Pick the day of the week you can join us to learn what program is available.
Sunday WALKS: September 8, 15th. 10am-11am, Talking Trees Walk.
Meet at Whale Lot Trailhead, first lot on Coast Guard Road.
Why do the trees grow so large on the Pacific Rim? Investigate the windswept, rugged, Wild Pacific Trail, for clues on how this forest thrives in such an inhospitable environment. You’ll know all the trees and plants on the trail after this popular, free, guided walk with our trail naturalist!
Sunday Lighthouse TENT Events: September 8, 15. 11:30am-4pm, Talking Trees.
How DOES one learn to identify plants? Test your bark, twig, cone, and leaf identification skills at the lighthouse Discovery Tent. Share your best tree photo from the Wild Pacific Trail at the tent or on our social media at @wildpacifictrail and we’ll share your photo.
Wednesday WALKS: Aug 28, September 4, 11, 25th. 10am-11am, Walking Trees Walk. Meet at Lighthouse Discovery Tent.
Why did the cedar tree walk up the hill? Join this new free guided walk on the famous Wild Pacific Trail to find out the secrets of the Western Red Cedar tree.
Wednesday Lighthouse TENT Events: September 4, 11, 25th. 11:30am-4pm, Walking Trees.
Did you know the trees can walk here on the Wild Pacific Trail? They walk all over the place! See if you can spot how the cedars are walking uphill on your lighthouse loop walk and visit our Discovery Tent to learn about the secrets of the Western Red Cedar trees!
Thursday WALKS: September 5, 12, 19, 26th. 10am-11am, Bogs and Bears Walk.
Meet at Whale Lot Trailhead, first lot on Coast Guard Road.
Why are there more bears than wolves and cougars on the West Coast?
We’ll stroll the Wild Pacific Trail bog loop and learn about the lifestyle and habits of Black Bears while checking out the interesting bog habitat which hosts many plant and wildlife species, including Black Bear.
Thursday Lighthouse TENT Events: September 5, 12, 19, 26th. 11:30am-4pm, Slugs, Bugs, Bogs, Frogs.
The Wild Pacific Trail is home to a great variety of creatures and habitats. Find out about our special bog loop, the mudflats at Spring Cove, tidepools at Big Beach, and the coastal area. The soil here is very poor-the help of the slugs, bugs, and other decomposers is important to help recycle nutrients and create more soil. Visit the tent for a look at some creepy crawlies on the Wild Pacific Trail.
Friday WALKS: September 6, 13, 20, 27th. 10am-11am, Sea Arch Lookout Walk.
Meet at the lighthouse Discovery Tent.
Join our trail naturalist on a roving walk to several postcard perfect ocean lookouts, learning about the ecology of the Wild Pacific Trail along the way. We’ll talk about Sea Arches, Sea Stacks, and Sea Caves, which are testament to the forces of nature that created this impressive, but lesser-known trail feature. This walk ends at the lookout beside the Sea Arch.
Friday WALKS: September 6, 13, 20, 27th. 7pm-8pm, Photo Fridays at Big Beach.
It’s no fun when you get a fabulous photo but you don’t know the name or any special facts about the creature, tree, or plant species you have discovered! Spend sunset at Big Beach with our trail naturalist Josh, who is also an experienced photography instructor. No special gear necessary. Wear sturdy shoes. Bring any type of camera, from cell phone to DSLR. All skill levels are welcome. We’ll spend some time exploring the high-tide line for interesting subjects to learn about and photograph, discover a lookout over the beach and other secret spots, photograph a mystery shipwreck, possibly view some wildlife and a spectacular September sunset! Park at the Frog Lot at Marine Dr. and Matterson.
Friday Lighthouse TENT Events: September 6, 13, 20, 27th. 11:30am-4pm, Skulls by the Sea.
Who has the strongest bite: Bear, Cougar, or Wolf? Who is smarter, Wolf or Sea Otter? What strategies does each carnivore use to survive the wet and stormy West Coast Winter? See the otterly cool, kid-friendly carnivore skull collection at the lighthouse Discovery Tent.
Saturday WALKS: September 7. 9:30am-10:30am, Ian’s Spring Cove Bird Walk. Meet at He-tin Kis park -- see map below.
