Join Us On Our Next Field Trip or Event.
Listed below are upcoming and recent field trips and events of the Rocky Mountain Naturalists. You are welcome to join us. Please let us know if you are interested.
For anyone who is not a member and would like to join us on one of our outings, please be advised that there is a $2.00 fee for the day (for liability insurance purposes).
For anyone who is not a member and would like to join us on one of our outings, please be advised that there is a $2.00 fee for the day (for liability insurance purposes).
Early Morning Birding (Daryl)
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 7:30 am
Meet at the usual Tamarack Mall site between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza at 7:30 am. This week, lets visit the fields, ponds and forests south of the Fort Steele interchange. Begin at 'Silo Pond' and head north through the spray irrigation valley.
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Butterfly Outing (Dean)
Saturday, July 6, 2019
More details will be forthcoming
Goat Slope in Spring Outing (Daryl/Marianne)
Sunday, June 16, 2019 - 8:30 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 8:30 am to drive to Wilks Road for an 8:50 am start. Join Daryl and Marianne for a 3 hour hike to Beacon Hill following the winter snowshoe route. Semi-open country, with no formal trail, mostly uphill. Fine views along the way and at the top. Rated moderately difficult. This will be an outing with a focus on flowering plants. Wear sturdy footwear, long pants. Poles and plant book optional. Bring water, snack, binoculars and camera.
Cactus Mountain Hike (Susan)
Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 1:00 pm
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 1:00 pm. For those who are coming from the north, please meet at the Esso station which is at the corner of Hwy 95 and the Wardner Ft. Steele Road at 1:20 pm. If we are lucky, the prickly pear cactus will be in full bloom together with a multitude of other wild flowers. As well, we will enjoy lovely views of the Kootenay River Valley. It is estimated that this outing will be 4 km in length with an estimated 170 m elevation gain.
RM Nats Annual Garage Sale
Saturday, June 8, 2019 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
The RM Nats annual garage sale will take place in conjunction with the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church's garage sale at the corner of 11th Avenue S and 11th Street S. Donated items can be dropped at the Church on Saturday June 8 between 8:00 - 8:30 am. Please have your items priced, clean and in good condition.
Wildlife Encounter Safety Tips (Paula)
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 7:00 pm
Please meet at the College Parking Lot closest to the Community Forest. We will walk for approximately 5 minutes to the new Kiosk entitled the Sickly Forest. Here we will enjoy a presentation from Danica Roussy of WildSafeBC. This will be a 15-minute Wildlife Encounter Safety Tips Presentation followed by a Bear Spray Demo. During the presentation Danica will be discussing wildlife signs to watch for while in BC’s beautiful playground. After the presentation, there will be the option to meander through the Community Forest or just return to the vehicles.
RM Nats Annual Club Camp
Tuesday-Friday, May 28-31, 2019
To be held at the Golden Eco Ranch. Tuesday, May 28 Rachel Darvill, registered professional biologist who developed and coordinates Wildsight's Columbia Wetland Survey along with several other projects will give a talk. There will be early morning birding, paddling, biking, hiking, potluck dinners and weiner roasts as well as some free time for your own activities.
Little Big Day (Greg)
Sunday, May 26, 2019 - from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Each team will consist of 3 to 5 participants travelling in one vehicle or on the ground. Identification of bird species for the event will occur between 6 am and 6 pm. At least two members of each team must correctly identify the species either by sight or vocalizations. At the end of the day participants will meet at the Heid Out (downstairs room) in Cranbrook at 6:30 pm for cocktails with dinner at 7:00 pm to submit their checklists and share their day. Partners of team members are welcome to the supper.
Big Tree Hike (Susan)
Sunday, May 19, 2019 - 1:00 pm
Please meet at the college trailhead [upper parking lot of the Cranbrook college campus]. The hike is roughly 7 km long, passing through forest and grassland areas, with only a few rocky spots. Elevation gain will be about 150 m. It will probably take us four or five hours, depending on how much neat stuff we find to look at.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Room 210
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 7:00 pm
Special Presenter: Frank Hastings and East Kootenay Invasive Species Council Guests: Jessie Paloposki and assistants. Slide presentation then load and learn how to use the Report-a-Weed app. Please bring your cell phone so that these guests can help us download and use the app. The presentation will be followed by a brief business meeting.
Lone Pine Butte Outing (Ruth)
Saturday, May 4, 2019 - 8:30 am
To carpool, meet at 8:10 am at the usual Tamarack Mall location, between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza, across the parking lot from Staples or meet at 8:30 am at the McClure Road Trailhead for Twin Butte. We will head directly over to Lone Pine Butte. Along the way we will listen for songbirds, enjoy the wonderful wildflowers, and notice the flitting butterflies. Plan on being out around 4 1/2 hours. We will be climbing approximately 1000 feet and traveling around 9 km. Bring your food and water as well as your binoculars and other naturalist gear.
