Have a very YNC Holiday!

Things that are hand-made have a special significance. Along with the items themselves, they carry a message of thoughtfulness and care, which is what gift-giving is really all about:
  • Recipe Book: Gather favourite recipes from your friends and family, and put them together into a recipe book. By adding photos, drawings or a line or two about each contributor, you can make the book even more personal. Binding can be as simple as a three-ring binder. Or you can use heavier card stock to make front and back covers, and finish the book with cerlox or coil binding available at a print shop or quick copy centre. 
  • Edibles: Baking will always be appreciated, especially if it contains chocolate! Home-baked holiday goodies are a tasty gift. Cookies, fudge, jam, relish, pasta sauce - things that are literally consumable will be well received at any time of year. And who wouldn't appreciate a pan of lasagne, a pot of stew or a favourite casserole? One thing - if you are doing munchable gifts, make sure you know the tastes (and allergies, if any) of the recipients. 
  • Plant Cuttings: Cuttings from plants that you have around your home make for a great personal gift. Look in second-hand stores for unique containers like teapots, mugs and bowls to use as planters. Alternatively, a package of seeds will be a pleasant reminder of friendship during next year's gardening season. 
  • Arts and Crafts: Use your time and skills to make something unique. For example: Make a wooden toy, paint a watercolour, personalize a towel. Decorate photo frames, T-shirts, candles or a container for pens. Knit a scarf, crochet a hat, sew potholders. Make book ends, a storage box or letter holder. Make an ornament, a sock monkey, a hemp necklace, table centrepiece or wreath. 
Giving an item an extra life helps reduce our use of new resources. And as any antique-hunter can tell you, browsing through vintage shops, consignment stores and goodwill outlets looking for treasures can be a lot of fun!
  • Books, Music and Movies: Find newer releases at a fraction of the cost, or go for time-tested and familiar classics. 
  • Clothing: Comfy sweaters, flashy silk scarves, or a funky hat or bag ... with a bit of effort, you're bound to find a new favourite. 
  • Housewares and More: Thrift shops can be an ideal place to find a wide range of unique items in very serviceable condition - vases, platters, trays, fancy cups, candleholders, and much else. Or you might run across a musical instrument, garden tools, cross-country skis, binoculars, art supplies or retro-style furniture! 
Giving a gift of service requires the use of little or no natural resources. Whether you buy a gift certificate from a professional, or give a coupon offering your own time, it will be a welcome treat.
  • Time: Instead of giving a physical thing, invite family and neighbours to a seasonal-themed party. Have a pot luck dinner. Sing songs, play games, tell stories. Make people the focus of your holiday time. 
  • Services: Creating coupons that offer free babysitting or housecleaning, snow shovelling, a neck massage or a special treat can mean more than a stocking stuffer.
  • Skill-sharing/Lessons: Music, cooking, languages, pottery, knitting, sewing, yoga, home-repair, bike maintenance. 
Consider giving a gift that will keep on giving... to the environment. Check out some of these items which will save energy, resources and money. Your friends and the environment will thank you!
  • LED Night Lights: They provide the right amount of light, run cool, and use a fraction of the electricity that conventional incandescent bulbs use. 
  • Stapleless Stapler: It's a small piece of office equipment that attaches pages to each other without using any staples. 
  • Wind-Up Radio or Flashlight:  You never need to replace the battery! A hand crank provides the power. 
  • Solar-Powered Battery Charger: Uses freely available sunlight to re-charge batteries.

Good luck creating your sustainable holiday, and have fun!  We wish all of you a wonderful, peaceful season. And remember that the best gift is to be grateful for those we love and to tell them we love them – Happy Holidays from the YNC!

Comox Valley YNC

A note from YNC Comox Leader Lisa
Note New Email! ynccomox@gmail.com

****As most of you know I am stepping down at the end of June as YNC Coordinator, so we are
presently seeking volunteer co-leaders. Please contact coordinator@ync.ca****


Explorer Days

July Event - Strathcona Park Hike & Camp, Sat.July 20-Sun. 21, 2013


A hike and campout for young naturalist families! Please let me know if you’re interested in this event. Depending on the ages of the kids we’ll either hike and camp at Lake Helen McKenzie (about 1.5 hours hiking from Paradise Meadows Trailhead) or we’ll go further to Kwai Lake campsite (about 4 hours hiking from Paradise Meadows Trailhead). This will be a backpacking adventure and we can get together and plan our trip including what food to bring and packing light.  

     
June Event - Astronomy Night – Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 9:45pm


*Please note: I’m looking for a volunteer to help me with this event, as I’ll be away this weekend.