Ian is a local professional naturalist interpreter with a fantastic ear for birds. Learn how to do birdwatching while looking for the many species of birds on the Wild Pacific Trail Spring Cove section. We’ll have two powerful scopes for you to try spotting birds such as the Belted Kingfisher or Great Blue Heron. Plan to do some walking, standing, listening, and observing, while being amazed at Ian’s birding skills. Parking is free, across the street from Spring Cove at the He-tin Kis Park (Terrace Beach parking Lot). Bring Binoculars if you have them. No gear is necessary.
Saturday Walks: September 14, 21, 28th. 9:30am-10:30am, Josh’s Big Beach Bird Walk. Meet at Big Beach Gazebo.
Big Beach is a great place to spot shorebirds on migration! Learn how to do birdwatching along the Wild Pacific Trail with our trail naturalist and bird expert Josh. Try out a powerful birding scope, observe the Black Oystercatchers, Surfbirds, and Black Turnstones out on the rocks from the safety of the beach. Rare birds can show up on Big Beach. We’ll cover some ground above the high-tide line, checking carefully for any lingering migrants after visiting a lookout over the beach to check the forest for birds like Chestnut-backed Chickadees or Pacific Wren. The beach may hold flocks of migrating Savannah Sparrows and shorebirds such as Greater Yellowlegs. Bring Binoculars if you have them. Wear sturdy footwear. No gear necessary. Parking is free at Big Beach (Frog Parking Lot), if the lot is full the Ucluelet Community Centre across the street has free parking.
Saturday Lighthouse TENT Events: September 7, 14, 21, 28th. 11:30-4pm, Shorebird Tent.
What makes the beaches and mudflats of the West Coast so important to migrating shorebirds? Visit the Discovery Tent beside Amphitrite Lighthouse to discover the secret world of shorebirds. Just what exactly are these birds slurping up on the mudflats which allows them to double their weight? We’ll have the birding scope at the tent for you to spot birds near the lighthouse!
Calendar events are colour coded to the parking lots at the Whale Parking Lot (red), Lighthouse (teal), Big Beach aka Frog parking lot (blue) and He-Tin-Kis Park Otter parking lot ( brown).
We are grateful to program experts such the Ucluelet Aquarium the Raincoast Education Society, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Redd FIsh Restoration Society and Parks Canada for their partnership. The trail society sponsors these walks and networks with the District of Ucluelet. Special Guest speakers such as Silva Johansson, Ian Cruickshank, and WildSafe BC also enrich our programs.
Ucluelet Aquarium Tidepools Walk
Join Naturalists with the Ucluelet Aquarium and Wild Pacific Trail Society.
Meet at the Big Beach Gazebo. Don’t miss the chance to go tidepool exploring with experts from Ucluelet Aquarium.
We’ll go looking for the amazing creatures that call Big Beach home.
Please supervise children carefully, the rocks are not suitable for toddlers or people with balence problems. Sturdy shoes highly reccomended, please no pets.
Parks Canada Coastal Stewards or PRNP Interpreters.
Visit the lighthouse Discovery tent and learn about staying safe on and near the water. Bring your questions to Parks Canada Interpretors
and enjoy interactive activities with rotating topics to discover, learn, and have fun.
Birding Walk with special guest speaker Ian Cruickshank.
Meet at the lighthouse trailhead. One of the fastest growing hobbies in the world is birdwatching.
Ian is a Parks Canada Interpreter and expert birder who will help you see birds through his spotting scope.
His ability to identify birds is impressive, do not miss this rare chance.
Bring binoculars if you can.
Pass of Melfort Shipwreck Walk:
Silva Johansson leads this walk to the site of a tragic shipwreck that inspired the creation of Amphitrite Lighthouse at the turn of the century.
Learn why western Vancouver Island has earned the name "Graveyard of the Pacific".
Silva brings history to life on this walk along the Pacific coastline where countless ship and sailors have floundered.
Award winning videos below are a great insight into our programs.
The Wild Pacific Trail is a unique outdoor classroom that offers incredible opportunities to connect people to nature. Our seasonal Discovery Tent at the lighthouse offers revolving topics for all ages.
Below are a series of timeless videos created during Covid-19 travel restrictions by our Naturalists that will inspire your experience in Nature.
Did you know a square metre of mudflat contains more calories than a chocolate bar? Enjoy our latest video created by Samantha, our summer naturalist.
Seven entertaining and award winning videos below include fun activities from our 2020 "Learn Where You Live" series.
Episode 1: "What's that smell?" video with our Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist
Join us for seven "Learn Where You Live" videos to inspire you to look closely at Nature.
From the teachings of Banana Slugs--to the secrets of Skunk Cabbage and flammable mosses--you will enjoy this EXPLOSIVE series!
