The Cedar Coast Field Station staff and volunteers are busy ramping up for a new season

Stacking firewood, clearing trails, unpacking microscopes, boating in food, and firing up the sauna is just some of the behind-the-scenes work necessary to help prepare for another summer of research, exploration, and fun.

The sauna part doesn’t feel much like work though.

At the end of this month, we are incredibly excited to welcome Carihi High School from Campbell River as our first official group of the year. They will be here to witness the unique moments of Clayoquot Sound waking up from a wet winter.

Even before their arrival, we are stoked to be teaming up with Jamie’s Whaling Station from Tofino and our local Surfider chapter to do a cleanup at our neighboring beach Keltsmaht on April 17. If you are keen to get in on the action, please reach out to join us for a microplastic and marine debris survey we will be hosting on April 27 from 5:30-8:30pm.

 

 

Yet while the season is just beginning for our station staff, volunteers, and visitors, the surrounding ecosystem has been busy transitioning through another season– Spring! In just the past week we have…

… seen rafts of 40 sea otters floating on their backs just offshore (we’re serious, check the photos)

… been woken up by the squawks of our two resident bald eagles

… been lulled to sleep by a chorus of yawning frogs waking up from the winter

… spied on dozens of hummingbirds exploring our reemerging garden beds

… watched beaches transform overnight from the final winter gales of the season into mazes of driftwood, seaweeds, and buoys

 

 

 

Luckily, there are a number of ways to get involved with and witness these special moments. Looking farther on the horizon, below are some upcoming programs offered at the Cedar Coast Field Station:

• Two camps for youth ages 12-16 facilitated by CCFS staff, with one focusing on youth empowerment (August 8-12) and one focusing on field science (August 13-17).
• An all-inclusive yoga retreat hosted by Coastal Bliss Yoga (May 18-21), focusing on self-care & rejuvenation.