very first time. Some miracles of nature remain miraculous, no matter what.

In this spirit we are planning a hike at Quinsam River on Saturday, October 2nd in hopes of seeing this great migration up close. We will meet at the parking lot just past the bridge on Quinsam Road at 1pm.

This is becoming an annual tradition with Into the Wild. Last season's walk, in spite of the heavy rain, was probably my favourite of the entire year. We really hope you can come out and join us.

fall kick off

2010-09-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

After a summer hiatus we are back and ready to kick things off for another season of Into the Wild - Family Nature Club. For our first fall event we are planning a gathering at Oyster River Nature Park on Saturday, September 18th. We'll meet at the trailhead at 11 am for a hike and a picnic.

This is one of our family's favourite parks as it has a little bit of everything - forested trails, a beautiful river and estuary, breathtaking ocean views and a sweet beach complete with driftwood. There are even some nice swimming holes, so if the day is hot you may want to bring your suit to get in one last dip before autumn really takes hold.

We hope to see you there!

wet and wild at willow creek

2010-05-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

We sure have been having a wet spring, and the weather for our Saturday walk was no exception. Though we humans may be getting tired of all this moisture, the flora at Willow Creek seems to be appreciating it. The rainforest is fueled by rain after all.

It was a veritable jungle along the trails, lush, green and rather muddy. To add to the excitement, we had an unfortunate encounter with some hostile creatures when the kids disturbed a wasps' nest while exploring along the creek.

It was a good reminder of the wild in wilderness, even if that wilderness is tucked into a residential neighborhood in the heart of town.

By the time we made it back to the trailhead we felt like we had experienced a real adventure, with the wounds to prove it. Thanks to every who came out. We hope to see you next time, if you think you can handle it!

plenty of surprises at miracle beach

2010-04-24T22:01:00.001-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me how even a familiar trail can offer up the unexpected. That was certainly the case last week during our outing at Miracle Beach. I was sure the kids would rush through the trail eager to get to the beach. Instead we lingered and wandered and took our sweet time.

We snacked on Oregon Grape blossoms along the trail. We marveled at caddisfly larvae and tried to spy darting fish in little puddle. We couldn't resist the mud, and discovered its properties of suction.

The beach was lovely, too. We found moon snail shells. We suddenly seemed so small.

And on the way back, the biggest surprise of all. Thanks to Louise's quick reflexes we got to hold a smooth, slithering, and surprisingly warm garter snake. Oh joy! One never can predict how a walk will unfold. But, one thing is for certain. You'll never know unless you go. Thanks for going along with us!

next meeting - miracle beach

2010-04-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Our next meeting of Into the Wild Family Nature Club will take place on Sunday, April 18th at Miracle Beach.

Meet at the north parking lot at 1pm. There are some nice trails for hiking along Black Creek before heading down to the beach for some good old unstructured play. The tide will be way out so be prepared for plenty of poking around in the sand.

Remember to bring some change to pay for parking, as Miracle Beach is a Provincial Park. Hope to see you there!

earth day events in april

2010-04-09T10:32:00.001-07:00

April means Earth Day and this month and there are lots of community events to help you and your family celebrate and do your part to make our little patch of the earth a bit nicer.

April 17 - Strathcona Centennial Expedition Talk
The Campbell River Museum will be hosting a talk by local author and mountaineer, Philip Stone, about the history of Strathcona Provincial Park and an expedition planned to mark the 100th anniversary of Price Ellison's expedition, which led to the formation of the park. This illustrated talk will take place from1-3 at the museum. Cost is $6.

April 18 - Eco Fair
The Eco Fair takes place from 10 till 2 at the Compost Education Centre on Dogwood St. There will be displays from local organizations and activities for the kids. This free family event is sponsored by the Comox Strathcona Waste Management and the Compost Education Centre.

April 21 - Movie Night - Addicted to Plastics
Come watch this award winning documentary film about one of the planet's worst pollutants: plastics. City representatives will be on hand to discuss sustainability and Green City initiatives. Admission is by donation and all proceeds goes towards Carihi and Timberline environmental efforts. Doors open at 7pm at the Tidemark Theatre. Think of it as "date night", only green!

