Arrive To: Independent arrivals to the hotel in Victoria. Check-in after 4:00 p.m. Program Orientation in hotel meeting room starts at 4:30 p.m.

Dinner: Dinner is at 6:00 p.m. at the hotel.

Lodging: Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites

Meals Included: Dinner

Lecture and Field Trip: Flora and Fauna of Coastal BC /Beacon Hill Park/Royal BC Museum

Breakfast: Breakfast at our hotel

Morning: We begin our adventure with a lecture introducing the biogeoclimatic zones of the southern coast of British Columbia and the rich diversity and abundance of native species and habitats. Learn about the identified wildlife; species & ecosystems at risk; wetlands management; commercial recreational wildlife guidelines; and wildlife viewing sites. The second portion of our lecture focuses upon "Flora and Fauna of Coastal BC." Our naturalist leader uses slides to illustrate the species, their habitats and their life cycles. Learn about tides & intertidal zones; beach types; plants and algae; marine mammals; fin fish; intertidal invertebrates & adaptations; intertidal etiquette; creatures of docks and wharves; subtidal invertebrates; seasonal changes in species/migrations; and local field guides. We embark on a Nature Walk to Beacon Hill Park where we are introduced to the "Terrestrial Fauna of Coastal BC" as our naturalist leader uses slides to illustrate the species, their habitats and life cycles. Learn about characteristics of coastal rainforests; common plants and animals, adaptations and associations; old growth vs. second growth forests; wildlife trees; indicator species, soils and habitats; and sensitive environments. Management of wildlife, fish and their habitats is the priority land use but other uses may be permitted. In these areas, wildlife has special priority. .

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Our first field trip is the Royal British Columbia Museum, a place of discovery. Through unique galleries, the Museum showcases the human and natural history of British Columbia and temporary exhibits from other countries and cultures. Authentic artifacts and specimens are displayed in highly realistic settings, giving visitors the experience of another time and place. Docent guides lead us through the three permanent galleries: First Peoples, Natural and Natural History. There is some free time after the museum for those who wish to explore the inner harbor and shops along the charming downtown streets. Be sure to search out Murchies Tea, Rogers Chocolate, Munro Books and Crown Publishing. Victoria's Chinatown is located within an easy walking distance as are the antique shops on Fort Street. City bus tickets are available for those who wish to return to the hotel on their own.

Dinner: Dinner tonight is on your own

Evening: Evening is free for a walk or to catch up on rest.

Lodging: Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Fishing and Life on the West Coast/ Whale and Marine Safari on the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Note: Our boat is a covered comfortable vessel with washroom facilities, complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Guests can sit outside or inside. We do not use zodiacs.

Breakfast: Breakfast at our hotel

Morning: Lecture and Slide Presentation: "Life and Fishing on the West Coast" Vivian Johnston is an ex fisher and Fisheries Officer who spent many years on the waters around Vancouver Island as a commercial fisher and later as an enforcement officer. Her stories and pictures will tickle your funny bone and provide a personal insight to life on the West Coast of British Columbia.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: This afternoon we embark upon a marine wildlife viewing adventure in one of the most spectacular settings on earth, the southern coast of Vancouver Island and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Our leaders are conservationists and pro-active in working to improve our environment and our natural resources. They are committed to responsible wildlife viewing and abide by the guidelines established by the Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest. Our vessels are equipped with engines that meet or exceed EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards. We join a marine safari that meets the highest safety standards, yet is exhilarating and action packed. The adventure is highly educational and leaves a lasting and memorable impression of local scenic beauty and a good understanding of our marine wildlife eco-systems. View seals, sea lions and marine bird species. Skim the waves with schools of porpoise. Watch majestic eagles soar overhead and come close to nature's gentle giant and awesome predator, Orca, the Killer Whale. Experience the excitement as fins as tall as a man break the surface all around you and these magnificent creatures blow. And, as they dive beneath you, you will hear them, thanks to the Hydrophone technology onboard. An unforgettable 3 hours on the wild side!

Dinner: Dinner tonight at a local Victoria restaurant.