CLICK HERE to download a PDF activity you can do at home.
Special thanks to Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for her guidance.
Video series by Arya Touserkani @tousquared www.waterlogue.ca
Episode 2: " Follow that Slime" -- We have a lot to learn from Nature, we just need to listen!
Special thanks to Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ community, Elder Vi Mundy and Gisele Martin of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for their traditional teachings.
Follow this link for a slug race activity.
This beautiful series was born out of Covid-19 restrictions to our in-person interpretive walks. Narrated by Tanya Nestoruk, trail naturalist, video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 3: "For Peat's Sake" -- explore with our Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist!
Follow our naturalist as she discovers the weird and wonderful species that thrive in a Woodland Bog. Warning, you could get lost.
Follow this link for a COLOURING BOOKLET or a fun WORD PUZZLE.
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Special thanks to Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation. Video by Arya Touserkani.
Send your questions to naturalist@wildpacifictrail.com or post on our Facebook page.
Episode 4: "Force of Nature" will sweep you off your feet.
Explore the unique WEATHER that comes with living on the coast, how species not only manage to survive, but THRIVE!
Fun fact: Can you name an amphibian that has no lungs?
We are proud to acknowledge the skills of our past naturalist Tanya Nestoruk for her work with videographer Arya Touserkani www.waterlogue.ca
in achieving an award of excellence from Interpretation Canada for the video above.
Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation and Dr. Barb Beasley with the Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot and Barkley Sound.
Episode 5: "Remarkable Ravens" a story of the smartest bird in the rainforest
Raven’s are not only role models of communication, fair trade, and savvy intelligence, they play an essential role as ecosystem recyclers.
Challenge: how can you tell the difference between a raven and a crow?
Thank you to Parks Canada for support for this project. Special thank you for footage and raven sound clips copyright by Ian Cruickshank
Note: footage was taken with a telephoto lens to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Raven vs Crow Image by Rosemary Mosco and Dr. Kaeli Swift with BirdandMoon.com @corvidresearch
Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for Nuu-chah-nulth translations.
Additional footage courtesy of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHHHAfzAuKc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEksZdWKqtA – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6K9LbRX15Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJdj-2XvGF4 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6vzGrWP9lc
Also thanks to the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust for funding.
Video production by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 6: "Tree-S-I: Murder by Mushroom" help us solve this mystery.
There’s been a murder in the forest! Who! What? Why!
Follow along as detective Tanya gets to the root of the crime by investigating clues and searching for suspects in the woods… will she discover whodunit in this intriguing case?!
Special thanks to the inspirational Gisele Martin of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for sharing her timeless knowledge of Nuu-chah-nulth language and culture.
So Mush-thanks to Andy MacKinnon, forest ecologist extraordinaire, for sharing his vast scope of marvelous mushroom knowledge and delightful sense of humour.
Stop motion animation on tree communication by Local Ucluelet youth, Riley Gerbrandt. Thank you!
Fun fact: what is our planet's largest organism?
Special thanks to the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust for funding. Video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 7: hašaḥma quuquuʔaca ( language is precious & valuable )
Join special guests Jeneva Touchie and Gisele Martin as they share their personal connections to the Wild Pacific Trail and the importance of Nuu-chah-nulth language.
What wisdom can we learn from ancient languages?
To learn more about the Nuu-chah-nulth language visit:
https://www.firstvoices.com/explore/FV/sections/Data/Nuu-chah-nulth/Nuu%C4%8Daan%CC%93u%C9%AB/Nuu-chah-nulth%20(Barkley)
Jeneva offers free Nuu-chah-nulth language classes Tuesday evenings over Zoom. To find out more please email touchie_jeneva@hotmail.com
To learn more about Nuu-chah-nulth history, culture, news and events please go to https://nuuchahnulth.org/
We are grateful to our special guests and Sam Touchie from Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for inspiring this episode.
Project funded by the WIld Pacific Trail Society and the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust.
Video by Arya Touserkani @tousquared www.waterlogue.ca
Download this activity sheet, use naturalist on your phone, or just use a blank piece of paper to record what you find.
You will be enthralled at the number of species. What do you think each creature eats, or who is looking to eat them?
CLICK HERE to download a PDF activity you can do at home.
We are grateful to the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust for funding several of these interpretive videos.
Send us your questions, or post photos and ideas on Instagram or email naturalist@wildpacifictrail.com.
We will post answers to the best questions. Let us know what you would like to learn!
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