April 25 - Broom Bash
Greenways Land Trust is holding their annual Broom Bash on from 10 till 2 at the BMX track located on Homewood Road next the bottle depot and across from the Salvation Army. This is a great family event aimed at preventing the invasive plant Scotch Broom from taking a foothold in our local greenspaces. Refreshments, timbits, tools and prizes are available to volunteers.

celebrating spring at seal bay

2010-03-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

Walking along a beautiful forest trail to emerge at a great beach during low tide is pretty much my favourite outing with kids. It has all the ingredients needed for a good time - trees, sticks, dirt, driftwood, rocks, water, sand, shells and creatures. All those "loose parts" that lend themselves to exploration, imaginative play and wonder. There are wide open spaces to run in, and cozy little crannies for hiding. There are places to dig and things to dig with. There are items to toss and treasures to find. Whole universes to explore and stories to invent.

Well, that old reliable formula came through once again. We had a great time at Seal Bay Nature Park last weekend with the Family Nature Club. We walked, and ran, on the beach trail down to the shore. The tide was way out and offered up all kinds of surprises: a profusion of purple starfish, aggregate sea anemones, tiny sand dollars and great big crabs. One was a momma with a giant egg sack. Too cool!

There was plenty of running, climbing, poking and playing. There was even a driftwood fort to claim and conquer. Sure there were a few pairs of wet feet, but that's the cost of having fun. It was a perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon and welcome in the first day of spring.

My heart was happy and proud to see my oldest, who earlier that day informed me he didn't want to go on any stupid walk, wandering ecstatically through the woods enrapt in some story of adventure. He didn't want to come home. Just about a perfect day! Thanks to all of you who joined us.

island festivals celebrate spring

2010-03-02T15:07:00.000-08:00

Spring happens in a big way on the island with wildlife migrations of epic proportions. 10,000 gray whales are making their way up the coast to their summer feeding grounds after spending the winter months in the warm waters off the coast of Baja California. This 12, 000 mile round trip journey is the longest migration of any mammal on earth. Joining them are swarms of herring on their annual run along the east coast of the island looking for ideal conditions to spawn. Waterfowl are also on the move, as the Brant goose returns to the island in the tens of thousands.

There are two great island festivals celebrating these natural wonders. The Brant Wildlife Festival occurs from March 5 to April 28 at various mid-island locations with a variety of events from author readings and nature viewing to farm tours and culinary events. The Pacific Rim Whale Festival is happening from March 6-14 in Ucluelet, Tofino and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Expect food, music, films, First Nations culture and much more while enjoying the beauty of the wild and wet west coast. Both festivals have plenty of family-friendly events and are well worth the drive. What better way to celebrate these awe-inspiring annual events happening in our own backyard.

next meeting - seal bay nature park

2010-03-02T15:05:00.000-08:00

We've chosen March 20th, the first day of spring, for our next gathering. Join us at Seal Bay Nature Park for a hike and some fun on the beach. Seal Bay Nature Park, which can be found on Bates Road, is further south than we usually venture but well worth the drive. We'll be searching for signs of spring along the trail, on the shore, and out on the water.

We will meet at the parking area on Bates Road at 1:30 pm. Bring a snack and come prepared for the weather. The trail is well developed, but quite steep in areas. Hope to see you there!

in the news

2010-02-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

The New York Times recently published an article about a study by the The Kaiser Family Foundation on media use among 8-18 year-olds. The results were pretty disturbing. Young people now spend on average more than seven hours a day plugged in to some kind of media device. That's pretty much every moment not spent in school or sleeping. One can't help but wonder what impact all that screen time is having on the development on young minds. One thing is for sure - it doesn't leave much free time for unstructured play in nature.

I guess not enough of those kids have been tuned in to Sesame Street lately. The venerable vhildren's show is celebrating its 40th Anniversary by launching a two-year environmental curriculum called "My World is Green and Growing." I know, I know. Watching nature on a screen doesn't take the place of spending time with the real thing, but when it comes to high-quality children's programming with a timely message, you gotta give it to Sesame Street. Just check out this great song - Outdoors with Jason Mraz - and see if it doesn't make you want to head outside and explore your world.

