A Closer Look

Please read all information before booking, thank you! 

This all-ages, fun and educational Community Program offers participants an opportunity to take a closer look at various aspects of the natural world. This program makes use of our incredible Microeye, a user-friendly microscope that allows us to zoom into intricacies and designs we would never notice with the naked eye! Each session will have a unique topic which we will discuss as we view related props under the Microeye. For this program we ask participants to bring in some items they would like to view under the Microeye, bonus if they are related to the topic, but this is not a requirement. Join us as we intertwine ecology and wonder while Taking a Closer Look!

The topics for these programs may repeat, so please see the topic list below.

Topics by Date:

December 7th: Fungi, Lichen, and Slime Mold

January 4th: Freshwater Invertebrates

January 18th: Life, Death, and Decomposition:

February 1st: Bones and Builds

February 15th: Fungi, Lichen, and Slime Mold

March 1st: Freshwater Invertebrates

March 15th: Life, Death, and Decomposition

March 29th: Bones and Builds 

April 12th: Spring Blooms and Sweetness 

April 26th: Beautiful Birds

May 10th: Freshwater Invertebrates

May 17th: Terrestrial Insects

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Please see our rules and guidelines on choosing these items, before bringing items to the Nature Sanctuary.

Guidelines for Collection:

• Items should be found on the ground, not picked off a living organism.
• Items should not be the home of a living organism (a nest, part of a nest)
• Nothing that will cause spread of invasive species onto site (no seeds)
• Nothing that could be dangerous or toxic
• Nothing that has been collected through disruptive or harmful practices
• Small items only (i.e. no large rocks)
• Nothing unsterile/unsafe to touch (i.e. decaying carcass)

Please bring items in a container or bag. Items must leave site with you – Please do not leave items on site. We do accept donations that we deem safe and useful to keep on site for further education.

All ages are welcome, theses programs are best suited for children grade three +, children must be accompanied by adults for entirety of program.

If cost is a barrier to attending this program, please reach out: programs@swanlake.bc.ca