NatureKids is for kids aged 5-12 who are curious about nature and for those waiting to discover nearby nature with family, friends and volunteer nature mentors. To learn more about the benefits of membership or to join the Otter Home Learners Club click here.
Volunteer Leaders: Jackie McQuillan & Courtney Patenaude
Club Email: OtterHL@naturekidsbc.ca
Meet your volunteer leaders!
Jackie: Growing up in rural Alberta, Jackie McQuillan has been enamoured with wildlife and the great outdoors from a young age. Drawn west by the mountains, and the desire to abandon her parka for good, she completed her Biology degree at SFU. She then spent a decade working for the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC, one of the largest wildlife hospitals in Canada. Some of her most memorable patients include a Magnificent Frigatebird (usually found only in tropical oceans), a particularly cheeky Brown Pelican (who also didn't belong here), and a wolverine (those teeth were unforgettable!). She is a trained oiled wildlife responder, and has been called upon to assist wildlife impacted by spills in both Alberta and BC. Jackie adores hiking, camping and exploring the outdoors with her family, and looks forward to sharing that joy with other home learning families in the area!
Courtney: I am a mom to two wild and beautiful girls who come alive in the great outdoors. As we have stumbled through our first year of home learning, we have found the best lessons on the forest floor. From studying bird, plant and amphibian life in our pond, to raising backyard chickens, we are always looking for new ways to get involved in nature. I am so excited for this opportunity to meet other home learners and explore together!
Upcoming Explorer Days
Wed. April 5th
Salmon Fry Release
Please RSVP by March 29th
Priority for this outing will be given to our younger NatureKids.
We are teaming up with the Langley Environmental Partners Society to release salmon fry into West Creek.
Friday, April 21st
Amphibian Road Survey
Please RSVP by April 10th
Because there is limited space available and this is an evening event, priority will be given to older NatureKids. Because we are surveying on and near roadways after dark, children must be at least six years old to attend this Explorer Day.
Past Explorer Days
Art in Nature
March 24 @ 1:00 p.m.
RSVP by: March 10 EVENT NOW FULL!
Signs of Spring Walk
When: February 24, 12:30-2:30pm
RSVP by: February 10
We will be searching for signs of spring at Brae Island Regional Park!
Christmas Bird Count for Kids
We hope you will be able to join us for our next Explorer Day where we will be doing a Christmas Bird Count for Kids. Local naturalists will help the kids learn to identify and record bird encounters by sight and sound! The information they collect will then be entered into a large database to help track bird movements and patterns. Please RSVP by Jan 18th!
Nicomekl Enhancement Society & Salmon Hatchery
Friday, October 28
1:30 - 3:30pm
Campbell Valley Park
Come get muddy with us on Friday, October 28 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Campbell Valley Park, where we will participate in an important Wetland Restoration Project. MetroVancouver Stewardship Technician, Roy Teo, will teach us about why this valuable wetland requires restoration.
This event will go ahead rain or shine, and requires pre-registration (there is a maximum number of participants permitted). Please respond with the number of adults and NatureKids that will be attending by October 14. Metro Vancouver will provide the necessary equipment, but site conditions will be quite muddy so rubber boots are highly recommended.
Friday, September 23rd
Inaugural Explorer Day: Glen Valley Organic Farm!
Our first outing will be to Glen Valley Organic Farm from 10:00 a.m. until noon on Friday, September 23. Fellow NatureKids member/farmer/homeschooling parent, Paige Dampier, will guide us as we explore the farm with a scavenger hunt and learn about the harvest that occurs around the Autumn Equinox. Please RSVP by September 12th and we will send you detailed directions about where to meet.
Art in Nature
RSVP by: March 10 EVENT NOW FULL!
Aldergrove Regional Park
Join us on March 24th as Horticulture Therapy student and nature enthusiast, Cathy Hiebert, leads us on an adventure creating art in nature! This Explorer Day will take place at Aldergrove Regional Park at 1:00 p.m. Check the email to register for this event!
Signs of Spring Walk
When: February 24, 12:30-2:30pm
RSVP by: February 10
We will be searching for signs of spring at Brae Island Regional Park!
Christmas Bird Count for Kids
When: January 27, 2017 [Postponed from December due to bad weather]
Where: Campbell Valley Park (entrance on 16th Avenue) - Little River Loop
Where: Campbell Valley Park (entrance on 16th Avenue) - Little River Loop
We hope you will be able to join us for our next Explorer Day where we will be doing a Christmas Bird Count for Kids. Local naturalists will help the kids learn to identify and record bird encounters by sight and sound! The information they collect will then be entered into a large database to help track bird movements and patterns. Please RSVP by Jan 18th!
Nicomekl Enhancement Society & Salmon Hatchery
Where: Nicomekl Enhancement Society, 5263 232 St, Langley
When: Friday, November 25 @ 9:30 a.m.
The Nicomekl Enhancement Society has graciously offered to tour us through their salmon hatchery. Please note: Both of our previous Explorer Days have quickly filled to capacity, which has created some frustration amongst Otter HL families. We ask our Nature Mentors to volunteer their time to guide us during our outings. As such, they get to set the parameters of the outing i.e. number of participants, duration, activity, etc.There is limited enrolment on this outing, so priority will be given to families that have been waitlisted for previous Explorer Days.
When: Friday, November 25 @ 9:30 a.m.
The Nicomekl Enhancement Society has graciously offered to tour us through their salmon hatchery. Please note: Both of our previous Explorer Days have quickly filled to capacity, which has created some frustration amongst Otter HL families. We ask our Nature Mentors to volunteer their time to guide us during our outings. As such, they get to set the parameters of the outing i.e. number of participants, duration, activity, etc.There is limited enrolment on this outing, so priority will be given to families that have been waitlisted for previous Explorer Days.
Friday, October 28
1:30 - 3:30pm
Campbell Valley Park
Come get muddy with us on Friday, October 28 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Campbell Valley Park, where we will participate in an important Wetland Restoration Project. MetroVancouver Stewardship Technician, Roy Teo, will teach us about why this valuable wetland requires restoration.
This event will go ahead rain or shine, and requires pre-registration (there is a maximum number of participants permitted). Please respond with the number of adults and NatureKids that will be attending by October 14. Metro Vancouver will provide the necessary equipment, but site conditions will be quite muddy so rubber boots are highly recommended.
Friday, September 23rd
Inaugural Explorer Day: Glen Valley Organic Farm!
Our first outing will be to Glen Valley Organic Farm from 10:00 a.m. until noon on Friday, September 23. Fellow NatureKids member/farmer/homeschooling parent, Paige Dampier, will guide us as we explore the farm with a scavenger hunt and learn about the harvest that occurs around the Autumn Equinox. Please RSVP by September 12th and we will send you detailed directions about where to meet.