I have long thought that Sesame Street would be a great place to live. It's a vibrant place full of diversity, where everyone knows their neighbours. If our own neighborhoods looked more like the one Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch inhabit, full of people and possibilities, maybe it wouldn't be so hard to get our kids outdoors. When our streets are void of activity, life and other kids is it any wonder young people would rather be inside plugged-in? Parents play a big role in encouraging outdoor play, but a bigger issue continues to be how and where we live. We need to start creating communities that foster outside play, rather than inhibit it.

Snow Spectacular

2010-01-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

Well, it was spectacular indeed! Sure the weather was a bit wet and the snow a bit sticky, but we managed to have a pretty great time regardless at our Snow Spectacular on January 17th. Kids, snow, sleds, shovels - how could we not have fun? And it wasn't just the kids, who sometimes had to wait their turn for the sleds while the adults had a go, who seemed to be enjoying themselves.

At one point a group of kids were digging a snow cave, another group was sledding down the hill, and an impromptu snowball fight erupted. All this simultaneous play flooded me with happy thoughts of "this is what it's all about." So simple, yet so wonderful.

Thanks to everyone who came out and made it happen. We hope to see you next time!

A New Year of New Adventures

2010-01-14T17:14:00.001-08:00

This time of year lends itself to reflection - marveling at the year that's passed and wondering about the year to come. For our family the year marked our first full year in Campbell River.

Settling in to a new community comes with it's share of challenges, but it has also provided us with many new adventures which have made it all worthwhile. Exploring the natural beauty of the island as a family, and meeting some great new people are the memories that stand out when I look back at the past twelve months. When I look forward to the year to come, I'm most excited about further exploring this amazing place where we live - and having other families to share it with.

On Sunday, January 17th Into the Wild will be starting off the new year with some fun in the snow. We'll meet in the parking area about 10 km up the Strathcona Parkway at 1:30pm and head out into the snow to explore, play and see what happens.

The mountain is a beautiful place this time of year and getting up into the snow can help chase away the January blues. It's also a great place to enjoy all those winter activities we miss out on in the lower altitudes. Bring your snowshoes, sleds, and shovels if you have them. When we have had enough we can head on over to Raven's Lodge to warm up and have a treat. We hope to see you there!

Saturday, November 28th - Elk Falls Trail

2009-11-25T17:48:00.000-08:00

Remember that the next gathering of Into the Wild is happening this Saturday at the Elk Falls Trail. We will meet at the parking lot at 1 pm. From there we will check out the falls and explore the trails. After we will warm up with some hot drinks. You bring the mugs and we'll bring the hot chocolate and tea. With all the rain we've been getting the falls should be quite the sight!

wet and wonderful at quinsam river

2009-10-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

While driving through the lashing rain, running a bit late, on our way to the Quinsam River trail last Sunday, I couldn't help wondering if anyone would be waiting there for us. Sure enough, there were some hardy souls decked out in their rain gear standing patiently in the parking lot. It made my heart sing! What a committed group of people to come out in what was inarguably a miserable day.

Luckily, the Quinsam River trail did not disappoint. Not long in to the walk we wandered down to the river bank, and sure enough saw lots of evidence of salmon. There were still plenty of carcasses of pink salmon in various stages of decomposition. But, we also saw dead chinook and our patience was rewarded with some fluttering action in the water.

The real highlight for me was when we got to the end of the trail by the Quinsam hatchery. There we saw a few fishermen and, despite the rain, stood around to watch and see if anyone got lucky. Again our patience was rewarded when one of them caught a huge coho and slowly brought it up to shore for us to see before releasing it again. Wow, what a sight. Fish are not often thought of as beautiful, but there was no denying the beauty of this amazing creature all shimmering pink, vibrating with energy and purpose. There were numerous other coho, pinkish orbs, visible just below the surface.

What a great experience for children to get up close with the realities of nature. The annual migration of the salmon illustrates in a contracted way the cycle of all living things - life, reproduction and finally death, and even in death the interconnectedness of all living things. There was plenty of evidence of other animals taking sustenance from the salmon. Seagulls were up and down the river feeding. We even saw numerous large chinook carcasses dragged up on to the trail some of their bodies torn open, probably by bears, left there to rot and eventually nourish the forest itself.

