Biodiversity Discovery Days - May 2026

Join the West Coast NEST, the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, and local partners/collaborators for Biodiversity Discovery Days, a multi-day celebration of coastal biodiversity, community science, and hands-on learning!

Date

May 21 - 24, 2026

Organization

West Coast NEST & Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

Contact

All Along the Coast
Ucluelet, Tofino & PRNPR

Website

Outline:

Explore local ecosystems through guided walks, cultural experiences, creative workshops, and restoration activities. Take part in the coast-wide BioBlitz using iNaturalist and help document the incredible species around us. All events invite curiosity, connection, and participation in caring for place. Most events are free, with select ticketed sessions.

Take Part in the iNaturalist BioBlitz

You can take part in our BioBlitz at any time during the four-day event! Explore the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region at your own pace and contribute to our iNaturalist BioBlitz project (linked here). Whether you're in the forest, on the shoreline, attending one of the guided walks or in your own backyard, every observation you submit helps build a clearer picture of local biodiversity. Be part of a region-wide citizen science effort and you could win prizes for your observations! We’ll be celebrating the rarest find, the most observations, and the funniest photo.

You Could Win a Trip to Hot Springs Cove!

We’re excited to invite youth ages 11–18 to take part in the Biodiversity Discovery Days Event Passport Challenge for a chance to win a trip to Hot Springs Cove with Ahous Adventures, an incredible West Coast experience for two youth (ages 11-18), along with one lucky accompanying adult.

Collecting stamps at events is your path to entering the draw:
• 4 stamps = 1 entry into the grand prize draw
• The more events you attend, the more stamps you collect, and the more chances you have to win
• Maximum of 2 entries per person

Completed passports can be submitted once full at any event or at the closing event before 5 PM, or you can email it directly to carla@westcoastnest.org. You do not need to be present at the final event to win.

FULL EVENT SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 21

Biodiversity Discovery Days Kick-Off Party

4–7 PM | Redd Fish Supply Co. Cafe | 1728 Peninsula Rd, Ucluelet | Free

Start the week with an open community gathering featuring interactive booths, snacks, and prizes. Meet local organizations working in biodiversity and conservation. Learn how to use iNaturalist and get ready for the BioBlitz. It will be a welcoming space to connect, ask questions, and get inspired for the days ahead!

Drone Monitoring of Coastal Giants

5:30 PM | Redd Fish Supply Co. Cafe | 1728 Peninsula Rd, Ucluelet | Free

Join Mark Sawyer of Whales of Clayoquot & Barkley to get field insights on how drones are used to monitor whales and marine wildlife along the coast. Learn how science and technology are combined to support real conservation work. Mark will bring the fieldwork to life with compelling footage and stories from the water.

** Attend the Kick-Off Party along with this fascinating talk to enter a draw for a chance to win youth tickets for the Youth Whale & Wildlife Watching Boat Tour on May 22 (more details below).**

Friday, May 22

Big Beach Exploration Guided Walk

10–11:30 AM | Big Beach (Picnic Shelter) | 554 Marine Dr, Ucluelet | Free

In partnership with the Wild Pacific Trail Society and Tourism Ucluelet.

Join Tanya, Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist, for a relaxed shoreline walk exploring tide pools, driftwood, coastal plants, and seasonal wildlife. Discover how this dynamic coastline is always changing and full of small surprises. Open to all ages, rain or shine. Wear sturdy footwear and bring your sense of curiosity.

Bioblitz Alert: Be sure to bring your device to help catalogue local species during the guided walk. To participate in our coast-wide BioBlitz during Biodiversity Discovery Days, simply download the free iNaturalist app and join our Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region project. Help catalogue local species while contributing to real community science. You could win prizes for your observations! Shape

Youth Whale & Wildlife Watching Boat Tour (Ticketed event)

2:30–4:30 PM | Jamie's Whaling Station |168 Fraser Ln, Ucluelet

In partnership with Jamie's Whaling Station and facilitated by Mark of Whales of Clayoquot & Barkley.

Step out of the presentation and onto the water. Take what you learned in Drone Monitoring of Coastal Giants and experience it firsthand on an open zodiac, fast, immersive, and right at the surface of the action. This youth-focused whale and wildlife tour will travel along the wild coastline of Barkley Sound to active feeding areas, where whales can be seen spouting, diving, and even breaching. You’ll learn how to read the water, understand whale behaviour, and experience ocean conservation in real time. Open zodiac tour restrictions and requirements apply.

Contact Jamie's Whaling Station to buy your tickets at 250-725-3919 or reach out to carla@westcoastnest.org for more details.

Win Your Tickets

A few spots foryouth ages 13–18 will be up for grabs by draw at the Drone Monitoring of Coastal Giants session the night before (Thursday, May 21) at the Redd Fish Supply Co. Café during the Kick-Off Party. Come by for your chance to win!

Biodiversity in Your Backyard Guided Walk

3–4:30 PM | Village Green Gazebo | Tofino | Free

Join Derek, a knowledgeable local naturalist, and explore the hidden biodiversity found in everyday urban spaces like parks, gardens, and streetscapes. Learn how small habitats support a wide range of species and ecological relationships. Take part in hands-on activities that highlight how nature is woven into daily life. A new way to see familiar places. Fun for all ages!

Gyotaku: Traditional Japanese Fish Printing Experience (Ticketed event - $65)

4–6 PM | Tofino Visitor Centre | 1426 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino

In partnership with Tourism Tofino and the Ucluelet Aquarium.

