By Dominic Abassi

New club aims to bring together Nanaimo nature lovers

Oct 23, 2017 | 6:02 PM

NANAIMO — Vancouver Island is a nature lover’s paradise and a new Nanaimo group is hoping to take that love to the next level.

Nature Nanaimo holds their first meeting Tuesday, Oct. 24 as part of efforts to create a naturalist club under the BC Nature banner. The group’s Doug Fraser said their mission statement is to promote the enjoyment of nature, foster public interest and support conservation. He said it’s all about sharing an enthusiasm for the great outdoors.

“Creating an opportunity to learn from experts about our natural environment, getting out there and exploring with like-minded people and enjoying the beauty we have around us.”

Fraser said once the local club is up and running, the goal is to feature experts to give monthly presentations on everything from whales to bird watching and astronomy. There would be monthly outings designed to offer fun and education for people young and old.

Fraser said he has enjoyed a bounty of trails and hiking experiences since moving to Nanaimo recently but what he was looking for was a chance to get together with people who share a thirst for knowledge and exploration. He said BC Nature held meetings locally to gauge interest in starting a club and the response was strong.

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He said while there’s no lack of people in the region who are passionate about nature, not everyone has the expertise. “They may not know the situation, in terms of are there endangered species in the area that need something to be done about them…It’s an opportunity to gain insight into what’s going on and then move forward with projects that maybe help conserve our local environment.”

The annual membership fee is $30 for individuals and $35 for families and each member gets a subscription to BC Nature’s quarterly publication.

Tuesday’s inaugural meeting also features a presentation from an expert on the local mushroom scene. Fraser said it’s a prime time of year for mushroom picking but many people are wary of what species are safe to eat or don’t know where to find them. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in room two at Beban Park.

For more information, you can find Nature Nanaimo on Facebook or email them at naturenanaimo@gmail.com.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi