Maple Mountain-Broom Pull
2026-03-06 09:45 - 13:00, 2026-03-05 09:45 - 13:00, 2026-01-26 09:45 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Andy Hutchins Park, 964 Herd Road, Maple Bay, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Spend a few hours on the south side of Maple Mountain tending to one of the nicest, wild Garry Oak patches in the Six-Mountains Forest. Please sign up in advance at: info@cowichanlandtrust.ca and meet at the Maple Bay tennis courts for a short hike up to the site. Gloves and tools provided if needed.

Reconcilliation - Journey of Our Generation Workshop
2026-03-06 09:00 - 15:30 | Quw’itsun Cultural Center, 200 Cowichan Way, Duncan, BC, V9L 6P4, Canada
Full Day seminar awakening participants to the Indigenous Peoples journey. Nobody will be turned away for insufficient funds.

Swan and Goose Count
2026-03-04 10:00 - 13:30 | Somenos Creek Dog Park, Somenos Creek Dog Park, Duncan, BC, V9L3G1, Canada
Once a week over the winter a crew of people head out around the Cowichan Valley to monitor and count swans and geese. Whether you’re new to birding or an expert, you’re bound to learn something from the awesome crew of people who have been dedicated to this count for many years now. Bring binoculars, weather appropriate clothing, some water and a willingness to learn. Length of the event will vary depending on which route you join and the number of birds to count.
The crew meets at the Somenos Dog Park on Beverly Street at 9:45 then will head out together from there.
If you are interested in joining us for this event, please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com for more details.

Volunteer at Maple Bay Garry Oak Preserve
2026-03-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, AitkenRoad, Duncan, BC, V9L 5S1, Canada
Spend a few hours helping with maintenance at the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Maple Bay Garry Oak Preserve. This is one of our Valley’s largest and best examples of a Garry Oak ecosystem. Planting natives, pulling invasives or just working gently in the nursery. Pubic access is prohibited otherwise, so this is a chance to learn and reflect on a time when the valley was covered by this ecotype. RSVP if possible to: info@cowichanlandtrust.ca

Nature Cowichan Speaker - Bald Eagles
2026-03-02 09:30 - 11:00 | Fish Health Building, 1080 Wharncliffe Road, Duncan, British Columbia, V9L2K7, Canada
Dave Manning, long-time birder, writer, and photographer, has been observing Bald Eagle behaviour for over 20 years throughout the Salish Sea. This talk will be in-person only – no zoom! Bring a toonie for coffee.

NatureKids Event at Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre in Cowichan Bay
2026-03-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre, 1845 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay, British Columbia, V0R1N0, Canada
Hello Cowichan Valley NatureKids members and families. (6) Facebook

Join us as we observe the nesting grounds of the Pacific Great Blue Herons, learn about their life cycle, and then explore the estuary by completing a scavenger hunt. Feel free to bring binoculars if you have them. Our events are casual and end times are flexible, but expect to spend an hour or two. Registration Link: Click here to register
NatureKids welcomes kids that are about 5-12 years in age. A reminder that children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The event will be outdoors so please dress for the weather. There is plenty of parking in the adjoining parking lot and on the street and public washrooms on site.

Maple Mountain-Broom Pull
2026-02-27 09:45 - 13:00, 2026-02-26 09:45 - 13:00 | Andy Hutchins Park, 964 Herd Road, Maple Bay, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Spend a few hours on the south side of Maple Mountain tending to one of the nicest, wild Garry Oak patches in the Six-Mountains Forest. Please sign up in advance at: info@cowichanlandtrust.ca and meet at the Maple Bay tennis courts for the short hike up to the site. Gloves and tools provided if needed.