Les Disher has kindly offered to do another Astronomy Night as our last one on Sunday was mainly cloudy! OnSaturday June 15th, if we have clear skies, we'll meet at 9:45 pm. The location is Les Disher's backyard on Venture Road. Les is a member of the CV Astronomy club and is passionate about this subject, it's well worth staying up late for it! Please let me know if you plan to attend.




June Event - Tree Island Hike – Saturday, June 22, 2013
On Saturday, June 22 we have a hike to Tree Island from Denman Island. There's some new stairs built to Morning Beach that will assist our walk. It will be about 1.5 hours walking from Morning Beach to Tree Island.

We'll take the 10am ferry from Buckley Bay. I would plan to be on the 5:40pm home.
We will carpool and I’ll use my BC Ferries card to get us the best rate, more info on that to come.
For info on Tree Island visit here:
http://comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/nature-viewing-guide/denman-island-area/sandy-tree-island-marine-provincial-park/
Please let me know if your family will be coming out for this walk.


May Event : Sunday May 26th
Just a reminder about our event this Sunday at the Compost Garden! It's at the Regional District Compost Demonstration Garden on Headquarters Road (by the Curling Club) this Sunday May 26 at 2:00pm. Patty Rose, Garden Facilitator, will help us learn more about composting and show us the many composting systems in place in this amazing garden. We will then do a short nature art demo that I will facilitate and make nature art cards.Please let me know if your family is coming out.





 April 2013 YNC
Star-gazing with the Comox Valley Astronomy Club!
Star-gazing is scheduled for Saturday, April 20th, but  it's tentative as it depends on having clear skies. If it's postponed I'll  have it in May or June. Star-gazing will start around 9:00 pm at Les Disher's house on Venture Rd (off of Huband Rd). More details will follow. Please let me know if your family is planning to attend.

I am still working on our May event, but have a tentative date for June...
On Sunday, June 9 we will do a hike to Tree Island from Denman Island. There's some new stairs built to Morning Beach that will assist our walk. It will be about 2 hours each way walking. We'll take the 10am ferry from Buckley Bay. I would plan to be on the 5pm home.

Please let me know if your family will be coming out for this walk.


March 2013 YNC
On Saturday, March 9th:
Steph Nathan, local Naturalist, will be doing a Swan event with us! Meet at 1pm at the Rotary Viewing Stand on the Dyke Rd ( Comox Rd.) Bring binoculars if you have them. I'm expecting this event to be about 1.5 hours, and it's suitable for all ages. Please let me know if your family is coming out to this event if you haven't done so already.  For an informative article on Swans in the Comox Valley visit:

http://www.comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/wild_side/2005/trumpeter.html


On Saturday, March 16th:
Comox Valley Nature is hosting a full day Coastal Bird Identification Workshop, on Saturday March 16. The workshop is designed for youth 12 years and over, and adults. In particular, parents of the Young Naturalists Club.

The workshop will start with a classroom component in the morning and move onto field studies in the afternoon. The cost will be $5.The location will likely be central Courtenay for the morning.There will be more details coming.

For more info on Comox Valley Nature:
http://comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/

Let me know if you have questions.
thanks!, Lisa

February 2013 YNC
Sunday, February 17, 2013
For snowshoeing meet me downstairs by rentals at the Nordic  Raven Lodge at 10:15 am. For those who haven`t signed up... there are still spots available if you want to attend let me know!
There are two different rates depending on whether you have snowshoes or not. For those who need both trail pass and snowshoes your rate is $19.75 incl tax for adults and youth 13-18. Children are $10.75. Please pay me for this as snowshoe rental and trail pass will fall under our groups booking. Please bring exact change or a cheque made out to Lisa Zervakis.

For those who  have their own snowshoes and just need just a trail pass (and for some families this is split) you will pay at the till at Raven Lodge as the price is significantly lower. The price for trail pass only is $8/adults and youth 13-18. And $4.25 for kids. I think hst will be extra.
December 2012 YNC
It was too stormy for the Bird Count on December 15th... 
So we're going to postpone the count to January, details will follow. 
Comox Valley Christmas Bird Count for Kids (CBC4Kids)
Saturday, December 15, from 9am - 1pm

Participants will learn about bird identification and using binoculars prior to setting out in small teams led by members of Comox Valley Naturalists, Birders Group.

Kids and parents will be put in teams according to age, 5-9 years and 10-14 years. Teams will spend a morning recording species along survey routes, including the Airpark, Lazo Marsh, Filberg Park and more. We will then get together after to tally and share results over a potluck lunch at the Salish Building in Lewis Park.