Turtle Day (Greg)
Thursday, May 2, 2019
All events will take place in the grass area behind Elizabeth Lake Tourist Information Building. There will be some changes from previous years due, in part, to high predation by skunks and an expected decrease in hatchling numbers.There is a school program with six classes of Grade 3/4 students rotating through three stations from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Public Event is from 2:00-5:00 pm, taking place in the same area. Parking will be in the Public Lot behind Elizabeth Lake Lodge. The Tourist Information Lot will be for the physically challenged and tourists.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 7:30 am
Meet at the usual Tamarack Mall site between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza at 7:30 am. This week, lets visit the fields, ponds and forests south of the Fort Steele interchange. Begin at 'Silo Pond' and head north through the spray irrigation valley.
=================================================================
Butterfly Outing (Dean)
Saturday, July 6, 2019
More details will be forthcoming
Goat Slope in Spring Outing (Daryl/Marianne)
Sunday, June 16, 2019 - 8:30 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 8:30 am to drive to Wilks Road for an 8:50 am start. Join Daryl and Marianne for a 3 hour hike to Beacon Hill following the winter snowshoe route. Semi-open country, with no formal trail, mostly uphill. Fine views along the way and at the top. Rated moderately difficult. This will be an outing with a focus on flowering plants. Wear sturdy footwear, long pants. Poles and plant book optional. Bring water, snack, binoculars and camera.
Cactus Mountain Hike (Susan)
Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 1:00 pm
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 1:00 pm. For those who are coming from the north, please meet at the Esso station which is at the corner of Hwy 95 and the Wardner Ft. Steele Road at 1:20 pm. If we are lucky, the prickly pear cactus will be in full bloom together with a multitude of other wild flowers. As well, we will enjoy lovely views of the Kootenay River Valley. It is estimated that this outing will be 4 km in length with an estimated 170 m elevation gain.
RM Nats Annual Garage Sale
Saturday, June 8, 2019 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
The RM Nats annual garage sale will take place in conjunction with the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church's garage sale at the corner of 11th Avenue S and 11th Street S. Donated items can be dropped at the Church on Saturday June 8 between 8:00 - 8:30 am. Please have your items priced, clean and in good condition.
Wildlife Encounter Safety Tips (Paula)
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 7:00 pm
Please meet at the College Parking Lot closest to the Community Forest. We will walk for approximately 5 minutes to the new Kiosk entitled the Sickly Forest. Here we will enjoy a presentation from Danica Roussy of WildSafeBC. This will be a 15-minute Wildlife Encounter Safety Tips Presentation followed by a Bear Spray Demo. During the presentation Danica will be discussing wildlife signs to watch for while in BC’s beautiful playground. After the presentation, there will be the option to meander through the Community Forest or just return to the vehicles.
RM Nats Annual Club Camp
Tuesday-Friday, May 28-31, 2019
To be held at the Golden Eco Ranch. Tuesday, May 28 Rachel Darvill, registered professional biologist who developed and coordinates Wildsight's Columbia Wetland Survey along with several other projects will give a talk. There will be early morning birding, paddling, biking, hiking, potluck dinners and weiner roasts as well as some free time for your own activities.
Little Big Day (Greg)
Sunday, May 26, 2019 - from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Each team will consist of 3 to 5 participants travelling in one vehicle or on the ground. Identification of bird species for the event will occur between 6 am and 6 pm. At least two members of each team must correctly identify the species either by sight or vocalizations. At the end of the day participants will meet at the Heid Out (downstairs room) in Cranbrook at 6:30 pm for cocktails with dinner at 7:00 pm to submit their checklists and share their day. Partners of team members are welcome to the supper.
Big Tree Hike (Susan)
Sunday, May 19, 2019 - 1:00 pm
Please meet at the college trailhead [upper parking lot of the Cranbrook college campus]. The hike is roughly 7 km long, passing through forest and grassland areas, with only a few rocky spots. Elevation gain will be about 150 m. It will probably take us four or five hours, depending on how much neat stuff we find to look at.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Room 210
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 7:00 pm
Special Presenter: Frank Hastings and East Kootenay Invasive Species Council Guests: Jessie Paloposki and assistants. Slide presentation then load and learn how to use the Report-a-Weed app. Please bring your cell phone so that these guests can help us download and use the app. The presentation will be followed by a brief business meeting.
Lone Pine Butte Outing (Ruth)
Saturday, May 4, 2019 - 8:30 am
To carpool, meet at 8:10 am at the usual Tamarack Mall location, between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza, across the parking lot from Staples or meet at 8:30 am at the McClure Road Trailhead for Twin Butte. We will head directly over to Lone Pine Butte. Along the way we will listen for songbirds, enjoy the wonderful wildflowers, and notice the flitting butterflies. Plan on being out around 4 1/2 hours. We will be climbing approximately 1000 feet and traveling around 9 km. Bring your food and water as well as your binoculars and other naturalist gear.
Turtle Day (Greg)
Thursday, May 2, 2019
All events will take place in the grass area behind Elizabeth Lake Tourist Information Building. There will be some changes from previous years due, in part, to high predation by skunks and an expected decrease in hatchling numbers.There is a school program with six classes of Grade 3/4 students rotating through three stations from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Public Event is from 2:00-5:00 pm, taking place in the same area. Parking will be in the Public Lot behind Elizabeth Lake Lodge. The Tourist Information Lot will be for the physically challenged and tourists.
Fill in the form below for more field trip info. [We do not share your contact info)
The fossil box at Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre at Mount Fernie Alpine Resort.
Photo - Greg