Volunteer at Maple Bay Garry Oak Preserve
2026-02-25 09:00 - 12:00 | Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, AitkenRoad, Duncan, BC, V9L 5S1, Canada
Spend a few hours helping with maintenance in one of the Valley’s largest and best examples of a Garry Oak ecosystem. Planting natives, pulling invasives or just working gently in the nursery. Pubic access is prohibited otherwise, so this is a chance to learn and reflect on a time when the valley was covered by this ecotype. Please try to RSVP to: info@cowichanlandtrust.ca

CWB Speakers Series: Healthy watersheds need healthy forests
2026-02-23 19:00 - 20:30 | VIU Cowichan Campus, Lecture Hall 140, 2011 University Way, North Cowichan, British Columbia, V9L 0C7, Canada
Watersheds in our region are blanketed with rich coastal forests. These forests have changed rapidly over the past few centuries of colonial influence. Trees have been felled to support economic development, and most primary ecosystems have been converted to tree plantations, agricultural lands, and urban communities.
Join us at our next Speakers Series event, this time with forester and landscape analyst, Dave Daust, who will draw from previous work to map high value forest areas across the province to illustrate targets for biodiversity and ecosystem health. He will also share watershed health indicators from work he’s contributed to in BC’s interior, draw from his experiences with the Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel and the reception of the A New Future for Old Forests Strategic Review, and discuss the inseparability of forest and water systems.

Nature Nanaimo Zoom talk on VI Snorkeling
2026-02-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
Snorkelling Adventures Around Vancouver Island and The Gulf Islands – With Sara Ellison

Although BC is a well known scuba diving location, it is less appreciated that the vast majorityof these species can be found in the inter-tidal and shallow sub-tidal zones that are accessible to snorkellers. In this talk Sara will share her adventures and experiences, explaining the gear you need, the kinds of critters you will see and her personal top picks for places to go to see our wondrous wildlife.
By trade, Sara Ellison is an astrophysicist and an international leader in the field of galaxy evolution. She is also a keen athlete and world traveller, but having snorkelled all around the world, BC is her favourite place to go for a swim! In 2023, Sara published “Snorkelling Adventures Around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands: The Ultimate Guide”, which was a #1 bestseller on the BCbooklist.
For the zoom link, please email info@naturenanaimo.ca

NC Speaker: Nature's Recovery at Mt. St. Helens-Joseph Antos
2026-02-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
Dr. Joseph Antos was studying population dynamics of a tree species in the Cascade Mountains in 1980 when his Ph.D. project area was suddenly blown up by a volcano! Undaunted, he switched to studying the effects of tephra (volcanic ash) deposits on forest understories at Mount St. Helens. Four decades of subsequent work there, and in related studies, has resulted in a substantial increase of understanding about how forest understory plants respond to disturbance. This talk will be on zoom-only. Please email cvns@naturecowichan.net for the link.

Cowichan Stewardship Round Table
2026-02-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Fish Health Building, 1080 Wharncliffe Road, Duncan, British Columbia, V9L2K7, Canada
CSRT meetings on the third Tuesday of the month are both in-person and on zoom. Everyone welcome! 9:00-10:45 round-the-table update from each person about topics related to the Cowichan River by their organizations. But you can just listen, or speak as an individual too if you like. 11:00-12:00 speaker presentation. Please feel free to come and go at anytime. The Roundtable works together in a collaborative, kind and respectful manner at all times. The agenda timing is only approximate. Speaker for this month is: Todd Carnahan, FireSmart, Emergency Management Cowichan, speaking on “How our Community is Preparing for Wildfire”

Weekend Work bee in Holland Creek
2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Holland Creek-Dogwood Dr trailhead, 374 Dogwood Dr,, Ladysmith, BC, V9G 0B9, Canada
Meetup is at the trailhead on Dogwood Drive. If you are new to the group please come 30 minutes early and so we can provide orientation. We will continue removing English ivy and other invasives from Holland Creek. Dress for the weather and bring refreshments. We can supply some gloves and tools but if you have snippers, please bring them.