Experience the art of Gyotaku, a centuries-old technique where real fish are used to create detailed, one-of-a-kind prints. Set in the unique setting of Canada’s only catch-and-release aquarium, you’ll create artwork surrounded by live marine life in an immersive, inspiring environment. Participants will be guided through the process by artist Paula Nishikawara, leaving with several finished pieces that reflect both the beauty of the fish and your own creative expression. The workshop connects coastal ecology with artistic expression.

No experience necessary. Ages 6+ (with supervision). All materials provided. If you’d like a wearable print, feel free to bring a t-shirt!

Click HERE to get your tickets and secure your spot!

Saturday, May 23

Shoreline Exploration Guided Walk

11 AM–12:30 PM | Kwisitis Visitor Centre (meet on the front deck) | 485 Wick Rd, Ucluelet | Free

In collaboration with the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Join Parks Canada interpreters from Pacific Rim National Park Reserve for a guided shoreline walk exploring the ever-changing coast. Discover new marine life and natural treasures brought in daily by the ocean, from seaweeds and shells to signs of wildlife. Learn about coastal ecosystems and the connections between land and sea. This walk invites close observation and a fresh way of seeing local biodiversity.

Roots & Relationships: A Naa’waya’Sum Experience (Ticketed event)

1–3:30 PM | Clayoquot Campus | 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino

In partnership with Clayoquot Campus and the IISAAK OLAM Foundation.

This special offering at the Naa'Waya'Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens brings together land-based learning, cultural teachings, traditional ecological knowledge, and understandings. Beginning with a guided walk exploring keystone species, relationships, and Indigenous perspectives on biodiversity stewardship. Followed by light refreshments at the čukʷaa haʔuk Café and conversation with the Naa’uu group focused on truth-telling and cultural representation. A grounding and meaningful experience we are honoured to be part of.

Click HERE to secure your spot by registering on Eventbrite.

Costs are covered for youth (18 & under) attending the event. Adults are required to pay the garden entrance fee of $28 (+ GST) upon arrival at the Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens to participate.

If you’re able, we also warmly encourage an additional donation to Clayoquot Campus in support of this programming.

Gyotaku: Traditional Japanese Fish Printing Experience (Ticketed event - $65)

5–7 PM | Ucluelet Aquarium | 180 Main St, Ucluelet

In partnership with the Ucluelet Aquarium.

No experience necessary. Ages 6+ (with supervision). All materials provided. If you’d like a wearable print, feel free to bring a t-shirt!

Click HERE to get your tickets and secure your spot!

Sunday, May 24

Bog Loop: The Explosive Plant Walk

11 AM–12:30 PM | Meet at Whale Lot | Coast Guard Dr, Ucluelet | Free

In partnership with the Wild Pacific Trail Society.

Join Tanya, Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist, to explore the Bog Loop and discover one of the coast’s most unusual ecosystems. Learn about fascinating plant adaptations and hidden ecological processes in bog environments. The walk ends with a live demonstration of a plant’s “explosive” mechanism. A memorable and surprising look at coastal ecology.

All ages welcome.

Pause, Ground, Create: Eco-Poetry Circle

1–2:30 PM | Big Beach (Picnic Shelter) | 554 Marine Dr, Ucluelet | Free

Join host Nancy Woods to slow down and connect with place through a guided mindfulness session that flows into eco-poetry and reflective creative practice. Using nature-inspired writing sparks, participants will explore how language and landscape interact. No experience needed, just openness and curiosity. A grounded, nature-based creative gathering.

Ages 12+, younger participants welcome if focused and accompanied by an adult.

Invasive Species Remediation: Yellow Flag Iris Removal

2–4 PM | Meet at the Whale Lot | Coast Guard Dr, Ucluelet | Free

In partnership with the Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot & Barkley Sounds.

Join Barb Beasley of the Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot & Barkley Sounds for a hands-on restoration effort focused on removing invasive Yellow Flag Iris and helping restore sensitive wetland habitat. Learn how invasive species impact local biodiversity and support healthier ecosystems through active removal. This session combines learning with meaningful on-the-ground action.

Dress for the weather (gumboots recommended), and be prepared for uneven, slippery forest terrain, salt marsh, and beach terrain with obstacles.

Coming out to help? Let us know so we can have enough tools and gloves ready carla@westcoastnest.org.

Biodiversity Discovery Days: Closing Celebration

4–7 PM | Downtown Ucluelet | Fraser Lane, Ucluelet | Free

A coming together with art, music, and community connection. Explore displays of Gyotaku prints and highlights from the week’s activities. Enjoy live youth musical performances, eco-poetry readings, and the reveal of BioBlitz results showcasing our collective contributions to biodiversity knowledge.

Don’t miss the grand prize draw for a Hot Springs trip! Drop your stamped passport by 5:00 PM for your chance to win or email it to carla@westcoastnest.org!

Photography

We will be taking pictures throughout the events. Please let a staff member know if you do not wish to be photographed.

Thanks!

These events are made possible in partnership/collaboration with NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada PromoScience program), Tourism Ucluelet, Tourism Tofino, Ucluelet Aquarium, Wild Pacific Trails Society, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Redd Fish Restoration Society, Clayoquot Campus, ISAAK Olam Foundation, Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot & Barkley Sounds, and Whales of Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds.

Photo credits: Ocea Green