starting the season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.