Thank you for your interest in the
Eastern Fraser Valley Young Naturalists’ Club
The Young Naturalists’ Club is an exciting nature discovery and environmental action program that invites young people ages 5-14 years to discover nature in their own neighbourhoods, explore local ecosystems, learn about native wildlife and plants and take part in environmental actions to protect their habitat. You can find out more about the Young Naturalists’ Club at www.ync.ca.
The Eastern Fraser Valley Young Naturalists’ Club is co sponsored by the Chilliwack Field Naturalists and the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society. Janet Hutchinson, the Coordinator of the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society, is facilitating the club and parents are invited to help organize events and consider becoming a YNC leader! If you have any questions or ideas for trips, outing or guests to engage the children in a fun, hands on and interesting trip please call the office and ask for Janet 604 823 6603 or email her at herons@shawbiz.ca . Guests are permitted for one outing then must take out a membership to participate. Guests must pre register as well. All members and guests must sign the club consent form at each event.
When you join the Young Naturalists’ Club you become a member of our local club and can meet others who share your interest in nature. You’ll also:
Receive a Welcome Pack
Be able to attend Explorer Days
Receive the NatureWILD Magazine
Be enrolled in the YNC Action Awards Program
This is a family club, a parent (or another designated adult) must attend the meetings and outings with the children.
Explorer Day Reminders!
- Take a minute to view our Explorer Day Etiquette.
- Always remember to dress for the weather!
- On YNC Explorer Days you will be asked to sign an informed consent form.
- If you are not a YNC Member but would like to try an Explorer Day it is important to pre-register by calling Janet 604 823 6603 or emailing her at herons@shawbiz.ca. This is important so we have a rough idea of numbers to insure we have enough supplies on-hand as well as for our insurance requirements. Thank you!
- Membership forms are available here to download or you can signup online.
Please pre register for each event by emailing Janet at herons@shawbiz.ca
Please indicate how many children are attending and their ages.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Coming this summer: Building Bat Boxes!
Time: 10 am
Program: Life at the Cheam Wetlands
Date: Saturday, June 23Time: 10 am
Cheam Lake
Wetlands interpretive tours focus on wetlands and wildlife. The
first part of the tour features a hike through a marsh, a view of a
beaver pond and a talk about the park's marsh plants and
wildlife. The second part of the program, pond dipping, is
a hands-on activity where small nets are used to capture pond creatures such as
dragonfly nymphs, frogs and water beetles. Information is shared about the
individual creatures captured including their life history.
Location: Cheam Wetlands Regional Park is located on
the north side of Highway #1, approximately 15 kilometers east of Chilliwack.
If coming from Chilliwack travel east on Yale and then continue straight
(directly) across using the round about. From the highway, take
exit 135 off Highway #1 and continue north on Highway #9. At the roundabout,
turn right (east) onto Yale Road and follow the signs.
What to Bring: Proper clothing and footwear for walking
and your snack. Everything else is provided. The site has picnic tables
and an outhouse.
Facilitator: Marg Audet - please see Marg
to sign in and to sign the club consent form!
Program: Pond Prowl
Date: Sat. May 26
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve
What to Bring: Proper clothing, sunhat and footwear for walking
Please RRSP: via email
What to Bring: Proper clothing, sunhat and footwear for walking
Please RRSP: via email
Facilitator: Club Leader Cynthia Berg
See What We've been up to! Previous Explorer Days:
Program: Community Planting Project
Date: Sat. April 14th
Time: 10 am
Location: Camp River Wildlife Area 47916 Camp River Rd, Chilliwack Map link: Camp River Wildlife Area
Please RRSP : via email by Mon. April 9th
Come help plant shrubs at the Camp River Wildlife Area. This event will be led by Janne Perrin of the Chilliwack Field Naturalists Club. Pizza lunch provided. Wear old clothes, boots and gloves. Some tools and adult sized gloves provided. Bring a shovel is you have one.
To learn the history: Camp River Wildlife Area
Program: Heron Homecoming
Date: Sat. March 31
Time: 10 am – 11 am
Location : Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, 5200 Sumas Prairie Rd, Chilliwack
Please RRSP: via email
Cynthia will share lots of interesting info about the beautiful Great Blue Heron in a fun and engaging way. Come have a close up look everything heron – and see lots and lots of Great Blue Herons as they gather, court and work on over 100 nests in their colony. It is quite a sight!