Evening: We return to our hotel to freshen up before dinner then those who wish, return downtown to enjoy the evening exploring the inner harbour and investigating the shops and streets of the Old City.

Lodging: Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

City Tour/Goldstream Park/Cowichan Bay Estuary/Chemainus/Hemer Provincial Park

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: This morning we check out of our hotel and load luggage onto our motor coach. Before leaving the city, we will take you on a city tour including Dallas Road, Oak Bay, Uplands , UVic, and Mt. Tolmie where you are presented with a fantastic 360 degree panoramic view of the city, the Islands, and surrounding waters. Our destination is Courtenay on North Vancouver Island but we have much to see and learn on route. Our morning field trip is to Goldstream Park. Our guide will take you on a short walk along the river, through old-growth fir and cedar, explaining the life cycle of the salmon which populate these waters during the spawning period. Board the coach for a beautiful scenic, drive over the Malahat Pass to the quaint fishing village of Cowichan Bay. Again, we will walk along the Cowichan River Estuary and learn about the importance these areas play in marine habitat preservation. On to Duncan and the garry oak Reserve and the Somenos Marsh Bird Sanctuary to Chemainus for lunch and a tour of the murals. In the heartland of the Cowichan Valley, Chemainus was once a mill town home to the largest completely covered sawmill in North America. The Port was one of the first developed in the Pacific Northwest. It was believed that the forestry sector would always thrive, however, during the early 1980s, the industry began to show signs of decline and many jobs were lost. In 1982, a downtown revitalization project was initiated to give a fresh new look to a tired main street in Chemainus and Karl Schutz, a local businessman, came up with the concept of painting history on the walls of Chemainus. Today, there are 38 murals painted on the downtown business walls each painting depicting a moment in the history of the community. We experience this community in a unique way from aboard a covered, open air carriage as we view the murals and learn the fascinating history of this vital and courageous group of people.

Lunch: Lunch at a Chemainus Restaurant.

Afternoon: We continue our travels north by motor coach to Cedar near Nanaimo. Here we will visit Hemer Provincial park. This is a second growth forest donated by the Hemer family to the province. We will walk through the forest and identify the different fauna and birds who call this beautiful area home. Our continued drive North will take us on the Scenic Oceanside Route through Parksville and Qualicum Beach to Courtenay where we will book into our hotel before dinner.

Dinner: Dinner at a Courtenay restaurant.

Evening: Free time to explore !

Lodging: Travelodge Courtenay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Bring your camera, binoculars, field guides, notebooks and curiosity. Don't forget to dress warm.

Breakfast: Breakfast at our hotel .

Morning: Bear and Wildlife Viewing. Our focus on this outing is to see Grizzly bears. We set off on our day trip in comfortable, safe, and fast marine vessels for our destination, the Orford River.You will travel through the exciting Seymour Narrows, Surge Narrows, Hole in the Wall, past Quadra, Cortex, Stuart and Senora Islands; where the Coast Mountains glaciers and ice fields perch high atop the peaks. Wildlife viewings on route could include Orca, Humpback, dolphin, porpoise, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, pelagic birds, otter and mink. The area is home to about 40 resident Grizzly bears. Before our arrival at areas where we may see Grizzlies, our guides will review the requirements necessary to avoid disturbing the shy and easily disturbed bears from their food source. The Grizzly Bear is perhaps the greatest symbol of the wilderness. Its survival will be a testimony to our environmental commitment. Learn about their life cycle, habitat, foods, and encounters with humans including hunters and hikers. At low tide the bears feed along the inlet beaches, eating seaweed and turning over rocks to find crabs, barnacles and mussels. At the Orford River, we join our First Nations guides for a 10 minute bus ride to the viewing platforms, which are enclosed and built 10 feet above the ground along the salmon spawning grounds of the Orford River system. From here we watch Grizzlies fishing and feeding. The bears come within 10 feet of our platforms and provide never before experienced photo opportunities. We stay at the river for about 3 hours, so make sure you dress appropriately.

