Mushrooms in the Spring!  Seriously?

A Special Family Forest Walk with Vail Paterson

Sunday, March 8, 1-3 pm

Vail Paterson, our local fungi expert and and enthusiast, has been enticed by the sounds, sights and smells of spring!  Last fall, Vail enchanted children with names such as Orange Jellies, Lobsters, Oysters and Fairy Parachutes. Now he is back to lead us towards the wonders of spring mushrooms.

Vail is an amateur mycologist and identification expert, who enthusiastically photographs and documents wild mushrooms. So far, he has found and identified over 300 species of mushrooms on SSI … including 10 species not previously observed here. These observations have been verified through iNaturalist documentation and DNA sequencing.

This walk along the Chris Hatfield Trail, roughly a 3 km round trip, is open to families with children aged 12 and under. We will enjoy a break on the beach where the children may play, hunt for rocks, eat their snacks and study our finds, using a cool microscope.

Where/when: On Sunday, March 8, at 1:00 pm meet at the Chris Hatfield trail in the Meyer’s Road cul de sac where parking is easily accommodated. 

What to bring: Good boots to navigate mud and puddles, warm layers, a hat, water and a snack. As this walk will go ahead, rain or shine bring the gear that will keep your child comfortable. We plan to be back around 3 pm.

Pre-register: With Kathleen at naturesaltspring@gmail.com Only 20 kid spots available.

NatureKids Membership is a requirement:   Make sure your family is registered with this fantastic organization, free again this year. https://naturekidsbc.ca

Take a moment to peruse the NatureKids’ website, download your child’s Passport to Nature, and slip it in for the outing ready for the leader’s signature.