It's fascinating how the curiosity of children overcomes their squeamishness. None of the young ones were uncomfortable with all the death and rot around them. My own son loves nothing more than poking the dead and sometimes stinky bodies with sticks and his rubber-booted feet. I have to suspend my adult sensibilities, so as to let him experience this oddly intimate encounter with nature in his own three-year-old way.

We would have missed out on all of this had we let a little, okay a lot of rain keep us inside. Even though the weather was wet, I'm so glad we ventured out on that forest trail. I'm so glad, too, that some of you decided to join us! I hope to see you next time.

swimming upstream at quinsam river

2009-10-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky in Campbell River to be able to witness the salmon run up close in our own backyard. That's why we have chosen the Quinsam River Trail for the location of Into the Wild's next gathering. This is a beautiful trail at any time of year, but when the big leaf maples are changing colour and there's a chance of witnessing salmon on their annual rite it's tough to match. We will meet at the trailhead on Quinsam Road (just past the bridge) on Sunday, October 25th at 2 pm, and hike up toward the hatchery.

Our family was exploring the Quinsam River trail last weekend and were treated to the spectacle of hundreds of pinks making their way up stream. There was plenty of action with the males jostling for dominance. The pinks we saw will be long gone by the end of October, but if we're lucky we'll see some chinook or coho at work. Check out the video below.

We were so excited by this amazing scene that we didn't want the salmon celebration to end. When we got home we snuggled up to read Salmon Forest by David Suzuki and Sarah Ellis. This beautiful book does a wonderful job of describing not just the life cycle of the salmon, but their intricate interdependence with the forest and it's inhabitants. If you aren't already familiar with this story, you should really check it out.

the wilderness of childhood

2009-09-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

Michael Chabon, the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay and The Yiddish Policeman's Union, is one of my favourite writers. He could write a phonebook and I would probably be riveted. So imagine my delight when I stumbled across this moving article of his, The Wilderness of Childhood, about one of my favourite subjects - children and nature. It's worth checking out.

into the wild gets into gear

2009-09-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

We couldn't have hoped for nicer weather for Into the Wild's first outing of the season. The company was pretty nice, too. We were treated to blue skies, a warm sunny glow, and a show of colour thanks to the big leaf maples.

The kids had a great time exploring, climbing logs and throwing rocks in the water. While the adults got a chance to visit and soak up some sun. It was easy to forget that October is almost upon us.

Thanks everyone for coming out. We're already looking forward to the next gathering. See you on the trails!

starting the season

2009-09-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 26th Into the Wild will kick off the fall season. We thought it would be a great time to revisit one of our favourite walks.

Oyster River Nature Park is a kid-friendly trail that has a little bit of everything - lush forests, a sparkling river, and a beautiful beach with great views of the Georgia Strait. We will meet at the trailhead (next to the Fisherman's Pub in Oyster River) at 11 am. We will then walk to the beach for a picnic where the kids can enjoy some free play.

We hope to see you there!

fall means fresh starts

2009-08-23T17:54:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe the end of summer is upon us, and with it the usual mix of emotions - melancholy, longing, and anticipation. My husband and I are both teachers, so the emotions stirred up by September's imminent approach are especially powerful - anxiety about getting back to the busyness and stress of work, gratitude for all the amazing family memories we created, and, yes, even excitement about the new school year.

But the waning days of summer also make possible the new beginnings of fall. And so it is with Into the Wild Family Nature Club. After a hiatus this summer I am excited about starting fresh and with a new approach to the Nature Club this September.

In recognition that families are busy and that not everyone is prepared to make a big commitment Into the Wild Family Nature Club will be getting more - let's just say laidback this fall. To begin with events will happen less frequently, about once a month. I say "about" because there will not be regular days or times for meeting. Hopefully this will provide opportunities for families who might otherwise have scheduling conflicts to come check us out when they are able. It will also let us plan events to coincide with other happenings in the community.

