2020 Low Tide Day information coming soon.
Low Tide Day – June 6th 2020
Coming Events
Migratory Bird Day – May 11
Join us on Migratory Bird Day to celebrate and learn about key migratory birds in our Important Bird Area. Ask bird experts your identification questions and learn more from bird photographers how to capture a great shot.
May 11 – 12:00-4:00pm
We are hiring! Summer Camp Leader – extended deadline June 5th
Spend a summer immersed in nature on the shorelines of the inspiring Cowichan Estuary located in Cowichan Bay, BC.
Science and Nature Summer Camp Leader – extended deadline – June 5th, 2019
Summer break is special, and the next best thing to being a summer camp attendee is being a summer camp leader. Envision your days immersed in nature, play and discovery. Gather your love and knowledge of the sea and science and build on your skills of sharing, facilitating and children development. We have two 10 week positions ready for 2 youth (age 15-30) keen to take their appreciation for the natural world and awareness of how to lead and support others to the next level.
Detailed job description and application process
Biggs Killer Whales – Public Lecture March 14th
Join us on Thursday March 14th at 7pm for a public lecture by marine Naturalist Tasli Shaw and Gary Sutton
NEW Program! Sea Squirts: Stories & Activities 11:00-12:00pm Feb 7 – Mar 7,
The Nature Centre is so happy to announce our new nature program, funded in part by Our Cowichan Communities Health Network!
Sea Squirts is a FREE, drop-in nature program where parents and their pre-school aged children and infants can come together to connect with each other, learn about nature in fun and engaging ways, and support the development of early literacy skills.
Lead by our amazing, superstar Nature Centre volunteer Kerrie Talbot, a retired Early Childhood Educator and Library Assistant. It’s grounded in nature stories and learning with a strong social and emotional health component.
Hope to see you there!
Happy B’Earth Day at the Nature Centre!
Did you know that this Earth Day (April 22) the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre will be turning 6 years old?! To mark this occasion, we are having a Spring benefit concert, “Sounds of Springtime” by the Camerata String Orchestra at 7pm at Sylvan United Church. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Kids under 12 are FREE! Tickets available online here or at the Nature Centre during open hours (or contact me directly). Poster attached.
Earlier that day, from 12pm-3pm, we’re hosting a “6th B’Earth Day Party” at the Nature Centre, complete with FREE cake, nature activities for kids, and music from the Muddy Buddies! Schedule for the music etc to be posted on our website shortly.
I sincerely hope that you are able to join us in some way on April 22nd to mark 6 years of nature education, stewardship, and community through the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre. Although I’ve only been a part of this community since the Fall, I’ve seen how hard everybody works together for nature, and I think celebrating that hard work is important! With cake!
Summer Science Day Camps 2018
March Break is over, the kids are back in school, and it’s time to think about summer, and all the learning and fun that happens at our Summer Science Day Camps! For more information and registration, go to: http://www.cowichanestuary.ca/programs/camps/
Spring Break at the Nature Centre
This Spring Break, head down to the Nature Centre for events, activities, and as always – lots of learning and love for our estuary.
We are open to the public from Thursday to Sunday, 12pm-4pm.
The Work that Reconnects – Renew, Re-engage & Reconnect to Life – A Transformative Process for Difficult Times – Feb 10th-11th
A “Work that Reconnects” Retreat – Feb 10th -11th, 2018 at Providence Farm
Weekend Workshop/Retreat Feb 10-11th, 9–5 pm, Providence Farm (on the traditional and unceded territory of the Quw’utsun People), St. Anne’s Building.
The Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre and Transition Cowichan and are pleased to bring Jackie Larkin and Maggie Ziegler back to the Cowichan Valley to lead a two-day “Work That Reconnects – Reconnecting to Life” Retreat February 10th – 11th. Maggie and Jackie – educators, activists and facilitators who trained with eco-Buddhist philosopher Joanna Macy — have co-facilitated this experiential process for over sixteen years.
Rooted in a pioneering form of group work developed by Joanna Macy, this workshop/retreat will integrate a wide range of ideas and experiential processes, as well as time in nature. Participants will be supported to engage heart, mind and spirit in the task of renewing our connection to ourselves, our community and all life on earth. “The Work that Reconnects” emerges from the historical movements for social justice and for environmental sustainability as well as from spiritual traditions that honour the earth as sacred. It draws on the ideas and processes of deep ecology, systems theory and modern science.
If you’ve been overwhelmed by the unraveling of our world over the past year (..or years) – the climate crisis, environmental destruction, species extinction, violent conflict, increasing inequality – this is a time for connection and renewal. Through experiencing our full range of feelings about our planetary crisis and deepening our understanding about our connection to all life, we can find courage and resilience to support ourselves and each other through these challenging times – and find meaningful and nourishing ways to continue to engage in the work that is needed.
We hope you will join us.
This two-day non-residential retreat on Feb 10th-11th is $140 per person. Some partial bursaries (up to 50%) are available. Space is limited so registration is required. We ask that participants bring their lunches. Coffee, tea and healthy snacks will be provided. For information and registration contact: info@transitioncowichan.org.
If you need a place to stay in the Cowichan Valley, billeting can be arranged.
For more information about Jackie and Maggie and their work see: www.reconnectingtolife.org
“The Wisdom to Survive” – Film & Discussion – Thurs, Jan 18th, 7pm
Join us on Thursday January 18th at 7pm at the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre in Cowichan Bay to watch and discuss this film on climate change and adaptation.
It asks the thought provoking question “Will we have the wisdom to survive?”
The film features breath-taking photography and inspiring activists and thought leaders from science, economics and spirituality, including eco-philosopher Joanna Macy who developed “The Work that Reconnects” – a pioneering form of group work that engages heart, mind and spirit in such questions.
This moving film sets the stage to discuss how we can take action, locally and globally in the face of climate disruption, while also opening ourselves to connecting with each other and the beauty that surrounds us.
Admission by donation to support the work of both the Nature Centre & Transition Cowichan.