Christmas Bird Counts are a tradition across Canada. (From the Christmas Bird Count Canada website) They are conducted on any one day between December 14 and January 5 inclusive. They are carried out within a 24-km diameter circle that stays the same from year to year. Christmas counts are generally group efforts, though single-observer counts can and do happen. They are organized at the local level, usually by a birding club or naturalists organization.

Here's a link to a great article on CBC4Kids across Canada: http://www.birdscanada.org/download/BWCsp12.pdf

Bring a friend along to this event as well! Please register your family and friends by Friday November 30th or earlier to attend this event! Upon registration I'll send details of what to bring and potluck items needed.

A special thank-you to Art Martell and the CVNS Birders Group for planning and organizing this event!

Please contact Lisa with YNC Comox at ynccomox@gmail.com

Other events in planning are a Swan event, Snowshoeing and a Mini-Streamkeepers course.

Please contact me if you have ideas, comments or questions. And, let me know if you are coming to the drawing workshop this month.


November 2012 YNC
Drawing from Nature with Artist Peter Karsten
Saturday, November 17th at the Old School on Denman Road, Denman Island.
9:30 am - 3 pm

I have taken a workshop with Peter last spring and I highly recommend it! For more info on Peter Karsten look at his website: http://pekinrobin.ca/about-peter-karsten/

The workshop will be Saturday the 17th of November at the Old School on Denman Road, coming form the north it is past the Firehall. We will catch the 9am ferry from Buckley Bay to Denman. I will check into using my BC Ferry card for our cars and also for carpooling. There is limited space in this class so please let me know by November 2 if you would like to come and if you will be participating with your child. Children can be 5-14 years (young ones will need parental assistance).

Workshop Schedule
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. : introductions , discussion on the history of nature drawing and best suited materials and techniques.
10:30 to Noon : drawing nature objects and sketching a small live animal.  If one of the student has a tame rabbit or Guinea pig, please bring it along. Peter will bring a mouse.
Noon to 12:30: lunch break
12:30 to 1:30 pm:  walk in Central Park to collect nature objects and draw on location.
1:30 to 3 pm:  more drawing until end of day.

The course if offered courtesy Denman Conservation Association (DCA)  and there is no charge, but they accept donations.

Customarily they bring a bird nest box to collect a few dollars for the DCA.


 October 2012 YNC
Sunday October 14 at 10am. Meet at the Filberg Park in Comox in front of the Filberg Lodge.

Join Frank Hovenden, long-time naturalist and retired forester at Filberg Park to look at the diversity of tree species in the park. Frank is really good at presenting nature to children, this is a not to be missed event!

Please let me know if your family will come to this event .

 September 2012 YNC
Sunday September 16. Meet at 10:30 am in front of the SWI Info Centre in the parking lot of the Raven Lodge (Mount Washington),

Join Loys and Alison Maingon for a guided nature walk around Paradise Meadows looking at the incredible biodiversity in the area. Birds, plants, trees and ecosystems will all be discussed. Loys is a biologist and Alison is an archeologist and naturalist specializing in women and domestic space, as related to medicinal uses of plants.  This combination should offer an engaging look at the natural world around them.

This walk will be on the boardwalks around Paradise Meadows and will be around 2 hours. There are opportunities to head back for little ones. Please let me know if your family is coming out or if you have questions.

July 14, Terry is leading a Butterfly Count at Cumberland Marsh. Meet at 10 am at Harmston Avenue, in front of the Old Church Theatre if you want to carpool. If you don't want to carpool, please meet at 10:30 am at Jumbo's Cabin on the way to Comox Lake.

 Join us for an interesting event on Saturday, June 23. YNC will have our first ever Bug Walk, with Naturalist Terry Thormin! Cumberland Marsh, meet at 10:30 am in front of Jumbo's cabin. The directions are drive down Dunsmuir Ave in Cumberland (the main road), turn left at Sutton (just after the Rec Centre). Drive about 1 minute down the road till you see Jumbo's cabin on your left... park there. Bring a net if you have one (please let me know if you are bringing a net).  And, please let me know if you are planning to attend.

Sunday, May 20th at 11 am at Point Holmes. Low Tide Discovery Walk at Point Holmes/Cape Lazo in Comox with CVNS naturalist Betty Brooks.
Please come join us and listen to a very knowledgeable naturalist talk about tidal life.Let me know if you are planning to attend.
For more info on Point Holmes visit the Comox Valley Nature Viewing Guide at:
http://comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/nature-viewing-guide/2-comox-peninsula-area/point-holmes-and-cape-lazo/

Thanks!, Lisa Z
250-871-2730

Saturday April 28th at 1pm. 3-4 hour Geology program with Courtenay Museum.
We will meet at the museum for the first part of the event and then travel to a fieldtrip site at Comox Lake.