We'll also be getting the word out in a whole new way - an email newsletter. We will let people on the email list know about upcoming events about a month in advance and then send out a reminder closer to the meeting date. If you are anything like me, a jogging of the memory and a little encouragement can go a long way. To sign up for the newsletter just drop me a note at bakota@telus.net and I'll add you to the list.

For those of you who like to plan ahead, the next meeting of Into the Wild Family Nature Club will take place at Oyster River Nature Park on Saturday, September 26th. There will be more details to follow.

We hope the new approach encourages more families to come out and join us as we continue to explore this beautiful region. Summer may be almost over, but the opportunities for family fun outside are just beginning.

We hope to see you on the trails!

next meeting - canyon view trail

2009-06-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

With the spring weekend walking series, in partnership with Our Big Earth, we've been out making the most of the beautiful spring we've been having on the island. If you haven't been out to join us yet, here is your chance.

The next meeting of Into the Wild Family Nature Club is happening Saturday, June 13th at 1 pm. We'll be meeting at the parking lot of the Canyon View trail, just north of Campbell River on highway 28. The parking lot is located right by the Duncan Main Road bridge and is across from the Quinsam campground.

This trail is a favourite for people of the area. It's supposed to be warm, so heading into the forest along the lovely Campbell River will make for a cool and refreshing way to spend the afternoon. We hope to see you there.

This will also be the final walk for our spring series. It's been great meeting other families and enjoying the beauty of this amazing place with them. We continue to explore new ways to promote our goals of encouraging family fun outside in nature. Stay posted through the blog to learn about upcoming events.

See you on the trails!

next stop quinsam river

2009-05-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

Our next walk is happening this Saturday, May 30th at the Quinsam River Trail at 1 pm. Access the trailhead off Quinsam Road, just past the bridge. We will hike along the river to the Quinsam Fish Hatchery.

This is beautifully green and mossy damp forest trail with lots to see. I can't wait to see how things have changed since my family last explored its wonders. Everyone welcome.

See you on the trails!

spring walks in full swing

2009-05-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

Spring is definitely in full swing on the island. The temperature is warming up and everywhere you look it is alive with green. The spring walking series is getting into full swing too. Our second walk is happening this Saturday, May 23rd at Oyster River Nature Park.

This walk is a family favourite. It winds through the forest, along the river and emerges onto the beach. The trail is gentle enough to be kid-friendly, while still having plenty to keep the little ones engaged. The beach itself is a great place to take a break and have some unstructured play time and a snack.

The weather is supposed to be nice and the company even nicer, so you won't want to miss out on this one. Meet us at the trailhead next to the Fisherman's Pub in Oyster River at 1 pm. Everyone welcome.

See you on the trails!

spring walks begin

2009-05-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that the spring walk series is beginning this Saturday. We will be meeting at the Martin Road trailhead of the Willow Creek Conservation Area at 1 pm. It looks like we are going to have some beautifully sunny weather to enjoy. We hope to see lots of you out on the trails!

spring walks delayed

2009-05-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

Due to concerns around swine-flu we have decided to postpone the spring walk series. This means the walk at Willow Point Conservation Area on Saturday will be cancelled. We will plan on starting things up again soon, once the risk of exposure to the virus has passed. Check out the blog to stay posted on further developments.

spring walk series draws near

2009-04-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Into the Wild Family Nature Club is super excited about the spring walk series, in partnership with Our Big Earth, beginning this Saturday. It looks like we'll have a nice sized group of families joining us. Spots are still available, so it's not too late to register at Our Big Earth. Find all the information under NeighbourWood Walks.

If you are not sure you want to commit to all six walks in the series, that's okay too. We are welcoming families to come and drop in on any of the walks. The schedule is posted to the right.

Our first outing is at Willow Creek Conservation Area Saturday, May 2nd at 1pm. We will be meeting at the Martin Road trailhead. Martin Road can be accessed off of Erickson Road.

