Sgaawaay K'uuna- Edge of the Knife is a feature length Haida language film about pride, tragedy, and penance. Adiits'ii, the lead character in the film, is mentally and physically pushed to the brink of survival and becomes Gaagiixiid/Gaagiid - the Haida Wildman. The Gaagiixiid is one of Haida's most popular stories, sustained over the years though song and performance. This project is a community initiative with strong support from the Haida people as well as from the Council of the Haida Nation.

This film has been brought to Ucluelet at the request of Ucluelet Secondary School's BC First Nations 12 class.  With the help from Art Teacher Shannon McWhinney, this important and unique film will be screened for the public at the Ucluelet Community Centre. 

Doors Open at 7:15pm, Movie Begins at 7:30.

Admission is by donation and all proceeds raised will support the USS Nuu-chah-nulth language and culture classes.

Watch the Movie Trailer

West Coast NEST is excited to host this unique food-themed experience in Tofino - pairing immersive learning with quality dining on a west coast delicacy! Learn from expert local knowledge holders who can share stories and techniques specific to the local region, and enjoy the company of a visiting seaweed expert whose enthusiasm for seaweeds is unparalleled. Together, with this expert and local knowledge holders, participants will learn to forage, prepare, and dine on delicious healthy Pacific Seaweeds.

Register through Eventbrite today!

The Forage:

Dr. Bridgette Clarkston (Co-author of Pacific Seaweeds, UBC Professor) and a Raincoast Education Society naturalist will lead a shoreline exploration to teach participants first-hand about the variety of seaweeds along the Pacific Coast. Along the way collecting a few seaweeds to taste and enjoy. Also learn about the traditional uses of seaweeds by various cultures, including local First Nations, contemporary uses of seaweeds, and tips for foraging and sustainable harvesting. Following the walk, the group will enjoy a locally produced seaweed-feature lunch from Picnic Charcuterie.

The Preparing:

After a delicious lunch, participants will move to the Tofino Community Hall and pickle kelp! This workshop and edible seaweed tasting event will be led by the Tofino Community Food Initiative. Following the workshop, participants will have several hours to explore the many amenities offered in Tofino or head out on an excursion.

The Dining:

Lastly, participants will gather together for a delicious West Coast dinner with Chef Paul Moran at 1909 Kitchen, featuring a special seaweed dish, to close out the day alongside Dr. Bridgette Clarkston, local knowledge holders, West Coast NEST, and other event organizers.

Tofino Resort & Marina is offering a 15% discount on rooms for Seaweed Fest participants. Book early to avoid disappointment at tofinoresortandmarina.com. (Discount code will be provided with event registration.)

This event is possible through the support of our collaborators above, and District of Tofino, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, and Tourism Tofino.

Photo taken by Bridgette Clarkston.

Join this very important citizen science research study led by the Ucluelet Aquarium!

Everyone is welcome to look into the state of microplastics on our local beaches. Spend a few hours helping out and leave with a better understanding of microplastics and their potential impact on the environment.

Interested volunteers can email Britt in advance at: marinedebris@uclueletaquarium.org

Rain or shine so dress for the weather! And always bring rainboots for retrieving water from the shallow ocean (part of the survey process).

The Ucluelet Aquarium is a unique catch and release facility which provides an up close and personal encounter with a diversity of fish and invertebrates from the local waters of Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds. Their mission is to raise awareness about local marine biodiversity and promote respect for the ocean environment.

For full details of the opportunities to be involved and to discuss the possibilities, email the volunteer coordinator.

Photo credit: Jessica Lansfield

Join entomologist Linda Gilkeson and learn how to identify, prevent, and manage common pests in your garden. Discover ways to deal with diseases of vegetables and fruit using organic methods. Tips for dealing with common problems, such as aphids, late blight on tomato, root maggots, as well as the latest on managing recently introduced pests.

This event is part of a weekend garden workshop series hosted by Tofino Community Food Initiative and the Ucluelet Local Food Society in Ucluelet & Tofino BC. 

To learn more and to register for this event click here. 

Take a walk on the wild side! Investigate the lives of coastal sea wolves, and find out what makes them so extraordinary and what you can do to help protect them!

Bring your curiosity, questions and stories. Meet at the Whale Lot trailhead on the Wild Pacific Trail.

No registration is required. This is a free event, with any donations going to the continued programming on the Wild Pacific Trail.

Due to climate change extreme weather events reached record levels in 2018. What does this mean for our food gardens?

Join Linda Gilkeson and learn how extreme weather affects plants. Find out ways to design resilient food gardens that will help plants survive ‘weird weather’, as well as other management tips that will help you become an adaptable gardener.

This event is part of a weekend garden workshop series hosted by Tofino Community Food Initiative and the Ucluelet Local Food Society in Ucluelet & Tofino BC. 