Contemplative Forestry Talk - Dr. Jason Brown (SFU)
2026-02-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
The current conversation about forests and forestry is often polarized, and these strong feelings about forest management are rooted in our worldviews. Each of us sees forests through the lens of our culture and knowledge paradigm. During this workshop, participants will explore a contemplative approach to forestry as a middle way between extremes. “Contemplative” has many meanings but is often associated with silent meditation and spirituality. A contemplative forestry however, does not take a “hands off” view of forest management, rather it 1) values manual work as a form of spiritual practice, 2) is willing to allow forests to “speak” for themselves, 3) is humble enough to admit that there are some aspects of life we don’t have words or concepts for, and 4) sees forestry as a mutually beneficial, place-based vocation. Participants are invited to bring their ideas, opinions, experiences, stories, and tall tales. Sign up for the link at: Ecoforestry.ca/events

iNaturalist workshop in Ladysmith
2026-02-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Frank Jameson Community Centre, 810 6th Ave, Ladysmith, BC, V9G 1A2, Canada
Friends of Holland Creek in Ladysmith have organized this opportunity for folks to try out the iNaturalist app ahead of the Bioblitz in April. Come with the app loaded on your device or come 30 minutes early and we can help you load it. This is a beginner-friendly workshop to introduce you to the iNaturalist app – a powerful citizen science tool used to identify plants, animals, and fungi in your area. Learn how to make observations, upload photos, and contribute to global biodiversity data and local BioBlitz and restoration work. Perfect for nature lovers, families, and curious minds of all ages. Bring your smartphone or tablet charged and ready to play! Register online via Rec Cowichan using code 109641 or phone FJCC at 250.245.6424 to book your spot

Coastal Bird Count-Citizen Science
2026-02-08 09:00 - 10:00 | Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre, 1845 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay, British Columbia, V0R1N0, Canada
Young and old, novice and pro birders are all welcome to join in the Coastal Bird Counts at high tide on the second Sunday of each month. . The route is along a nice flat track. Sea lions tend to be an added attraction for the first few months. Later on, the Great Blue Herons at the Rookery are fun to watch as well. Surveys began in 1999 and provide valuable data to Birds Canada totrack the health of our coastal habitats.Check their Coastal Bird Survey Newsletter at https://www.birdscanada.org/bccws_newsletters. If you want to
borrow some binoculars and give it a try please email me at
kathrynmariec@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Reconciliation: Journey of our Generation Workship
2026-02-06 09:00 - 15:30 | Cobble Hill Hall 3550 Watson Avenue Cobble Hill, BC V8H 4A8, 3550 Watson Avenue, Cobble Hill, BC, V8H 4A8, Canada
Full Day seminar awakening participants to the Indigenous Peoples journey.

Work bee in Holland Creek
2026-02-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Holland Creek-Dogwood Dr trailhead, 374 Dogwood Dr,, Ladysmith, BC, V9G 0B9, Canada
Meetup is at the information hut on Methuen and 6th Ave. We will walk down the trail to the Yellow Archangel patch and do some clearing, planting, seed cleaning and propagation. Dress for the weather and bring refreshments. We can supply some gloves and tools but if you have trowels, please bring them.

Nature Cowichan Speaker - Bears
2026-02-02 09:30 - 11:00 | Fish Health Building, 1080 Wharncliffe Road, Duncan, British Columbia, V9L2K7, Canada
Come and listen as Helen Davis talks about Bears and Bear habitat which she has studied on Vancouver Island for over 30 years, documenting more than 150 dens. Her work focuses on protecting bear denning trees, which are essential for female bears and their cubs during the winter denning period. Her research and advocacy efforts have been crucial in addressing the “housing crisis” faced by coastal black bears, who rely on large, old trees for denning sites. Both in-person at Fish Health (1080 Wharncliffe Rd) bring a toonie for coffee, and on zoom (email cvns@naturecowichan.net for the llink.