Spring has definitely arrived in all it's glory on the island. Why not get out and enjoy the warmth and new greeness by joining us for some family fun outside. See you on the trails!

neighborwood walk registration begins tuesday

2009-04-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

Registration for the spring NeighborWood Walk series begins Tuesday, April 14th. Remember, there are only spots for thirty children so register soon! The schedule of walks is as follows:

May 2nd Willow Creek Conservation Area
May 9th Oyster River Nature Park
May 23rd Quinsam River Trail
May 30st Beaver Lodge Lands
June 6th Canyon View Trail
June 13th Miracle Beach

To register go to the Our Big Earth website. See you on the trails!

into the wild teaming up with our big earth

2009-04-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

If you have been following the blog you know that I have been alluding to some changes happening at Into the Wild Family Nature Club. Well I am happy to finally be able to anounce all the details.

Into the Wild will be teaming up with Our Big Earth to offer a walking series this spring. If you don't already know, Our Big Earth is an amazing website and media company offering information, inspiration and so much more for families in the Comox Valley. As part of the mission of Our Big Earth to empower families and inspire community they have been offering seasonal walking series for the last few years as a way to get families outside together with their NeighborWood Walk program. It seemed like a natural fit with what we have been trying to do at Into the Wild Family Nature Club, and to that end we decided to work together. Into the Wild Family Nature Club will be able to reach a much larger audience, and Our Big Earth can expand their walking program.

The weekend spring walking series will begin May 7th and run for six consecutive Saturdays, taking a break for the May long weekend, with final walk happening June 13th. The walks will begin at 1pm at various locations around Campbell River and area. You can register for the walks on the Our Big Earth website. The walks are free and children will receive a hand-made journal and some other goodies for participating. Registration is limited to 30 children, so register soon.

We are so excited about teaming up with Our Big Earth and being a part of the amazing work they do. We are also looking forward to meeting many more families and joining them for good times outside. See you on the trails!

greenways land trust - april events

2009-04-07T07:13:00.000-07:00

Into the Wild Family Nature Club will be taking a hiatus for a few weeks before being back in full force, and a slighty different form, in May. Luckily, that is no excuse to miss out on some great hikes. You can join Greenways Land Trust and the Spirit of BC Committee for hike month. Each weekend in April they will be offering a guided interpretive hike open to the public. The first event happened on April 5th with Nunns Creek steward, Barb Phipps, leading an interpretive walk along the ERT. Upcoming events will be advertised soon.

April also means Earth Day with lots of events happening around town. Greenways Land Trust will be joining other groups at the Compost Education Centre in Campbell River on Sunday April 19th from noon till 4 pm to celebrate Earth Day.

The weather is warming up and the days keep getting longer. With all the great events happening this April there are lots of reasons to get outside and enjoy spring!

celebrating spring at seal bay

2009-03-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

The weather gods must look kindly on Into the Wild Family Nature Club. After a drizzly morning on Saturday, we were treated to a beautifully sunny spring day during our hike at Seal Bay Nature Park. We made good time on our way to the beach as the kids enjoyed racing down the steep and winding trail. There was plenty to explore once we arrived. Clambering over rocks, hunting for crabs and sea anemones, playing in driftwood forts and climbing hills kept the little ones busy. They surprisingly still had enough energy left for the tough climb back to the trailhead - good thing we stopped for snacks. It was a great way to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Stay posted for information about our upcoming hikes. There may be some changes in store. Keep checking the blog for updates and details. Until then - we hope to see you on the trails!

march 7th hike cancelled

2009-03-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

Due to a lack of interest and conflicting schedules the hike for this weekend at Nymph Falls Nature Park has been cancelled. We may be back in a slightly new configuration soon. Keep checking the blog to stay posted on any news.

big trees and winding trails

2009-02-28T16:14:00.000-08:00

We were treated to great weather once again for the second meeting of Into the Wild Family Nature Club. Our small group enjoyed sunny skies and mild temperatures while we viewed Elk Falls and explored the surrounding trails. The forest was lush and damp, dominated by cedar, douglas fir and hemlock. Paul treated us to an impromptu natural history lesson and clever story about tree identification. It's all in the pinecones, which the kids enjoyed collecting while we walked the winding trails.