Learn more and register here. 

Join entomologist and gardening expert Linda Gilkeson and discover the best way to build healthy soils for your garden.

Find out how to build fertile soil, the role of soil microorganisms, soil amendments, the importance of soil pH and how to prepare the soil for a successful garden–without backbreaking work!

This event is part of a weekend garden workshop series hosted by Tofino Community Food Initiative and the Ucluelet Local Food Society in Ucluelet & Tofino BC. 

To Learn more and register here. 

Join the Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist and explore the coastal ecosystem at Big Beach in Ucluelet.

How many species of plants and animals can you find in the intertidal zone or up on the beach? You never know what creatures you may discover!

Rubber boots or sturdy footwear is highly recommended.

Meet at the picnic area at Big Beach in Ucluelet.

This is a free event hosted by the Wild Pacific Trail!

Learn from gardening expert and entomologist Linda Gilkeson for a full day gardening workshop in Tofino.

It’s hard to imagine planting for winter when it’s still spring, but that’s when it starts. Learn how to manage your garden to maximize production and to grow fresh food all year round. Learn what to grow, when and where to plant, how to protect crops from extreme weather, how to fit winter crops in with summer plantings and make the most of your garden space.

This event is part of a weekend garden workshop series hosted by Tofino Community Food Initiative and the Ucluelet Local Food Society in Ucluelet & Tofino BC. 

To learn more and to register for this event click here. 

Guided walks occur daily throughout the summer months. Specific themes, departure times and locations will be provided in Spring 2019.

The guided walks are 90 - 120 minutes, open to all ages, and free to attend. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pets and recording devices are not permitted.

Photo by Parks Canada

Check in again soon for 2019's program schedule. Look forward to rainforest walks, bog talks on the bog loop, storm stories and more!

Learn about the Wild Pacific Trail, and take in the views. The Wild Pacific Trail is a unique outdoor classroom that presents incredible opportunities to connect people to nature through its location, fixed interpretive signage, and specialist-led programs. Programs aim to engage both visitors and local communities. 

No registration is required. Event is by donation.

Stay tuned for 2019 dates and locations!

Everyone is welcome to help out with this important study looking at microplastics on our local beaches. Spend a few hours helping out and leave with a better understanding of microplastics and their potential impact on the environment. Interested volunteers can email Britt in advance at Britt@uclueletaquarium.org .

Rain or shine so dress for the weather!

The Ucluelet Aquarium is a unique catch and release facility which provides an up close and personal encounter with a diversity of fish and invertebrates from the local waters of Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds. Their mission is to raise awareness about local marine biodiversity and promote respect for the ocean environment.

For full details of the opportunities to be involved and to discuss the possibilities, email the volunteer coordinator.

Photo credit: Jessica Lansfield

The protected forests, expansive mudflats, long sandy beaches, and rocky shorelines of the region create the right combination of habitats to draw over 40 species of shorebirds to the area, including the largest migratory concentrations of Whimbrels anywhere in British Columbia, and impressive flocks of Western Sandpipers, Dunlin and more. The threatened Red Knot is also a regular visitor each spring, as well as Rock Sandpiper in winter. In past years, local bird expert Adrian Dorst listed at least 30 species of shorebirds!

The Tofino Shorebird Festival celebrates this impressive annual migration with a series of educational birding activities throughout the region. Local and visiting experts participate in the festival, offering guest lectures, birding workshops, boat trips and much more! This is a great opportunity to experience the largest wildlife migration in the region, learn about these impressive birds, and understand why this is one of the very best places in western Canada for bird watching.

See the full schedule of events here.

Raincoast Education Society welcomes you to the Tofino Shorebird Festival with a social evening to celebrate the migration of the shorebirds, meet other bird enthusiasts, and go over the festival schedule while enjoying food and drink.

The meet and greet will be followed by a presentation from Dr. Grant Gilchrist, an ECCC Research Scientist:

Research in a Changing Arctic: Conservation Biology of Arctic Birds

We often view the Arctic as a pristine wilderness largely free of environmental threats, but times are changing. Climate change can influence species directly by modifying their physical environment, or indirectly by altering interactions among organisms. For example, changes affecting the ecology of top predators are expected to be a particular concern because variation in predator behaviour has the potential to restructure food webs and lead to cascading ecological impacts on prey populations. From egg-eating polar bears to insatiable snow geese, Grant will examine a number of fascinating case studies tracking the response of waterfowl, seabirds and shorebirds to shifts in climate and local conditions on their Arctic breeding grounds.

Space is limited, with tickets available for purchase at www.tofinoshorebirdfestival.com.