Here is the description:


In Museum:
Explore the power of our ever changing earth's surface in this exciting discussion of geology. Through a power point presentation, hands-on activities, and interactive discussions, students will compare and contrast geological features and discover the cause and purpose of natural formations and phenomena.
Also, applying scientific observation techniques, students will learn the difference between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock.
Whether in the museum or the classroom, children will have the opportunity to examine a variety of rocks and minerals.


Fieldtrip:
This is an extension of Geology 'A' and a chance for students to examine different rocks, minerals and geologic formations and to apply what they have already learned in a field trip setting. Participants will travel to a geologically significant site at Comox Lake where they will be able to explore and analyze rocks as well as observe the processes of sedimentation, erosion and volcanic activity. Interesting or unusual rocks may be taken back to the classroom for further study.
The group must provide its own transportation from the museum to and from Comox Lake, either by parent car pool or bus. 

The program cost is between $6-$10 per person for adults and kids 5 and over. The cost depends on how many people sign up. Please let me know if you are coming by Saturday April 14th.  Please also let me know if you cannot make it on that day but could come on the next day Sunday because we may have that alternative.

Saturday April 7th at the Cumberland Marsh (a birding and botany walk). This is a CV Naturalists Society (adults) walk and they are inviting us along.  Meet 8:30 am Harmston – 9:00 am at marsh near Jumbo’s Cabin off road to Comox Lake. This is a great opportunity for the YNC to join up with the adult group. Bring binoculars! Let me know if you are coming out.




PAST EXPLORER DAYS

Our event for March will be a "Hiking and Beachcombing in Haida Gwaii" presentation by Dave Lacelle, past president of the CV Naturalists. The event will be Sunday March 25, from 2:00 - 3:30 pm at The Tsolum Building in Lewis Park.

Dave spends at least a month every year in the Haida Gwaii. He's a great speaker and has alot of interesting stories to tell including messages in bottles, history of the area and ecology. His presentation will be about 45 minutes. I'll bring tea and juice. I would also like to have a short YNC meeting after Dave's presentation. It will be informal and probably about 20 minutes.

We have to pay a nominal rental on the building so please bring a $2 per family to cover costs. Let me know if you will be attending. It's YNC Bring a Friend month so please ask a friend who you think might be interested know about the event. I have added a couple of past members to this event who I think will be interested..




 Cross Country Skiing
On Saturday January 28th I have booked a nordic ski lesson, rentals and trail pass at Mount Washington. The group rate per person is $53 plus hst for adults and $35 plus hst for children (12 & under). We will meet at 9am to get ready for the Level 1 Lessons at 9:30am. After the lesson we have the option of heading out as a group to try some trails. More details to follow.

Snowshoeing
Saturday February 25th 
I am happy to announce our snowshoeing event on Saturday February 25th! The fee includes trail pass and rentals. The fees are, Adults $18.75 plus hst, Children (12 & under)  $10.00 plus hst. We will meet at 10:00 am at the Nordic Lodge on Mt. Washington. I will lead the group in a loop around Paradise Meadows and for those who want, we will continue on some further trails. Total walking time could be 1 - 3 hours depending on how long you choose. If you want to do the 3 hour option we will eat lunch on the trail. There will be some uphill in the second portion and the difficulty is beginner-Intermediate.

Please let me know by Wednesday February 8th if you would like to attend and how many people are coming. This event will be weather dependent.

thanks!, Lisa
250-871-2730






The first event will be a Mushroom Walk with Dulcie Hamilton of the CV Naturalists Society. The Mushroom walk will be at Nymph Falls on Sunday Nov.13th from 1-3 pm. Please meet at the Nymph Falls parking lot. We will be doing a fair amount of walking through the park but there's always the option of younger kids going back a little early if need be. Light rain is okay for this event. Please let me know if you are coming as I need to give Dulcie numbers of people.

The second event will be Sunday November 20th and is a guided walk with naturalist Frank Hovenden. Frank is a popular event leader with a great knowledge of birds, trees and plants. We will meet at McDonald Wood Park (the park on the way to Goose Spit on Balmoral Avenue) at 9:30 am. Light rain is okay for this event too. Please let me know if you plan to come out.