Riparian Restoration – Streamside Stewardship Partners Program
2026-01-30 12:00 - 15:00 | SMWS Office, 55 Station Street, Duncan, BC, V9L1M2, Canada
Join us for an afternoon of restoring the riparian area along Bings and Menzies Creeks. Through our Streamside Stewardship Partners Program we are working with private landowners along our watersheds creeks to help restore and enhance riparian function through invasive removal and native species planting. You can expect to learn about riparian areas, invasive and native species and restoration processes.
If you would like to hear a little bit more about this event or would like to join us, please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com.

Swan and Goose Count
2026-01-28 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-21 09:45 - 13:00 | Beverly Dog Park, Beverly & Lakes Road, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Once a week over the winter a crew of people head out to a few spots around the Cowichan Valley to monitor and count swans and geese. Whether you’re new to birding or an expert you’re bound to learn something from the awesome crew of people who have been dedicated to this count for many years now. Bring binoculars, weather appropriate clothing, some water and a willingness to learn. Length of the event will vary depending on which route you join and the number of birds to count.
The crew meets at the Somenos Dog Park on Beverly Street at 9:45 then will head out together from there.
If you are interested in joining us for this event, please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com for more details.

Invasive Plant Removal – Garry Oak Protected Area
2026-01-28 10:00 - 12:00 | York Road End, End of York Road off of Trillium Terrace, Duncan, BC, Canada
Join us to pull invasive hawthorn, blackberry, and broom from the Somenos Garry Oak Protected Area. Learn about different removal methods and the uniqueness of the Garry oak ecosystems. You can expect to do some digging, cutting and moving of invasive plant material. Bring weather appropriate clothing and water, SMWS will provide tools, snacks, and warm drinks.
We will be meeting on site at the end of York Road, left off Trillium Terrace through the Timberlands neighbourhood.
If you are interested in joining us for this event, please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com for more details.

Maple Mountain-Broom Pull
2026-01-28 09:45 - 13:00 | Andy Hutchins Park, 964 Herd Road, Maple Bay, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Spend a few hours on the south side of Maple Mountain tending to one of the nicest, wild Garry Oak patches in the Six-Mountains Forest. Please sign up in advance at: info@cowichanlandtrust.ca and meet at the Maple Bay tennis courts for the short hike up to the site.

Nature Cowichan Speaker - Sea Otters
2026-01-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
James Thompson talks about Sea Otters and provides his wonderful photography. Non-members must email cvns@naturecowichan.net for the zoom link.

Cowichan Stewardship Round Table
2026-01-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Fish Health Building, 1080 Wharncliffe Road, Duncan, British Columbia, V9L2K7, Canada
After “round-the-table” updates the keynote speaker Galen McMenamin (Senior Environmental Analyst, CVRD) will speak on the CVRD Drinking Water and Watershed Function.
If you can’t make it in-person, join by zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYuf-qgqzgqGtL6RuFlhx6xoLeRc4tAgPhq/ics?icsToken=DE4IQocP5rR1W_78vwAALAAAAK0Fb5SwtdqH5NEF8JFizlNM7qvUQ9bTFkQliJ2w9xbc57Qmky9odhMcCFEh79YrVe7bng0OxVF5S1eVxzAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=svlaD65ERrKE1w9fMjj0Aw
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82383853006?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 823 8385 3006 Passcode: [REDACTED]

CWB SPEAKERS SERIES: ALL ABOUT IPCAs: THE POWER AND POTENTIAL OF INDIGENOUS PROTECTED AND CONSERVED AREAS
2026-01-19 19:00 - 20:30 | VIU Cowichan Campus, Lecture Hall 140, 2011 University Way, North Cowichan, British Columbia, V9L 0C7, Canada
On January 19th, join the Cowichan Watershed Board and Steven Nitah, chief negotiator for the Thaidene Néné Indigenous Protected Area and managing director of Nature for Justice, to learn more about what IPCAs can look like, how they are established, and how they can support the unique priorities of the communities that create them.
