emailNature Outings & Events Calendar
Whether you're 6 or 60, CRD Regional Parks has a nature outing and event for you - for every season. Join a park interpreter for a guided walk, hike, drop-in event or canoe adventure.
See the calendar for an outing and event that piques your natural curiosity and discover your 30+ regional parks and trails!
August
Snakes, snakes and more snakes! CRD Regional Parks has teamed up with Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary and UVic for this slithery event. Drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm to watch snake shows, play reptile bingo and more. Look for the CRD tents at Beaver Beach.
BC Transit #70 or #75
11:00 am
- 3:00 pm
| All ages
Meet a CRD Regional Parks interpreter for an evening beach walk followed by campfire stories at the new Island View Beach campground. Learn more about the animals that make Island View Beach their home. Bring a beach chair. Meet at the picnic shelter on Homathko Road, off Island View Road.
Paddle with CRD Regional Parks interpreters through early morning mist searching for eagles, herons, frogs and other lake life. Canoe equipment and instruction are provided, and no experience is necessary. You must pre register: $15 + tax/person; $8.50 + tax/person (children 5—14 yrs and adult non-paddlers). Call 250.478.3344.
BC Transit #70 or #75
A CRD Regional Parks interpreter will help you discover fascinating beach creatures at low tide. We’ll dip nets in the tide pools, explore under rocks and maybe even dig in the sand to see who is waiting for the tide to come back in. Be prepared to wade up to your knees in the pools (bring sandals or beach shoes). Meet at the end of Witty Beach Road by the information kiosk.
BC Transit #54 or #55
Coles Bay is home to many marine creatures from the elusive moon snail to tiny shore crabs. Drop in anytime between 10am and 1pm and join a CRD Regional Parks interpreter as we discover the amazing animals whose lives are controlled by the moon and tides. Prepare to get your feet wet (bring sandals or beach shoes). Park in the lot off Inverness Road, off Ardmore Drive and follow the signs down to the beach.
When the tide goes out an exciting world comes into view. A CRD Regional Parks interpreter will help you discover the creatures that make Island View Beach their home. Be prepared to get your feet wet (bring sandals or beach shoes). Meet at the picnic shelter on Homathko Road, off Island View Road
A new CRD Regional Parks adventure series geared for teenagers. Join us on this fun hike as we explore two beautiful regional parks—Francis/King and Thetis Lake. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a lunch. Meet at the Nature Centre in Francis/King Regional Park off Munn Road.
11:00 am
- 3:00 pm
| 14 - 17 years
Join CRD Regional Parks naturalists for a magical early evening paddle on the still waters of Beaver Lake. Canoe equipment and instruction are provided and no experience is necessary. You must pre-register: $15 + tax/person; $8.50 + tax/person (children 5—14 yrs and adult non-paddlers). Call 250.478.3344.
A CRD Regional Parks naturalist will lead you on a raccoon trail for a “day in the life” of these little rascals. Learn how and why they’ve adapted to city life, and find out how to keep them out of your garbage. Meet at the information kiosk in the park off William Head Road.
BC Transit #54 or #55
Discover the weird and wonderful world of bats. Where do they live? What do they eat? Join a CRD Regional Park interpreter to explore the life of this strange flying mammal and find out how to house our local bats. Meet at the Nature Centre off Munn Road.
The dog days of summer are here! See amazing trained canines perform, enter to win a prize for the best dressed hound, join CRD Regional parks interpreters and Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) for a dunes tour with other dog lovers to learn about the wild side of the seaside. All this and more at Island View Beach Regional Park. This event is co-hosted with Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) and CRD Regional Parks. Look for the CRD tents off Homathko Road, off Island View Road.
Paddle through early morning mist with CRD Regional Parks interpreters searching for eagles, herons, turtles and other lake life. Canoe equipment and instruction are provided, and no experience is necessary. You must pre-register: $15 + tax/person; $8.50 + tax/person (non-paddlers). Call 250.478.3344.
BC Transit #70 or #75
Join a CRD Regional Parks interpreter for a wonderfully informative hike around beautiful Matheson Lake. Learn more about how plants play a large role in the magic, medicine and myths in our lives. Meet at the information kiosk in the parking lot off Matheson Lake Park Road.
11:00 am
- 2:00 pm
| 12 years and older
Do you ever go into the woods and not see any animals? Spend some time fine tuning your investigation skills and learn to be a nature super sleuth with a CRD Regional Parks interpreter! We’ll explore along the trail, investigate animal traces and make a cast of an animal track. Meet at the information kiosk in the main Beaver Lake parking lot.
BC Transit #70 #75
They’ve got pointy teeth and sharp claws, and they don’t eat tofu! Join CRD Regional Parks interpreters to learn more about animals that make their living by eating meat. Cougars and owls and bears—oh my! Drop in at the CRD tents at Beaver Beach anytime between 11am and 2pm.
BC Transit #70 or #75
Drop in at the Francis/King Nature Centre between 11am and 2pm for a celebration of wild plants and their many uses. CRD Regional Parks naturalists will have activities, displays and guided walks in the park to celebrate the richness of our West Coast forests. Meet at the Nature Centre off Munn Road.
