Jobs available at Scout Island

Positions Available at Scout Island.  Come work with great people working and teaching about nature.

Scout Island Nature Centre needs high school students that want to be teacher naturalists in training.

This job involves taking care of live animals in the Nature House, helping with children's programs, researching information about animals and plants, acting as a host that helps visitors at the nature house and lots of other cool interesting activities. You can start right now-3-5 hours/week.  If you like it and we like you it can grow into a 15-20 hours a week for the months of July and August.  You need to be a responsible, motivated, self starter for this job.  Please send a resume to shemphill@xplornet.com that includes 3 references (teachers are fine as references).  Call Sue if you have questions—250 398 8532 or shemphill@xplornet.com

and

Summer Staff-University Students-Teacher Naturalists

Scout Island Nature Centre will be hiring 2-3 summer staff as teacher naturalists this year.  As a teacher naturalist, you will plan and teach nature programs to children, learn the various flora and fauna of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Region, care for the nature house live and static displays, and guide visitors to the nature centre.    The job will be 40 hours/week for 14 weeks between May 1 and Aug. 25.  You need to have at least one year of university completed and be returning to university in Sept.  Go to www.scoutisland.ca  to learn more the Nature Centre or to email a resume.  Interest in biology/natural history  and experience working with children is important.

Resumes Due by March 1

If  you are interested send Sue Hemphill, Executive Director,  a resume’ including references and a cover letter as to why you would like to work at Scout Island   shemphill at xplornet.com or call 250 398 8532 for more information. 

Why do Bluebirds Lay Blue Eggs?

Research on mountain bluebirds in the Alkali Lake and Dog Creek area

Jeannine Randall

Jeannine has been working with birds in BC and beyond for nearly a decade and she recently graduated from the University of Northern BC with a master’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. For this degree she studied Mountain Bluebirds breeding in nest boxes in the Caribou region

Wednesday November 22

          7pm at the Nature House

                        Free Presentation 250 398 8532

 

fall break nature program--only one day

Fall Break Nature Program

The Beauty of Winter

Through exploring and drawing

Special One Day Program

Tuesday, November 14

9-5pm

Mary Forbes Leading

$35 for day

Children  aged 7-14 are welcome to join us for outdoor exploring and games.  Madi Riplinger will guide us in how to sketch wildlife in a winter landscape. 

Be sure to register early by phoning 398-8532 or emailing shemphill@xplornet.com

Birding Adventures

in Extramadura, Spain

Thursday November 2

7:30 at Scout Island Nature House

Travel through Spain with Connie Haeussler and Leo Rankin

The main focus of their trip was birding in the province of Extremadura, on the border with Portugal.  It's the wildest, least developed part of Spain, and thus a haven for birds.  The region has Roman ruins, Arab fortresses and medieval towns as well as Monfrague National park, famous for its raptors. Birding highlights included hoopoes, great bustards, black storks, european rollers, bee eaters and hundreds of white storks.

Free presentation-no registration needed-Info 250 398 8532

The Vancouver Aquarium is coming to Scout Island Nature Centre

Our first family event for the season. 

We will be doing a shoreline clean up and pulling night shade starting at noon.  Then come back to enjoy the ocean creatures.

A Bit of the Vancouver Aquarium is Coming

Live Ocean Creatures in the Aqua Van

Will be at 

Scout Island Nature Centre

Sunday October 15 1-4pm---Free!

And to do our bit for the Oceans (yes we are connected to the ocean by water and salmon), there will be a Shoreline Cleanup starting at 12 noon

Come and Help at 12 noon- then visit the Ocean Visitors  for more info call 398 8532  

Remember the water you wash your hands with will touch a sea star five weeks later.  So choose your soap carefully.

Nature Fun Ends--Getting Ready for School Programs-Salmon Trip for High School Students

Nature Fun programs end tomorrow (Aug. 18).  It has been a good 3 weeks despite all the smoke.  Today the children are busy being bats and practicing their echolocation.  Sarah, and William are returning to university next week.  Gabrielle will be here to complete her work weeks (so many were lost during the order).  She will be busy cleaning animal tanks, doing all the feeding and developing nature learning materials for us.  But there will be no more Nature Fun for this summer.  Hopefully, we will be able to start the school season on time.  Nature Kindergarten children will be here all week.  There will be two grade 7 outdoor education classes visiting each month.  We will be offering school programs as usual.  The Salmon Trip for high school students (grades 10-12)is planned for September 18 -20 (if fire season allows it).  Students that want to take part in the Salmon Trip can call me (398 8532) or email me (shemphill at xplornet.com) and request the application form.   

I am pleased to announce that Paula Laita is taking over for me as Education Coordinator starting in September.  I will be the Executive Director.  We will both be working with Frances McCoubrey, SD 27 Outdoor Education Resource Teacher, to provide nature education to schools and community.

The Nature Centre is still closed to the public because of the fire danger.  Go out and do a rain dance so the danger passes.  When you are feeling sad for yourself in all of this smoke, think of the 3 baby osprey trying to learn to fly and hunt in this smoke.  Their parents must be having trouble fishing (can't see) as well as getting enough oxygen to have the energy to dive after the fish.

Be sure to find a way to enjoy nature on the less smoky days.

Due to the extreme fire danger, Scout Island Nature Centre is closed to the public until further notice (this includes vehicles and walkers). The gate will be locked. The children's program, Nature Fun, will continue from 10-2 each week day as children will be under the supervision of staff. This program will use inside the nature house when air quality is poor and outside when it is safe. Children are having fun and forgetting about fires for awhile. You can sign your child up for the program by calling 398 8532 or emailing scoutisland at shaw.ca. Parents will need to walk their children in from the gate to the Nature House. As well, parents must be immediately available to pick their children up in case of another evacuation order.