Ticket purchase includes hors d'oeuvres, one drink ticket, and the evening presentation. This event will fill up quick so please get your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

Photo Credit: Mark Sawyer Photography

Join seabird expert Mark Maftei from the Raincoast Education Society for this all day Tofino Shorebird Festival Event. 

This trip will be an all-day excursion to some of the offshore banks and canyons in search of albatrosses, shearwaters, storm-petrels and other pelagic birds. Exact route to be determined based on local weather, fishing activity, and up-to-date recon of where birds seem to be concentrating. The goal is to bird out to, and then along, the shelf edge near some of the large offshore canyons about 35 miles off the coast.

Previous years have turned up some amazing birds and marine mammals and this is a one-of-a-kind experience and a unique opportunity to explore the pelagic waters off of Vancouver Island. Early May is the transition when wintering species begin to move out and summer migrants arrive. This is a trip specifically designed around finding seabirds, led by seabird scientists, and is not a pleasure cruise.

Space is limited to 12 people, and seats are first-come, first-serve. Book online at Ocean Outfitters or call 1- 877-906-2326.

Cost: $220 per person + tax

The trip is weather dependent. In the event of cancellation, there will be a 100% refund. No refund for no-shows. Dress warm, bring your own lunch and water!

Photo Credit: Mark Sawyer Photography

Join bird guide Daniel Donnecke from Raincoast Education and learn about shorebirds from the comfort of a kayak.

This 5 hour sea kayaking tour will take you on a journey to experience extensive areas of prime shorebird habitat only accessible by water. The trip will leave at low tide and paddle into Lemmens Inlet to observe birds and wildlife in the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area. You will return near high tide and have the opportunity to paddle into the mudflats while the tide is flooding for a more intimate experience. Sea kayaking experience is not necessary– double kayaks available so you can alternate paddling and birding!

Space is limited to 12 people.

Cost: $115 per person + tax.

Please book online at Paddle West Kayaking or call 1-877-479-3232 *Note: bookings go through Jamie’s Whaling Station.

Join Shanti Davis, bird guide from Raincoast Education Society, for an introduction to birding and shorebird identification. Shanti will go over some key points to help you identify and recognize the common shorebird species you can expect to see around Tofino in the spring.

Identifying shorebirds can seem daunting at first, but becoming familiar with a few basic features such as bill shape and size is a sure-fire way to take your birding to the next level.

Raincoast encourages you to meet them down on the mudflats after this presentation wraps up for some firsthand observations of shorebirds.

This is a Free Event, with coffee and breakfast available for purchase at the cafe before the event, from 8am. 

This is the best opportunity to spend some time down on the Tofino mudflats to view flocks of shorebirds foraging and resting during their annual migration north. The mudflats at this location offer some of the best and most accessible high-quality shorebird habitat in Tofino, and several expert birders will be on hand to help you make the most of the best time of day for watching shorebirds - the rising tide when birds are pushed up towards the upper mudflats for a better view (high of 3.1 m @ 13:31 pm). This is a great event for both new and experienced birders, as well as anyone interested in learning more about the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area.

With bird guide Ian Cruikshank from Parks Canada.

Bring your binoculars or spotting scope, or else we will have a couple to share. No dogs please.

FREE event

Email info@raincoasteducation.org for more info. 

Join local artist Allison Tremain and Cowichan Bay artist Coral Barclay at the Tofino Botanical Gardens celebrating the return of spring with an art show focusing on botanicals and regional and migratory birds.

The art show is a free event. However, if you'd like to try your hand at making your own art, check out the workshops below!

10:00 am – 12:00 pm WATERCOLOURS

Coral will guide you through watercolour techniques for painting birds and flowers. Bring your own reference photo or samples will be provided. A great opportunity to personally capture a shorebird during your visit.

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm NATURE PRINTMAKING

Allison will guide you through an ancient technique of printing with real plants from the rainforest. You will bring a visual and personal representation of the west coast home creating your very own authentic botanical print. Plants will be provided, please do not gather plants from the national or regional parks.

Beginners welcome, open to all ages, 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult

$60 per person materials included

Please preregister for these workshops by calling 250-726-3934 or emailing allison.tremain@gmail.com

Join Nuu-chah-nulth guide Tsimka Martin, of T'ashii Paddle School, and a Raincoast Education Society birding guide for one of the most unique experiences in Tofino!

Paddle in a traditional dugout cedar canoe up Lemmens Inlet to explore the mudflats at high tide – a perfect way to get up close to shorebirds foraging during their annual migration north. This is a form of transportation that has been used on the west coast of Vancouver Island for thousands of years, making it a special way to learn about local indigenous history and culture, as well as enjoy some wonderful birding.

Cost: $89 per person + tax

Space is limited to 5 people. Please book your trip online at T’ashii Paddle School or call 250-266-3787.