Natural History
& Gardening Seminars
The Foundation can also provide two or three night Natural History or Gardening Seminars
for groups, on request. Advance notice is required.
Examples of
previously arranged seminars:
Life on the Beach
Presented by: Adrienne
Mason
Explore the strange and mysterious life of the intertidal zone
at Boat Basin with writer and naturalist Adrienne Mason. We'll
take advantage of low tides to explore this rich ecological zone
to investigate the curious lives of the animals and plants that
thrive in this nutrient-rich environment. Species identification,
ecological relationships, and life cycles will be the major themes
of this seminar. Be prepared to get your hands and gumboots muddy,
as we laugh our way through the peculiar behaviour of intertidal
creatures.
The Illustrated Nature Journal:
Recording a Sense of Place
Presented by: Briony Penn
Discover the essence of the rainforest by wandering with journal
in hand and recording the natural and cultural history of Boat
Basin and Clayoquot Sound in word and image. Join Briony Penn,
artist/writer/naturalist for a four day exploration, learning
techniques in writing, drawing, mapping and calligraphy that will
improve your skills of observation and creativity with a journal.
There will be exercises blending natural history identification
with journal writing and basic sketching techniques(flora, fauna,
landscapes). A variety of techniques with journals will be explored
ranging from handlettering and pen & ink drawings to collage
from found objects. The emphasis of this seminar will be on developing
observational skills in the field with pen and paper to enhance
your enjoyment of the wild. Overlook Hesquiat Harbour in Central
Hall as you polish, edit, and develop your ideas and images.
Gardening in the Rainforest: The
Opportunities and Dangers of Introducing Exotic Plants
Presented by: Peter and
Sarah Wharton
Gardening in the Rainforest will take place in Cougar Annie's
Garden and its surrounding forest, acquainting participants to
the unique heritage of this site. We will learn about the garden’s
history of plant introduction and naturalization, and how this
warm, sheltered microclimate has allowed many plants to thrive,
most integrating delightfully with the new design elements that
have been recently added. We will discuss the potential for future
appropriate plant introductions to Cougar Annie’s Garden
from countries such as Chile, New Zealand, and Tasmania, which
could allow the creation of some world-class collections. Invasive
exotic weeds are becoming an increasing threat to many areas,
including gardens, disturbed habitats, and intact forest ecosystems.
One of the highlights of this seminar will be a field survey around
the margins of Cougar Annie's Garden, from the beach to Rae Lake,
in order to assess the impact of invasive weeds. When we gather
over tea and coffee in Central Hall,
we will discuss different tactics and strategies that participants
can employ to discourage and eradicate noxious plants from their
own garden.
Life at the Forest Edge
Presented by: Peter and
Sarah Wharton
Human-made and natural edge communities are a prominent feature
of Boat Basin's forests. Life at the Edge will explore and compare
both of these different forest edge communities. This seminar
will appeal to you if you live near or frequently explore fragmented
forests and are looking for a relaxing but meaningful vacation.
We will explore the management techniques that are required to
encourage natural regeneration of human-made edge communities,
reduce the threat of invasive weeds, and ultimately rebuild connectivity
of these vital areas with the surrounding forest. Plant identification,
forest structure, the strategies of invasive species, relaxing
and eating meals complemented with local seafood will be the highlights
of this seminar.
The Ancient Rainforest at Boat
Basin
Presented by: Peter and
Sarah Wharton
The ancient rainforest at Boat Basin is an awe-inspiring place.
In this seminar, we will focus on describing and exploring the
physical landscape that surrounds Boat Basin, including: climate,
hydrology, and basic ecology, in order to better understand what
makes this forest so compelling. Participants will begin to appreciate
the many subtle changes in forest composition and succession that
occur in an ancient forest, familiarize and increase their knowledge
of rainforest flora, and have ample time to relax and reflect
amongst the grandeur of the place. We will also keep our eyes
peeled for black bear, martin, and numerous species of birds as
we discuss some of the rainforest's fauna that play an important
role in plant dispersal and nutritional inputs.
Presenter
Profiles
Adrienne
Mason lives in the heart of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve, in Tofino, BC, and is one of the lucky few
who have lived on Vancouver Island since birth. Adrienne is the
past Public Education Coordinator of the Bamfield Marine Station,
and currently keeps very busy as a mother of two, sitting on the
Raincoast Education Society’s board of directors, writing
for children and adults, and working as a naturalist onboard sailing
vessels in the Queen Charlotte Islands and South East Alaska.
She has written 14 books and numerous magazine articles, most
of which are on the topic of science or nature.
Briony Penn
is a writer, illustrator, geographer, activist and naturalist
from Saltspring Island. She is currently the host for the television
show Enviro/mental for CHUM TV. Author of A Year on the Wild
Side, she has also published widely on the topics of natural
history, land stewardship and mapping. She has been a nature columnist
for nearly a decade for newspapers, including Victoria's Monday
Magazine. She has lectured part-time at the
University of Victoria, Environmental Studies Program for a decade,
as well as running an environmental interpretation and design
partnership with her husband. She has traveled extensively giving
lectures and workshops on natural history, mapping, nature writing
and environmental issues.
Peter and Sarah
Wharton are botanists with a special appreciation for Boat
Basin’s extraordinary flora. Peter, a native of Yorkshire,
England has accumulated a vast knowledge of trees and the natural
world which supports them—this has been his lifetime passion
and one of the reasons he emigrated to our west coast rainforests.
Working as Curator of the David C. Lam Asian Garden at the UBC
Botanical Garden for the past 33 years has given him the rare
chance to explore and collect plant materials in temperate Asia.
He has developed a world renowned collection of documented Asian
plants, and lectures extensively within and outside UBC. Peter
met his wife Sarah, whilst she was studying botany and forestry
at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. Sarah’s
botanical passion focuses on the frequently overlooked lichens
and mosses that play a pivotal role in our coastal ecosystems.
Hiking and backpacking in the wilds of BC with their three children
has been an important part of their life.