Also, welcome to new members and we hope to see you at an event soon! The Young Nats will take a break in December but be back in January. I know we will have a cross country skiing or snowshoeing event in February. And we have a bug event in June. If you know of something or someone interesting for an event let me know. I'm always open to new ideas.

Smiles, Lisa Z
250-871-2730






Our October event will be a hike to Mt. Helen Mackenzie in Strathcona Park on Sunday October 16th. Please meet in front of the Paradise Meadows Info Centre (in parking lot of Nordic Lodge) on Mt. Washington. We'll start hiking at 10:30 am. The hike is 8km or about 4.5 hours with rest breaks. This is recommended for 8 years and over or the hardy younger hiker. The fall colours should be really fantastic so bring your cameras! I am going to ask a naturalist to come along with us as well.

Please let me know if you are coming along to Astronomy night and haven't let me know yet. And, also if you're coming hiking in October. As always please send me your suggestions or let me know if you know someone who could lead an Explorer Day...


The September event is an Astronomy Evening with the Comox Valley Astronomy Club. This event is scheduled for Friday September 30th at 9:30pm at Les Disher's house on Venture Road (off of Huband Rd). Les says there will be at least 3 telescopes set up with one taking photos that we can see on a computer. Please let me know if your family is planning to come.This event is tentative due to the nature of our weather. If we have to cancel it I will provide an extra event at some point this year. Let's hope for clear skies though!


Summer Nature Events in the Valley
1.Parks Day Celebrations at Paradise Meadows on July 16!


For 2011 we are celebrating Strathcona Park's Centennial & therefore have a few more activities planned , which should keep everyone entertained all day. All activities are free (though donations are always appreciated!)

At 10:30 a.m., Seeds & Salt Theatre presents entertaining historical theatre for all ages. This presentation will be at the outdoor amphitheatre beside the SPWC. An information poster is attached. 
"The brilliance of this show is the creation of a lot from a little. Stories that changed history forever are hilariously and movingly told using minimal props and agile acting that will challenge your imagination."
At noon: birthday cake & refreshments.
At 3 pm, "Mice, Marmots, & Mammoths: Strathcona Park Mammals" a special 'BC Parks 100' presentation by Dave Nagorsen of Mammalia Biological Consulting in Victoria. Dave is an excellent speaker, well-known for his 3 books on the Mammals of BC (see http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Shop/zoology.aspx) This presentation will be downstairs in the SPWC - since the indoor seating is limited, pre-registration is recommended: coordinator@strathconapark.org.
2. Strathcona Wilderness Institute Summer Events: http://www.strathconapark.org/summer_walks.html
3. Miracle Beach Naturehouse programs: http://www.naturehouse.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=225

4. Wildspirit Summer Daycamps: http://members.shaw.ca/wildspirit/kidsprograms.html

5. Comox Valley Nature Viewing Guide: http://comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/nature-viewing-guide/


For our June 2011 Explorer Day  we will join the Denman YNC  for a hike to Tree Island! Elizabeth, Denman Leader and myself will lead the event. This event will take place on Sunday, June 19th and will be a full-day hike.

The details are: The Comox Valley group will take the 10am ferry to Denman Island (meet at 9:30 at the Ferry Terminal). We'll arrive at Tree Island about 12:30 pm and have lunch and do some exploring and maybe some swimming (although the tide will be low). Depending on how long it took us to walk we'll have about 2 hours on Tree Island and head back to our cars for 4:15pm to be on the 5pm ferry that day back to Buckley Bay.

Because of the length of the walk we're suggesting that this event is for the hearty walker 8 years and over. Here is a good article on Tree Island exploring, written by naturalist Krista Kaptein: http://islandnature.ca/2010/06/sandy-island-marine-provincial-park/




Sunday May 29th at the Cumberland Marsh 
(at the parking area below Jumbo's Cabin on Comox Lake Rd). We will walk around the marsh and old Japanese town. Please bring binoculars. The event will be about 1.5 hours. Let me know if your family is coming if you have not done so already.


Our January event will be a presentation and discussion with Gayle Bates of the "Power of R (recycling)" program. Gayle is going to talk about waste and water issues in a fun, kid-friendly format. She is an engaging speaker and brings this presentation to kids around the Comox Valley.
Please join us Saturday January 22nd from 1 - 2:30pm at the Tsolum Building in Lewis Park.
Please let me know if your family will be attending.


In February we will have our 3rd annual Snowshoeing Day! Our tentative date is Saturday February 19th (I'm just waiting for confirmation from the Denman YNC group). We will have 2 choices for activity, Snow Caving or just Snowshoeing. I hope to have this firmed up by this weekend and will then give more info.
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