A fantastic new facility at Amphitrite Lighthouse will soon host our new year-round location for exploring the rich cultural and natural history of the Pacific Rim. Naturalist with RainCoast Educational Society (RES) and the Wild Pacific Trail Society (WPTS) will be offering fascinating learning opportunities and indoor storm watching overlooking Amphitrite Lighthouse. The doors will open from 9 am to 4 pm year round. Our grand opening will be announced soon in conjunction with the District of Ucluelet. Applications for a WPTS year-round Education Coordinator are being accepted at this link.
Interpretive Walks: Depart from posted locations
Our trail naturalist and guest speakers have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Learn about the Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet, and the array of ecosystems on the Pacific Rim. Ask about our walking trees, the beautiful plants, rocks, birds and other wildlife here on the West Coast. Special events such as Tidepool explorations feature educational partners. Have questions about stewardship? Need trail orientation? Get tips on how to learn and see more from our enthusiastic Naturalists.
Discover Tent: Daily at the Lighthouse, end of Coast Guard Road
Exhibits rotate exploring the plants, animals and cultures that make for a fascinating visit.
Talking Trees WALK
Let’s explore the surprising life of trees! How can trees talk, and walk?
Walking Trees Walk.
Why did the cedar tree walk up the hill? Join this new free guided walk on the famous Wild Pacific Trail to find out the secrets of the Western Red Cedar tree.
Wolf Walk
Learn about Wolves, Bears, Cougars, and birds of prey, and what makes them so important to the local foodweb.
Birding Walks
Why is the Wild Pacific Trail so popular with serious bird watchers? Special Guest Ian Cruickshank or our Trail Naturalist will lead morning birding walks every week.
The REDD FISH Salmon Trail
Join us to learn about salmon, their habitats, and what makes them so important to marine and freshwater ecosystems. Visit the Redd Fish Supply Co. on Main Street Ucluelet or our partner the Ucluelet Aquarium to learn more during the off season.
RainCoast exploration booth
Question: What impact does the sea have on the rainforest? How do the sea and the land shape one another?
Join Raincoast Education Society naturalists to share insight on coastal interactions. Bring your curiosity. This event will start again next season.
Ucluelet Aquarium: Tidepool WALK
Explore life where land meets the sea. Sturdy footwear is highly recommended so we can explore TIDEPOOLS with Ucluelet Aquarium and Trail Society Naturalists if the tides are low.
Beach tours are not suitable for toddlers due to the rough rocky terrain, small children must be supervised by an adult please. Next season plan for Big Beach excursions with Marine Biology specialists.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Outreach
Parks Canada's Coastal Stewards and Naturalists offer their special interactive activities featuring rotating topics of interest. Come to learn and have fun with Parks Canada next season.
Pass of Melfort Shipwreck Walk:
Silva Johansson leads this walk to the site of a tragic shipwreck that inspired the creation of Amphitrite Lighthouse at the turn of the century.
Learn why western Vancouver Island has earned the name "Graveyard of the Pacific". Silva brings history to life on this walk along the Pacific coastline where countless ship and sailors have floundered.
WildSafe BC:
Survival is all about food, learn about the bear, wolves cougars and how to keep them from harm. Great display for kids of all ages. Bring your questions about how to be Bear Smart. Plan strategy for putting out garbage bins safely. Rare chance to visit with WildSafe BC experts.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for interpretive postings.
Award winning videos below are a great insight into our programs.
The Wild Pacific Trail is a unique outdoor classroom that offers incredible opportunities to connect people to nature. Our seasonal Discovery Tent at the lighthouse offers revolving topics for all ages.
Below are a series of timeless videos created during Covid-19 travel restrictions by our Naturalists that will inspire your experience in Nature.
Did you know a square metre of mudflat contains more calories than a chocolate bar?
Seven entertaining and award winning videos below include fun activities from our 2020 "Learn Where You Live" series.
Episode 1: "What's that smell?" video with our Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist
CLICK HERE to download a PDF activity you can do at home.
This beautiful series was born out of Covid-19 restrictions to our in-person interpretive walks. Narrated by Tanya Nestoruk, trail naturalist, video by Arya Touserkani.
Special thanks to Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for her guidance.
Video series by Arya Touserkani @tousquared www.waterlogue.ca
Episode 2: " Follow that Slime" -- We have a lot to learn from Nature, we just need to listen!
