Oceanside NatureKids Club


Volunteer Club Leaders: Cheri Naslund, Crystal Kean & Val Tinney
Club Email: Oceanside@naturekidsbc.ca


The Oceanside NatureKids Club is an exciting nature-discovery program and environmental action club exploring local ecosystems, learning about native wildlife and plants and taking part in environmental actions to protect the environment. We have monthly events called Explorer Days for all members of the family, with wherever possible, an expert in the field.
Each child on joining will receive a welcome pack, be able to attend local Explorer Days, receive NatureWild magazine and enroll in the NatureKids Action Awards program.

Upcoming Explorer Days

Stay Tuned! Our new volunteer leaders are busy planning Explorer Days.
Oceanside members are welcome to attend the Nanaimo NatureKids Explorer Days while the new leaders get ready. 

Past Explorer Days



Sunday November 11th 
1.30pm 
Qualicum Bay Fish Hatchery off Horne Lake Road.

Chief Michael Recalma is leading us around the Hatchery and then explaining about how Cedar Trees are used and so important to First Nation Culture. Please dress for the weather as we will be outdoors most of the time.
Sunday October 30th Explorer Day
Englishman River Estuary 


Dave Hutchings is leading our group at the Englishman River Estuary for a 'Fall walk around the Estuary and then a check to look at the trees we planted there. Bring your binoculars for bird watching and wear boots for the wet weather.

Dave is from the Arrowsmith Naturalists, he and other members go twice a month to help clear the area from invasive species and know the area well, so bring your questions. He also mentioned the river is changing its course and we will be able to see clues to that.

Please let me know if you are able to come, we may even get a dry day as the weather forecast looks promising.


Sunday September 18th 2016 at 1.30pm.
Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up
Meet at Sunnybeach Road just passed Qualicum Bay on the righthand side. Please bring gloves and a container (empty ice cream bucket size)

June 9th, 2016
Finding Wild Foods for Emergencies
1pm to 4pm
1026 Englishman River Road, Errington


Please bring a soup spoon and bowl. We will be searching for wild plants to make a soup with Maya Carson, making a fire to warm the soup and learning which plants taste good.
Please RSVP before June 6th


April 17, 2016
Hamilton Marsh Earth Day
11:00 am - 3:00 pm

We have a table at the Hamilton Marsh Earth Day event. from 11am to 3pm. Come and enjoy the critters you can find and see the named ones under the tent. Make a cardboard frog and enjoy the guided walk through the forest to the marsh. 


April 24, 2016
Broom Removal
1:30 pm

Lynne Brooks who spearheaded the new Wild Life Garden will talk and show us some of the flowers. The Centre has a pond as well with native plants. Afterwards you will be able to see the Centre and watch the bear cubs on video. Meet at the North Island Wildlife Centre (NIRWA) on Leffler Road Errington. 

April 4, 2016
Broom Removal
1:30 pm

Broom Removal in Parksville at 1.30pm at the Weigh Scales in south Parksville. Parking next to the hill covered in broom. Please bring gloves, lopers provided.

Feb. 28th, 2016
Photography - second session
1:30 pm
Meet at the main parking lot, Rathtrevor Park


The second 4H photography session for the entries for the Brant Festival. Contact Alison for further details at oceanside@naturekidsbc.ca


Mon. Feb. 8th, 2016
We are having a table at the Family Days event at Coombs Fair ground with the 4H activities. This is a great event for families. If you want to help at the table for half and hour you would be most welcome.


Sunday January 24th, 2016
Photography by the River
1:30 pm
Meet at the Big Qualicum Estuary

We are joining the photography club from Coombs 4H again this year to learn about taking photos for the Brant Festival. You will be able to submit 2 photos and the two Joans will be there to give information on size, dates for entries. They will be for sale at the various venues as before. Bring your cameras and have fun by the river and in the Hatchery.

October 22nd & 29th
Amphibian Road Survey
6:30 pm * Please note special evening time
For members 8 years and older only 
Meeting at: Hamilton Marsh on the 22nd & Lantzville on Oct. 29th

Our Nature Mentor Elke Wind will teach us how to survey Amphibians Fall migration. These surveys are taking place in different areas in BC with NatureKids clubs. The "surveyors" should be 8 years and over. I have sent out the information to members with the videos of the Cowichan Nature Kids who did the survey in their area in the Spring. 

Sunday Sept. 27th
Rivers Day Exploration
1:30 pm
Meeting at Top Bridge at the Englishman River Park (see below)

We will be meeting with Linda Brooymans who is taking over the Nanaimo Nature Kids.
Take highway 4 turn on to Bellevue Road turn left at Allsbrook go to the end and park at the Englishman River Park where we will meet.


Sunday Sept. 20th 
Beach Cleanup 
1:30 pm 
Sunnybeach Road in Qualicum Bay (see below)
We have containers but bring gloves for picking up the garbage. Let's help give a little bit back to nature! This is part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean up.

Thursday, June 18, 2015
1:30 PM


Shelly Hall, Shelly Road, Parksville
Exploring Clay with Maya Carson

Sunday, June 7th, 2015
1:30 PM
Enos Lake, Nanoose
Pond Life Discovery
Elke will be have put traps the night before to see the pond life we can discover.

Sunday, May 24th, 2015
1:30 PM
Garry Oak Meadow
Notch Hill Nanoose 

Terry and Rosemary Taylor will lead us through the Garry Oak area to learn about what grows in a Garry Oak Meadow.

Thursday, May 14th, 2015
1:30 PM
Qualicum Beach
Rocks and Gems
Jim McKinnon
Looking for Rocks and Gems on the beach with Jim McKinnon from the Parksville Rock and Gem Club.

Sunday April 19th, 2015
1:30 PM
Neck Point Parking Lot
Beach Exploration

Sunday, March 8th, 2015
East Crescent, Qualicum Beach
Learning about Heritage Forest
Yurgen Menninga will lead us through the old growth forest finding the different trees that grow there. Bring your day journals with a pencil in case you need to draw anything or take some photos.

Thursday, April 9th, 2015
1:30 PM
250 Mackenzie Road Qualicum Bay
Life of a Worm and other insects in the Compost.
Travis from Nanaimo Recycling will talk to us about how important it is to compost and the activities that are happening within the compost. Take the 75 exit on highway 19 turn right towards the ocean.