Nature Talks and Hikes continue during July at the Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre in Strathcona Provincial Park.
The Centre is located at the Paradise Meadows trailhead in Strathcona Park, adjacent to Mount Washington Resort's Raven Lodge.
The Centre is operated by the Strathcona Wilderness Institute (SWI), a non-profit Society, which organizes programs and volunteers to staff the Centre every day for visitor and trail information. SWI also operates the Information Hut at Parks Headquarters at Buttle Lake.
• Geology, a talk with Dixon Edwards, happens July 20 at 1 p.m.
Edwards, formerly with the Alberta and Edmonton geological surveys, organized many educational workshops. His presentation will be downstairs at the Wilderness Centre.
Registration is limited to 15 participants. Contact coordinator@strathconapark.org to register.
• On July 21 at 1 p.m., Alison Maingon, retired archeologist and member of Comox Valley Nature, returns with a talk and walk titled Ethnobotany in Paradise Meadows. The slide show and walk afterwards will be an introduction to some of our native plants and their uses.
• The next guided hike of the season will be July 27 with Julian Brooks. The Seven Lakes Loop hike will start at 9 a.m. from the Wilderness Centre. Pre-register for this moderate seven-hour hike at coordinator@strathconapark.org.
• A new hike just added to the programs is on July 28 at 9 a.m. with William Wright, the McPhee Lake Loop. This is a nine-hour, 25-km strenuous hike and pre-registration is required. Contact jennerwright@shaw.ca for details on the trip requirements.
• Also on July 28 at 1 p.m., Alana Buchanan of the Marmot Recovery Centre at Mount Washington returns with Marvelous Marmots: Fun, Fact & Fiction.
This presentation is a chance to see behind the scenes of the Recovery Centre: what the facility looks like, how it runs, and what they do with the captive marmots. All ages are welcome for this entertaining talk.
• The final July Nature Program will be on July 30 at 1 p.m. Helen Robinson of Comox Valley Nature will guide a Plant Walk around the meadows. This has been a great year for flowers and the interesting blooms should continue through the summer.
SWI nature walks and hikes will continue in August. For the full schedule, visit the website at www.strathconapark.org.
For all activities: dress for the weather, wear proper footwear, bring lunch or snacks, water, bug spray and sun protection. No pets, please, on SWI nature walks and hikes unless otherwise noted.
SWI programs are free, although a donation of $5 to $10 is appreciated to help with the Institute's ongoing activities. All programs start at the Wilderness Centre at Paradise Meadows.
— Strathcona Wilderness Institute