Summer 2021

May 27, 2021

The return of the grey whales and Western Sandpipers this spring is a sure sign that the rainy winter has come to pass and longer, warmer, and sunnier days are on the horizon! As summer approaches, we are cautiously looking forward to the prospect of in-person and outdoor learning opportunities and welcoming back learners to the region when it is safe to do so. This spring has been a busy one for the West Coast NEST, as we have been developing virtual educational events and workshops on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and marine, environmental, and sustainability science in Clayoquot Sound, including our upcoming Researcher Interview Series! Many local organizations and businesses are offering a blend of in-person and virtual learning opportunities in the next month to keep you learning from home and dreaming about your next visit to the area, visit our website to explore the available courses and events and stay tuned for more details to come!

Researcher Interview Series

This June, we will be launching our Researcher Interview Series in partnership with Royal Roads University with the support of an NSERC PromoScience grant. This four-part video series highlights the research and career paths of four local scientists to increase awareness about marine, environmental, and sustainability science in the Clayoquot Biosphere Region and inspire youth to pursue careers in the STEM fields!

West Coast Ambassador Program

This spring and summer, Raincoast Education Society is offering its annual West Coast Ambassador Program. This program offers four different courses that deepen local residents’ knowledge of the area and increase their participation in the communities of Ucluelet and Tofino. The four courses include Small Town, Big Picture (with an alternating focus between Ucluelet and Tofino), Nuu-chah-nulth Lands & Waters, Terrestrial Ecology, and Marine Ecology. This is an awesome opportunity to learn more about the amazing communities and ecosystems of the west coast of Vancouver Island!

No Little Plans

Each week, the West Coast NEST will be taking a deep dive into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their application in the Clayoquot Biosphere Region. Each Wednesday, we invite you to listen to one episode of the podcast ‘No Little Plans’, produced by Community Foundations of Canada. Each week’s episode explores one of the SDGs and the Canadian context. We have created reflection questions to help guide listeners and deepen their learning experience. Submit 1 of your answers to the reflection questions to communications@westcoastnest.org to be entered to win a SDG Prize Pack!

Tackling the Mystery of Salmon in Clayoquot Sound: Science Education in a Virtual World

On May 11th, West Coast NEST and Cedar Coast Field Station hosted the “Tackling the Mystery of Salmon in Clayoquot Sound: Science Education in a Virtual World” webinar in celebration of Science Odyssey Week! This virtual webinar provided participants an introduction on using the Science & Conservation in the Clayoquot Biosphere Region StoryMaps as an educational and interactive resource for youth to learn more about marine, environmental, and sustainability science. The webinar recording is available to the public at the following link.

West Coast NEST is hiring!

The West Coast NEST is seeking a communications assistant for the summer of 2021 to support the growth of educational programs and increase awareness of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Clayoquot Biosphere Region. A strong preference will be given to those currently living the region and application review begins May 31st!

Water Quality Data Presentation

On June 9th, join the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and oceanography students from the University of Washington Tacoma (UoW) as they present recent analyses of water quality data from the Clayoquot Biosphere Region. The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has been collaborating with UoW to conduct ongoing water quality research on the physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic conditions in the fjords of Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds. Launched in 2000, this water sampling project is one of CBT’s longest research partnerships. Please contact laura@clayoquotbiosphere.org to learn more and register.

A Look Back: Seaweed Fest 2019

Learn more about Seaweed Fest, a one-day food-themed event that pairs immersive learning with quality dining.