Next meeting is March 7th. Meet at Nymph Falls Nature Park parking lot at 11 am. After exploring the trails we'll break for a picnic and some time to play. Hope to see you there!

next meeting - elk falls

2009-02-18T20:25:00.000-08:00

The next meeting of Into the Wild Family Nature Club will be happening this Saturday at 11 am. We will meet at the Elk Falls viewpoint day-use parking lot which can be accessed off highway 28. From there we will check out the spectacular waterfall. There is a short circuit of trails that we will explore afterwards, returning to the parking lot for a picnic. The drive to the parking area is now free of snow, but we may encounter some wet conditions on the trails so make sure you wear some good footwear.

The weather is supposed to be great, so make the most of it and join us outside. See you on the trails!

sunny skies, driftwood forts and new friends

2009-02-10T19:59:00.000-08:00

We were treated to a beautiful day for our first meeting of Into the Wild Family Nature Club. The weather was certainly no excuse to stay inside, what with sunny skies and mild temperatures. A small, yet enthusiastic crew enjoyed a pleasant walk in the Oyster River Nature park, but I think the highlight for all was playing on the beach. Throwing stones, chasing dogs, meeting new friends, climbing logs and building forts - what more could a bunch of little boys hope for. The bald eagles did not disappoint either. It was a great start, and we hope just the beginning.

The next meeting is February 21st at Elk Falls. Meet at the day use parking lot at 11 am. Hope to see you there!

into the wild family nature club hits the trail!

2009-01-25T08:07:00.000-08:00

The first meeting of Into the Wild Family Nature Club is fast approaching. Next Saturday, January 31st, we will meet at the trailhead of Oyster River Nature Park at 11am. From there we will hike to the beach. This is a beautiful and kid-friendly trail with great views of the Oyster River, neighbouring farms, and the Discovery Passage. We are sure to see bald eagles at the point where the river meets the sea, so bring your binoculars. The beach itself is a great place to stop for a rest, enjoy a bite to eat, and for the kids to have some time for unstructured play.

We hope to see you there!

Get Outside! It’s in our Nature (March 5–8, 2009)

2009-01-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

BC's Second Regional Children, Family & Nature Forum is coming up in March. The theme: connecting children and families with nature. Richard Louv, Author of Last Child in the Woods, will be speaking. He is also offering a free public lecture on Saturday, March 7th as part of the forum. If you are interested in the development of the relationship between children and nature, you may seriously want to check this out. For more information see the Nature Child Reunion website. I've posted a link on the right-hand side of the page.

change of date

2009-01-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

Please notice the change of date for the first meeting of Into The Wild Family Nature Club. We will be meeting on January 31st instead of February 7th. I realize this date is neither the first nor the third Saturday, but I have the opportunity to go home for a visit on the weekend of the 7th and so needed to change the date. All subsequent meetings will be on the first and third Saturdays - barring unforeseen events! Hope to see you on the trails.

so what is a family nature club?

2009-01-02T23:15:00.000-08:00

Families getting together to enjoy and explore nature - such a simple, yet radical idea. Kids running wild outside, what could be more simple and natural than that? Dragging ourselves from our televisions and computer screens and bigbox store parking lots, what could be more radical? In a world of ever-present digital media and rampant over-consumption couldn't we all use more time outside with our kids? And wouldn't it be great if we could meet other like-minded families while we did it?

The idea for Family Nature Clubs grew out a movement to reconnect children with nature. One book that has helped inspire the movement is Last Child In the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv. I learned about the book and the movement from a great website called the Children & Nature Network. It's also where I learned about Family Nature Clubs and read about some already established clubs in the US. Check out the links on the right side of the page for these great resources.

I was an advocate for spending time in nature with my own children before I ever learned about Louv's ideas. I love being in the outdoors and value the joy and restoration nature provides me. Why wouldn't I want to share that with my children? Yet, as a mother of two boys aged five and two, I am also aware how having small children can make getting into nature, and just about everything else, a bit more complicated. I know lots of "outdoorsy" people who don't get outside much since they have become parents.

That's where Louv's ideas came in and provided some of the inspiration for starting Into the Wild Family Nature Club. Maybe if families had a regularly scheduled time to play in nature and they could share the experience with others more families would get into the wild. And just maybe those shared experiences would play a role in instilling a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors in our children. Something I think we can all get excited about.