Program: Raptors!
Date: Sat. Feb 11 10 am
Location : Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve
5200 Sumas Prairie Rd, Chilliwack
Come meet Dilan Praat, a teenager who has been learning to be a falconer. He will be bringing his hawk to show and talking about birds of prey. He will talk about physical features and adaptations, habitat information as well as the relationship between man and birds. Weather permitting we will have a short walk outside to look for birds or prey. Register by emailing Janet at herons@shawbiz.ca
March Explorer Day!
Date: Saturday October 22nd 9:30 – 11:30 am
Location: Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery Visitor Centre
34345 Vye Road Abbotsford.
A great program with activities about fish, habitat, hatcheries, pollution and fresh water conservation specially deigned for children. If each family could please bring $2 -$5 dollars we will collect it up and make a donation to the Freshwater Fisheries Society. This program will be mainly indoors but their may be a short outside component to the tour weather permitting
Program: Rivers Day Clean Up Help Celebrate World Rivers Day
Date: Sunday Sept. 25, 2011 9 am – 1 pm
Location: Chilliwack Fish and Game Club Chilliwack Lake Road
Join volunteers from the community and take part in the annual rivers Clean. Our group will be assigned an easy route and supplier with rubber gloves and garbage bags and we will set out to clean up a short area or trail along the river. Tim Hortons will be supplying donuts and coffee for volunteers when we arrive and after the cleanup a BBQ will begin back at the Chilliwack Fish and Game Club House. There will also be a variety of exhibits by different stewardship groups, BBQ, entertainment and prize draw.
Notes: Wear old clothes and shoes and dress for the weather!
Program: Woodland Wonders
Date: Saturday June 25th 9:30 – 11:00 am
Location: Cultus lake Provincial Park
meet at the Spring Bay Picnic Area parking near the Clearcreek Campground
Join us for an easy hike on the Seven Sisters Trail as we explore forest life Lots to see on this short trial!Come see the biggest trees in the park, magnificent Douglas Fir trees over 500 years old!
Notes: Wear comfortable walking shoes – not suitable for strollers – dress for the weather - bring a water bottle!
Spring Bay is a lovely spot to stay after for a picnic lunch and swimming.
Program: Winter Birds
Date: Sunday, January 23, 2011 1 pm to 3 pm
Location: Harrison Hot Springs, Spirit Square at the T-intersection of Hot Springs Road and Esplanade Avenue
Janne Perrin, an experienced birder and long-time local Harrison resident, will share her knowledge of wintering birds around the lagoon and lake. She will lead participants on a short walk around the lagoon and foreshore to observe the many birds that make Harrison their winter home. A customized bird check list geared to YNC Explorers will be provided. Bring your binoculars and come explore the winter lives of ducks and winter song birds. Rain or shine Janne and the birds will be there!
Program: Heron Homecoming
Date: Sat. March 12 at 10:30 am
Location : Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, 5200 Sumas Prairie Rd, Chilliwack
Program: Evening Pond Prowl
Date: Thursday May 26th 6:30 – 8 pm
Location: Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve
5200 Sumas Prairie Rd., Chilliwack
Cynthia Berg, the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve’s school program interpreter, will take us on an evening walk and pond prowl. You will explore pond life in this “hands on” pond dipping program. Who knows what we will catch!
Notes: Wear old clothes and shoes and dress for the weather! June Explorer Day
Location: Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve 5200 Sumas Prairie Rd., Chilliwack
John LeFlock, a multi media artist, will put on an engaging art program for children. He will also take us on an outdoor observation walk, weather permitting, to look at colour in nature. Come explore art and nature in this hands on art program.
Date: Sunday Sept 26 3 pm to 5 pm
Location: Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve 5200 Sumas Prairie Rd., Chilliwack
Program: Wetlands Prowl
Cynthia Berg, the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve’s school program interpreter, will take us on a wetlands walk and pond prowl. You will explore the wetlands and get a chance to dip into the pond for a hands on look at wetlands wildlife.