Lunch: Deli pack lunch & snacks available on the vessel throughout the day.

Afternoon: Bear and Wildlife Viewing continues.

Dinner: Chinese Smorgasborg at the Driftwood Restaurant near Campbell River.

Evening: Evening is free to rest or explore the community of Courtenay.

Lodging: Travelodge Courtenay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Deep Bay Shellfish Research Center/Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontology Center/I-Hos Gallery & Bighouse/Goose Spit

Note: Bring your camera, binoculars, field guides, notebooks and curiosity. Don't forget to dress warm.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Expand your knowledge with a Marine Biologist led presentation on the history of shellfish and related industries and how they have developed to now. Learn about the role of research in marine ecosystem health and what every person can do to help. Ask questions, share in discussion, embrace the opportunity to learn. ·Board the Chetlo research vessel built by VIU students for a tour of Baynes Sound. Bring your camera, binoculars, field guides, notebooks and curiosity. Don't forget to dress warm. After the trip return to the field station for a hot bowl of soup with lunch.

Lunch: Lunch at the Deep Bay Research center

Afternoon: Your afternoon adventures begins in the Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontology Center. Here, a friendly and informative guide will give a brief lecture and show a short video about the famous discoveries made in the local area. Then, it's off into the exhibit galleries to see the actual specimen and reconstructed cast of an Elasmosaur found in the Puntledge river. You'll also see other vertebrate fossils, such as mosasaurs, turtles, and fish -along with the invertebrate fossils of shelled creatures that lived in the warm, shallow ocean surrounding Vancouver Island 80 million years ago. We travel by bus to the town of Comox and the First Nations Reservation to visit the traditional bighouse where feasts and potlatches are hosted. Our local native guide will discuss her experiences with her culture. We will learn about her people's relationship to their environment and the life forms that sustain them. Discover how a people developed and maintained a highly sophisticated culture that survived along this coast for thousands of years without a written language. View the art displayed in totem poles, crest carvings, paintings, and regalia. This is a unique and genuinely moving experience.

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant

Evening: Free evening in Courtenay

Lodging: Travelodge Courtenay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cathedral Grove/North Island Wildlife Recovery Center/Coombs/Duncan: City of Totems

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Our motor coach awaits to return us to Victoria. We check out, load our luggage and we are off. Our first field trip is Cathedral Grove, an old growth forest. Cathedral Grove, home to a wide variety of plant species and wildlife, stretches aver 136,00 hectares of forestland consisting of Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, Broadleaf Maple and Balsam Fir. Douglas Fir is the dominating species in this region with some trees estimated to be 800 years old and with the majority ranging from 300-400 years old. Learn about old-growth forests and the sizes, species, composition age class structure. Learn about the wide variation of trees and spacing the accumulation of large dead standing and fallen trees; multiple canopy layers; canopy lapses and under story patchiness; as well as elements of decay such as broken or deformed tops or trunks and root decay. The tops of the trees form a cathedral-like ceiling high above, while the thick tree trunks rise from the floor of delicate fern. Then we're off to Coombs, a farm market and Village where goats live on the roof of the moss covered store. This market sells everything imaginable. After lunch we will give you some free time to explore.

Lunch: Lunch at Coombs.

Afternoon: We continue our travels by motor coach to Errington and visit the Wildlife Recover Station & Educational Centre. This not for profit, volunteer facility receives injured wildlife from all over Vancouver Island and provides the necessary care and medical attention to heal before the creature is returned to the wild. Birds and animals which would be unable to survive in the wild are kept at the Educational Centre for the rest of their lives. We are able to view these animals closely and learn of their habitats, food requirements and physical features. The centre is beautifully designed and offers a wonderful introduction to Vancouver Island's fauna. Next, we travel back through Duncan and view the Totem Poles that make Duncan famous.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Evening: This evening session is program wrap up. Your leader will help with the last minute travel arrangements and early breakfasts. Evaluation forms are turned in.

Lodging: Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Independent Departures after breakfast. Check-out is 11 a.m. Bon Voyage!

Meals Included: Breakfast