Special thanks to Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ community, Elder Vi Mundy and Gisele Martin of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for their traditional teachings.
Follow this link for a slug race activity.
Narrated by Tanya Nestoruk, trail naturalist, video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 3: "For Peat's Sake" -- explore with our Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist!
Follow our naturalist as she discovers the weird and wonderful species that thrive in a Woodland Bog. Warning, you could get lost.
Follow this link for a COLOURING BOOKLET or a fun WORD PUZZLE.
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Special thanks to Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation. Narrated by Tanya Nestoruk, trail naturalist, video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 4: "Force of Nature" will sweep you off your feet.
Explore the unique WEATHER that comes with living on the coast, how species not only manage to survive, but THRIVE!
Fun fact: Can you name an amphibian that has no lungs?
We are proud to acknowledge the skills of our past naturalist Tanya Nestoruk for her work with videographer Arya Touserkani www.waterlogue.ca
in achieving an award of excellence from Interpretation Canada for the video above.
Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation and Dr. Barb Beasley with the Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot and Barkley Sound.
Episode 5: "Remarkable Ravens" a story of the smartest bird in the rainforest
Raven’s are not only role models of communication, fair trade, and savvy intelligence, they play an essential role as ecosystem recyclers.
Challenge: how can you tell the difference between a raven and a crow?
Thank you to Parks Canada for support for this project. Special thank you for footage and raven sound clips copyright by Ian Cruickshank
Note: footage was taken with a telephoto lens to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Raven vs Crow Image by Rosemary Mosco and Dr. Kaeli Swift with BirdandMoon.com @corvidresearch
Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for Nuu-chah-nulth translations.
Additional footage courtesy of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHHHAfzAuKc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEksZdWKqtA – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6K9LbRX15Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJdj-2XvGF4 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6vzGrWP9lc
Also thanks to the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust for funding.
Video production by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 6: "Tree-S-I: Murder by Mushroom" help us solve this mystery.
There’s been a murder in the forest! Who! What? Why!
Follow along as detective Tanya gets to the root of the crime by investigating clues and searching for suspects in the woods… will she discover whodunit in this intriguing case?!
Special thanks to the inspirational Gisele Martin of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for sharing her timeless knowledge of Nuu-chah-nulth language and culture.
So Mush-thanks to Andy MacKinnon, forest ecologist extraordinaire, for sharing his vast scope of marvelous mushroom knowledge and delightful sense of humour.
Stop motion animation on tree communication by Local Ucluelet youth, Riley Gerbrandt. Thank you!
Fun fact: what is our planet's largest organism?
Special thanks to the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust for funding. Video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 7: hašaḥma quuquuʔaca ( language is precious & valuable )
Join special guests Jeneva Touchie and Gisele Martin as they share their personal connections to the Wild Pacific Trail and the importance of Nuu-chah-nulth language.
What wisdom can we learn from ancient languages?
To learn more about the Nuu-chah-nulth language visit:
https://www.firstvoices.com/explore/FV/sections/Data/Nuu-chah-nulth/Nuu%C4%8Daan%CC%93u%C9%AB/Nuu-chah-nulth%20(Barkley)
Jeneva offers free Nuu-chah-nulth language classes Tuesday evenings over Zoom. To find out more please email touchie_jeneva@hotmail.com
To learn more about Nuu-chah-nulth history, culture, news and events please go to https://nuuchahnulth.org/
We are grateful to our special guests and Sam Touchie from Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for inspiring this episode.
Project funded by the WIld Pacific Trail Society and the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust.
Video by Arya Touserkani @tousquared www.waterlogue.ca
Download this activity sheet, use naturalist on your phone, or just use a blank piece of paper to record what you find.
You will be enthralled at the number of species. What do you think each creature eats, or who is looking to eat them?
CLICK HERE to download a PDF activity you can do at home.
We are grateful to the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust for funding several of these interpretive videos.
Where to find us? Calendar events are colour coded to the parking lots at the Whale Parking Lot (red), Lighthouse (teal), Big Beach aka Frog parking lot (blue) and Brown's Beach aka Sea Star parking lot ( brown).
Send us your questions, or post photos and ideas on Instagram or email naturalist@wildpacifictrail.com.
We will post answers to the best questions. Let us know what you would like to learn!
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