11:00 am
- 2:00 pm
| All ages
Paddle through early morning mist with CRD Regional Parks interpreters searching for eagles, herons, turtles and other lake life. Canoe equipment and instruction are provided, and no experience is necessary. You must pre-register: $15 + tax/person; $8.50 + tax/person (children 5—14 yrs and adult non-paddlers). Call 250.478.3344.
BC Transit #70 or #75
Follow a CRD Regional Parks naturalist through mixed woodlands to the summit of Mount Maguire. We’ll hope for a clear day to catch the views of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains. The hike is strenuous and steep in sections, so sturdy hiking shoes are a must. Dress for the weather, and bring water, lunch and a hiking stick. Meet at the information kiosk in the Anderson Cove parking lot off East Sooke Road.
Explore the world of the temperate rainforest on the Cedar Grove Trail in Roche Cove Regional Park. Meet the CRD Regional Parks interpreter at the information kiosk in the parking lot off Gillespie Road. Bring water and be sure to wear sturdy footwear.
1:00 pm
- 4:00 pm
| 12 years and older
BC Transit #70 or #75
Have you ever fossicked before? Once you’ve tried it you may have discovered a life-long hobby. Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist as we poke through the park looking for all things small. Hand lenses and field guides provided. Meet at the Nature Centre in the main Beaver Lake parking lot.
BC Transit #70 or #75
Bountiful berries, fragrant cedar trees, and slippery sea weeds – with a CRD Regional Parks naturalist look beyond the beauty and discover the many uses and functions of these plants. Meet at the Witty’s Lagoon nature centre off Metchosin Road.
BC Transit #54 or #55
Investigate the life of a cougar on this informative walk and talk with a CRD Regional Parks interpreter. Meet at the Francis/King Nature House off Munn Road.
Join a CRD Regional Parks interpreter on a walk to see just how plentiful the late summer woods can be. We’ll explore for blackberries, Oregon grape berries, salal berries and more. There will also be an opportunity to taste jams made from some of these natural delights. Meet at the Nature Centre at Beaver Beach.
BC Transit #70 or #75
Paddle through early morning mist with CRD Regional Parks interpreters searching for eagles, herons, turtles and other lake life. Canoe equipment and instruction are provided, and no experience is necessary. You must pre-register: $15 + tax/person; $8.50 + tax/person (children 5—14 yrs and adult non-paddlers). Call 250.478.3344.
BC Transit #70 or #75
If you’ve wondered if birdwatching is for you, this is the program to find out. A CRD Regional Parks interpreter will give you pointers on how to use binoculars, field guides, and bird identification tips. Bring binoculars if you have them. A spotting scope is provided as well as binoculars for those who don’t have them. Meet at the picnic shelter off Homathko Road, off Island View Road.
9:30 am
- 12:00 pm
| Adult
September
Join CRD Regional Parks guest naturalist Michael Dunn to explore hidden treasures on the way to the summit. Bring a snack and water and wear sturdy shoes. The views are the best in the Gulf Islands. Meet at the Kim Road access.
1:00 pm
- 4:00 pm
| All ages
Join a CRD Regional Parks interpreter to create nature inspired activities and crafts that are sure to get you excited about the beauty of the natural world. Drop by anytime between 11am and 2pm at the Nature Centre off Munn Road.
11:00 am
- 2:00 pm
| All ages
Get ready for winter with this introduction to making your own herbal products with a community herbalist. This four session course (September 16, 18, 23, 30) includes a basic introduction to plant identification and guided walk, and you will make some of your own products from native and European plant species. You must pre-register: please call 250.478.3344 to register by Sept. 10th. Register early as space is limited. Cost is $30.00 + tax per person for the course.
For First Nations people and early settlers, the upcoming winter could mean either comfort or bare survival. Join CRD Regional Parks guest naturalist Joe Percival to explore the strategies they used to get through to spring. Meet at the Nature Centre in the main parking lot off Metchosin Road.
BC Transit #54 or #55
Join CRD Regional Parks, the Victoria Natural History Society, as well as staff from Pacific Northwest Raptors for live displays and activities at Aylard Farm. Experts with spotting scopes will be at the viewpoint above Beechey Head. The hike up to the viewpoint requires sturdy footwear and a 20-minute trek up a steep and rocky trail. Bring binoculars, water and a lunch. Drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm at the parking lot off Becher Bay Road.
What You Need to Know
All programs run rain or shine.
Events are drop-in style and free. Come by anytime between the hours that the event is offered.
Outings, such as guided walks and hikes, are free and do not require registration, unless otherwise noted. They usually run 1.5 - 2 hours. Outings with fees or registration are noted in the listing; please book early as they fill up quickly.
Phone
250.478.3344
Use your VISA or MasterCard for fee-paying programs. Registration fees are non- refundable unless outing is cancelled.
Drop-in to our office
Regional Parks headquarters
490 Atkins Ave., Langford
Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Ages
The age indicated for each outing or event is a recommendation, based on park terrain and program content.
When to meet
Outing: try to arrive 10 minutes before the start of your program.
Event: drop-in anytime between the hours that the event is offered.
What to bring
Carry a day pack with drinking water, a hat, extra clothes and a small snack (or lunch for longer outings).
How to dress
Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Bring sandals or beach shoes for tidal and canoe programs.
Pets
We like pets too. However, their presence can be disruptive. If you plan to attend one of our programs, please leave your animal friends at home.
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