Young
Naturalists Observe and Conserve
Explorer Days will be different in every community, depending on
the local environment and the expert naturalists available.
Here are some examples of past Explorer Days in various
communities:
Low tide beach exploration -
Discover and marvel at all the wonderful creatures we can see in the pools and
under the rocks when the tide is low.
October Mushroom Hunt - Join a
leading mushroom expert and learn how to identify edible, poisonous, and
interesting species of forest fungi. As we hike into the forest we will
also look at some of the big stumps and learn about the trees they used to be
and the logging history of the area.
Fisheries Awareness Day - This is
your chance to see the red stream of spawning Kokanee! Take part in "fishy"
games and activities for the whole family. Learn about the Kokanee's life
cycle, play Kokanee roulette, experiment with water quality, and make a fish
print. Find out how to protect and conserve our valuable rivers and
fisheries.
Birdhouse Building Bee - John will
help you learn more about identifying the birds that come to your feeders and
may nest in your bird house. Then you will build a bird house under Norm's
guidance.
Star-gazing - We are hoping for
clear skies on the 29th for an evening of star-gazing. This is the beginning of
the new moon, and thus an ideal time to marvel at the stars. We will have
a wonderful view of Mars as well. There will be hot chocolate and
marshmallows to help keep us warm.
Spiders - Do you suffer from spider
phobia? If so, you need a dose of this program to get rid of myths and fears and
find out the facts about these neat and very important creatures.
Eco-camping - Our instructor worked
as a backcountry guide for over ten years. She will talk about what to
take on a hike or camping trip, and simple things to do so that we are safe and
tread lightly on our environment. Also, she'll take us on a hike and show
us how to build a fire pit.
Ponding - Bring your dipnet,
margarine container, ice cube tray, and magnifier and be prepared to get a
little wet. We'll explore the mucky, muddy world of a pond and all who live in,
on, and around it.
Return of the Herons - Learn about
the Great Blue Herons and their lives. Meet at the Great Blue Heron
Reserve.
Great Shoreline Cleanup - Join us
in participating in the Great Shoreline Cleanup. During this annual
international event people all over the world get out to explore and take care
of shorelines in their communities. We will walk the length of the beach,
combining our cleanup with a guided beach-and-bird walk.
Geology - Our instructor is an
Igneous Petrologist (a geologist who works with hard rocks) who has volunteered
her services at the local museum for the past five years. For this
program, we will tour the museum and then our instructor will lead us through a
variety of hands-on activities involving rock identification, fossil formations,
and volcanoes.
Sit still so I can identify you! -
Learn the skills that will help you to recognize and identify our local
birds. What can we do to help our feathered friends during the winter?
Bring binoculars if you have them.
Tour of Recycling Plant - Find out
what happens to the glass, tin cans, newspaper, and other paper that you send
off to be recycled.
The Great Fish Mystery - The river
and fish hatchery play important parts in the birth and life of many fish
species. Come with us to the hatchery for a fun learning experience as we
unravel the mystery of how fish are born, find their way to the ocean, and then
return to their birthplace.
Wetland Wonders - Look for and
learn about frogs, aquatic insects, meat-eating plants, and other wetland
wonders. We will also undertake to improve habitat at this wetland and
learn about invasive species. Wear rubber boots!
-
with us.
Currently there are 24 YNC
groups:
Burke Mountain (Tri-Cities)
Central Valley (Mission)
Chilliwack/Hope
Comox Valley
Cowichan Valley
Denman Island
Kamloops
Kelowna
Lower Mainland Home Learners
Nanaimo
Nelson
Nicomekl (Surrey-Langley)
North Okanagan (Vernon)
North Vancouver Island (Port McNeill-Port
Hardy)
Oceanside
(Parksville-Qualicum)
Pender Island
Prince George
Salmon Arm
South Okanagan (Penticton)
Sunshine Coast
Vancouver
Victoria
Victoria Home Learners
Williams Lake
Young Naturalists' Club
of British Columbia
of British Columbia