Donations fund our free programs, contributions are welcome!
Sunday’s WALKS: July 7, 14, 21st, 10am-11am : Roots and Poop Walk Slugs, Bugs, and Soil. Explore the special connection between the soil and the Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, and Western Red Cedar forest. More than just dirt! Starts at Lighthouse Trailhead at the map sign.
Sundays' Tent Events: 10am-1pm : Slugs and Soil interactive kid-friendly display at our Discovery Tent.
Monday’s WALKS July 8, 15, 22, 29th, 10am-11am : Fishy Forests Walk with Redd Fish Restoration.
Starts at Whale Parking Lot trailhead at the map sign. Investigating the intricate link between ancient forests and Pacific salmon, their decline, their futures, and how we can make a difference.
Monday’s Tent Events July 8th, 10am-1pm : WildSafeBC Pacific Rim Discovery Tent.
Survival is all about food. Learn about bears, wolves, cougars, and how to keep them from harm. Great display for kids of all ages. Bring your questions about how to be Bear Smart. Plan strategy for putting out garbage bins safely. Rare chance to visit with WildSafeBC experts.
Tuesday’s Tent Events 10am-4pm : Raincoast Education Society.
Join Raincoast Education Society naturalists to share insight on coastal interactions. Bring your curiosity. July 9th: Intertidal Life.
July 16th: Shorebirds.
July 23rd: Bears.
July 30th: Whale Migration
Visit weekly for changing themes, always kid-friendly!
Wednesday’s WALKS July 3, 10, 24th, 10am-11am : Walking Trees Adventure.
Starts at Lighthouse trailhead. Western Red Cedar, the tree of life, is the star of this new, free guided walk on the Wild Pacific Trail. Be prepared to be amazed by what is revealed upon closer inspection of the forest.
If you have been on our popular 'Talking Trees' guided walk, you won't want to miss this new 'Walking Trees' free guided adventure-on a different section of trail.
Wednesday’s Tent Events July 3, 10, 24th, 10am-1pm : Walking Trees Booth.
How can cedar trees climb a hill? What secrets of the temperate coastal rainforest can you unlock with our Trail Naturalists? Guided mini-Walking Tree Walks available, ask at the tent.
Wednesday July 17 Lighthouse event: 10am-4pm : Whale Bioblitz with Ocean Wise, Redd Fish Restoration, Ucluelet Aquarium, and Wild Pacific Trail Society.
Celebrating World Orca Day, learn about our local whale species from marine experts and naturalist interpreters, while trying to spot the local celebrity Humpback Whales, Grey Whales, and Orcas, which frequent the coastal waters of Ucluelet.
Wednesday July 3, 10, 24, 31st, 1pm-4pm : Salmon Trail Tent with Redd Fish Restoration.
This self-led educational plant ID scavenger hunt is part of 6 weekly stations throughout Ucluelet and Tofino where you learn about the life cycle of Pacific Salmon and the various habitats they rely on along the way! Visit three or more stations and complete the activities to win a prize. Sponsored by Redd FIsh Restoration Society and the Ucluelet Aquarium.
Thursday morning Lighthouse Tent Events July 4, 11, 18, 25th, 10am-12:30pm : Skulls by the Sea at the Discovery Tent.
This kid friendly interpretive display is all about our local carnivores. It’s harder than it looks being a carnivore. Prey animals don’t generally wish to be eaten. Who has the most powerful jaw strength: Coastal Sea Wolf, Black Bear, or Cougar, and what strategies does each carnivore use to survive on the West Coast?
Thursday afternoons July 4, 11, 18, 25th, 12:30-3:30pm :
Visit Parks Canada Interpreters at the lighthouse Discovery Tent and enjoy interactive activities with rotating topics to discover, learn, and have fun.
Friday BIG BEACH WALKS July 12, 10am-11:30am : Tidepools Walk with 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.
Friday Tent Events July 5, 19th, 10am-11:30am : Big Beach Talk with Ucluelet Aquarium and Wild Pacific Trail Society.
What types of beaches are on the West Coast? Visit our display by the Big Beach Gazebo to see some cool samples and ask the experts your tough ocean questions. Also, take part in a free, short, guided beach walk with one of our naturalists to learn about the features of Big Beach (No Tidepool exploring due to high tides).
Friday Lighthouse events July 5, 12, 19th, 10am-1pm : Parks Canada Coastal Stewards.
Visit the lighthouse Discovery tent and learn about staying safe on and near the water. The ocean is unpredictable. Always stay on the trail. Never venture down into the surge channels along the Wild Pacific Trail or out onto the rocks near the ocean.
Saturday WALKS July 6th, 10am : Guided Birding tour. Starts at the lighthouse trailhead. The Wild Pacific Trail is home to a great variety of birds. From noisy forest canopy dwellers and understory skulkers, to ocean seabirds, gulls, oystercatchers and other shorebirds, waterfowl, and the majestic birds of prey, there is something for everyone. We will teach you how to get into birdwatching, how to identify birds, how to use binoculars, and what birds to expect on your hike along the trail. Get a chance to look through the spotting scope and see some beautiful birds up close!
Saturday July 13, 12pm-3pm : Pacific Rim Summer Festival, Arts and Culture Walk.
Taking place at multiple stops on the lighthouse loop between the Whale Parking Lot and the Lighthouse. Enjoy music and art amongst the trees as you walk the Wild Pacific Trail.
Saturday July 20, 8am-9am : 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.
Saturday Tent Events July 6, 20th, 10am-1pm : Birds Booth. What is the fastest bird on the West Coast? Which raptor rules the skies over Ucluelet from sunrise until sunset? Who hoo owns the night on the Wild Pacific Trail? Our fantastic birds of prey display is back.
UKEE DAYS: Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28, 9am-5pm :
Visit the fairgrounds at the end of Seaplane Base Road and find the Wild Pacific Trail Society display tent among the many activities.
Where to find us? 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 Brown's Beach aka Sea Star parking lot ( brown).
We are grateful to program experts such the Ucluelet Aquarium the Raincoast Education Society, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Silva Johansson and Redd FIsh Restoration Society for their expertise. The trail society sponsors these walks and networks with the District of Ucluelet. Special Guest speakers such as WildSafe BC also enrich our programs.
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.
SURFRIDER:
Learn how to reduce your impacts to the planet with simple choices, even during a vacation. Surfrider organizes campaigns such as ban the straw, cigarette butt recycling (bin at the lighthouse), beach cleanups, and plastic bag bans. This is a rare change to ask questions and pitch in to help. Individual choices make every difference to the future.
Award winning videos below are a great insight into our programs. A list of typical programs are listed below.
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!