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Learn about growing old-growth forests at our next general meeting.Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to CVN’s May general meeting. where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speaker:
"Growing Old Growth: The relationships that define the future of our forests" with Tal Engel of WolfTree Integrative Forest Rehabilitation.
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
(Members, please also take note of the special resolution to be voted upon, detailed on our website)
Tal’s talk presents an integrative and regenerative forestry approach to foster fire-resilience, moisture retention, and overall ecological integrity so that degraded forest ecosystems may endure the ever-increasing anthropogenic pressures to one day become old growth forests. He will present evidence that for old growth forests to develop, far more than just time is required.
Tal holds workshops for community groups in which he first explores how industrial forestry has radically altered the structure, composition, function, and relationships essential for the growth of a resilient and healthy forest. The second part of the workshops cover methods he has developed to help dense young forests recover from a century of industrial forestry.
This talk is based on the first part of Tal’s workshops. He will focus on his theories relating to succession, pathology, and cultural relationships in forests and will include an overview of forest ecosystems in crisis from other parts of the world.
Tal has kindly offered to conduct a second part of his workshop on June 1st in Merville. For CVN members only. Sign up at the General meeting to tour the farm where he puts his methods into practice.
Tal Engel is a forest restoration practitioner and regenerative farmer who lives in the Merville area. On his family’s farm, Honey Grove, he researches and develops forest restoration methods and models that his organization, WolfTree Integrative Forest Rehabilitation, applies throughout eastern Vancouver Island.
see more at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/
www.wolftreeforestry.com/
We are pleased to offer a series of guided walks on Saturday May 17th, in Vanier Nature Park.Choose between 3 walk times that each have a different walk leader; each very knowledgeable about both oak trees, nature and the Vanier Nature Park restoration project.
The 10:00 am walk will be lead by Nick Page. Nick is a professional biologist who works on the assessment, restoration and management of species and ecosystems in coastal BC. He has a M.Sc. in plant ecology from UBC and works with Current Environmental in the Comox Valley. Nick grew up on Headquarters Road not far from the most northern Garry oak trees in Canada.
The 11:30 walk will be lead by Fred Newhouse. He is a Registered Professional Forester and has stewarded a woodlot for 27 years and worked in forest consulting for 35 years. As a Comox Valley Nature member he has volunteered for 15 years helping on projects including the Vanier Nature Park Garry Oak Restoration Project and Trees of the Year. He has conducted walks at Paradise Meadows for Strathcona Wilderness Society.
The 1:00 pm walk will be lead by Verna Mumby who has 30 years of work in arboriculture as a ISA Certified Arborist and Consulting Arborist. She says she is still learning every day from the trees. When not hugging trees she is knee deep in microscopy looking into microbes in the soil – or walking her dog in the nature of the wonderful Comox Valley.
The Vanier Nature Park project is being co-managed by Comox Valley Nature and the City of Courtenay with funding from both the City of Courtenay and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. Each walk leader will share their unique perspective on this forest and this very positive project.
Registration is required.
Please be at the meeting spot at least 10 minutes before the walk starts to sign in. We will have a table with further information on this exciting project.
The walk is partially on level ground with some gentle to moderate uphill walking on a forest trail that has some uneven footing. No dogs please.
For more information or to sign up, visit comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/
Everything is connected, healing the land heals people:
Three knowledgeable Comox Valley Naturalists will introduce participants to the plants at the Airpark. Learn how this area was transformed from a sewage lagoon covered in slabs of concrete to a diversified city park. We will find many native plant species here that are reclaiming and recreating this natural environment.Frank Hovenden, the leading force behind these changes will highlight many plant species. Participants will have the opportunity to sharpen their native plant identification skills by the end of this botany focused walk. This is a 1 km walk on flat ground. Meet at the playground on Mansfield Drive.
Registration is required and limited space available so sign up early at This is a free event but donations are welcome. No dogs please.
Many people fear trees, especially big trees. Join us in this guided walk and overcome those fears. You will learn about tree bio-mechanics; how trees dance and move, and the importance of tree roots. Understand how trees help each other during storms and how they communicate. We will look at trees in Filberg Park in Comox on May 3 from 11 a.m. to 12:00. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear.Registration required at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/ (no dogs please)
Admission is free, but donations are welcome
Category Archives: NatureKids
NatureKids: Upcoming Explorer Days, March & April 2020
March 8: Seaside Treasures – We will go on a beach walk at Goose Spit Park to find and identify different beach items. Note: the time will be earlier than usual (11am to 1pm) to match with low tide times. More … Continue reading
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NatureKids Explorer Day Report – Fun in the Forest – Feb. 9, 2020
Hello NatureKids families! What a refreshing afternoon in the Seal Bay Park forest. We learned how forests can be magical by providing us with many different things such as homes, food, jobs, products, clean water, and oxygen. Not only do … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walk: Sunday June 25th 2017, NatureKids Little River Park
Sunday, June 25 NatureKids Little River Park, 9:30 am Meet at 9:30 am at park entrance on Wilkinson Road off Ellenor Road (near Comox to Powell River ferry terminal). This little park is rarely visited, except by the local residents. … Continue reading
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Nature Kids Explorer Day: Naturewalk with Luisa Richardson at Woodhus Slough, March 26th 2017
Comox Valley NatureKids The next Explorer Day will be on Sunday, March 26th, 1:00-3:00 pm at Woodhus Slough (meeting at Salmon Point). Our special guest for this walk is Luisa Richardson, a Campbell River naturalist who is very experienced at … Continue reading
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Nature Kids Explorer Day: Bird watching at Lazo Marsh, Jan 29th 2017
Happy New Year Nature Kids! Our next explorer day will be bird watching at Lazo Marsh in Comox on Sunday, January 29th at 1:00pm. Please bring a small snack and water bottle and come prepared for the weather. If you … Continue reading
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YNC Outing: beach clean-up at Kye Bay, Nov 20th 2016
Hello Nature Kids Families, Our next Explorer Day will be a beach clean-up at Kye Bay on Sunday, November 20th from 1:00-3:00pm. We will meet at the beach access near the end of Windslow Road (not at the playground). Please … Continue reading
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YNC Outing: Mushroom Walk William’s Beach Forest, Oct. 22nd 2016, 10:00 am
Hello Families, Our next Explorer Day will be a mushroom walk on Saturday, October 22nd from 10:00-12:00 at the William’s Beach Forest. This forest has a mix of mostly pine and Douglas-fir and it is a great place for fungi … Continue reading
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YNC Outing: Morrison Creek, Sept 18th 2016, 1pm
Hello Families, Our next Explorer Day will be on Sunday, September 18th from 1:00-3:00pm. Meet at the main parking lot of Ecole Puntledge Park Elementary School at 401 Willemar Avenue. We will play some interactive nature games, then take a … Continue reading
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YNC Outing: Nature House Miracle Beach, June 25th 2016, 2pm
Hello Families, Our next Explorer Day will be on Saturday, June 25, 2:00-3:30 pm and we will meet at the Nature House of Miracle Beach Provincial Park. We will be exploring the sandy beach at low tide. Children may like … Continue reading
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YNC Outing: MARS (Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society), May 29th 2016, 1pm
Hello Families, Our next Explorer Day will be on Sunday, May 29, 1:00 at the MARS (Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society) facility at 6817 Headquarters Road. Volunteer Rene Jorgenson has offered to introduce us to the MARS education owls and give … Continue reading
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