Category Archives: Education

Join the Regional Parks Snap & Share!

Join the Burnaby Lake Park Assoication as we celebrate the change of the seasons. We’re participating in the Regional Parks Snap & Share event and invite you to get out into nature. During the month of October, park visitors are encouraged to SNAP a photo of flora or fauna and SHARE their observations to iNaturalist app to contribute to Citizen Science!

This event is taking place in Burnaby Lake Regional Park and all Metro Vancouver’s regional parks and greenways. Pay attention to plants, fungi, mosses, and wildlife you haven’t noticed before. Then simply snap photos of what you discover and share your photos on iNaturalist.

TWO EASY STEPS TO PARTICIPATE

1. Go to iNaturalist.ca or download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone and set up an account.

2. Take photos in any Metro Vancouver regional park or greenway from October 1st-31st and upload them to iNaturalist.

The BLPA has a month full of activities in October to help you learn to use the iNaturalist app effectively as well as opportunities to increase the number of species that you can observe.

iNaturalist is a great way to build your nature knowledge and get feedback on your observations. What’s more, you’ll be joining a global community of citizen scientists and contributing to biodiversity science.

Click here for iNaturalist Tips and Tricks to get started.

It’s a fun outdoor activity for everyone, on your own or with your friends and family!

WIN PRIZES! 

  • All registered participants will be entered into draws to win these prizes:
    • Capilano Suspension Bridge Park family admission ticket (family of 4)
    • $100 gift card for Book Warehouse
    • VanDusen Botanical Garden family membership (family of 4)
    • Beatty Biodiversity Museum family membership (up to 2 adults & 4 kids)
  • Individual with the most observations:
    Talasay Tours – Tour of your choice (2 adults, 2 kids)
  • Individual with the most species observed:
    Vancouver Aquarium family membership (2 adults, 2 kids)

All draws will take place on November 1.

PLEASE NOTE: To be eligible for prizes you will need to register for this project with your iNaturalist User Name. Register any time up to October 31.

You can check out the Regional Parks Snap & Share project page on iNaturalist to see what others have been observing and view the leaderboard.

Please take photos safely. Stay on trails. Do not approach wildlife. Please do not pick or remove anything.

This program is generously sponsored by

Our vision is for a healthy, dynamic regional park system, loved and supported by the community, and protected and enhanced for future generations.

Other Participating Organizations

Catching the Spirit Youth Society, Colony Farm Park Association, Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association (DRBIPA), Kanaka Education & Environmental Partnership Society, Minnekhada Park Association, Pacific Spirit Park Society

BLPA Guided Nature Walk Using the iNaturalist App

Have you ever gone for a walk in the park and saw a pretty flower or cool bug and you wondered what it is? Join the BLPA for a guided nature walk using the iNaturalist app and get to know the nature around you!

DATE: Sunday, September 11, 2022
TIME: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
PLACE: Burnaby Lake Nature House, 4519 Piper Avenue

What is iNaturalist?

  • It is one of the world’s most popular nature apps.
  • It helps you identify the plants and animals around you.
  • It connects you to a community off over a million citizen scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature!
  • By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.
  • What’s more – you can register to participate in upcoming projects which can often have special events and prizes, like the Regional Parks Snap & Share happening in October.

Your BLPA Guide will review how to make an observation using the app and offer tips and tricks to get the best identification for your nature encounters and keep track of them.

After the introduction, we will go out into the park so you can use the app right away.

This event is free but registration is required. Limited spaces, register today!
Click here for registration and app download information here.

Earth Day – Educational Walk

 A case of adapting to Nature!

We originally planned a stewardship event to remove invasive species for Earth Day. However, we discovered nesting birds in the area. Working too close to the nests can stress out the parents and have them spend energy trying to scare us away from their nest. To avoid stressing out the birds, we have changed our event to a nature walk and opened this activity up to the community, and potentially future volunteers!

At this event, BLPA Coordinator Natasha will teach the group how they can help out nature in many different ways. Topics include native and invasive plants, birds,wildlife, pollinators, trees “talking” to each other, bats and more!

Please note exisitng volunteers: We will now meet at the Nature House and NOT at Lenson. Map is below.

More information:

The BLPA will continue with our Safety Best Practices. Participants are required to bring and wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible, regardless if they are vaccinated or not. Everyone is going at their own pace and we ask that people be kind and respectful.

At this time, this event is limited to those aged 16+ (or 12+ with an adult)

This event will be limited to 15 participants.

The BLPA limits the number of participants to ensure adequate distancing and that other COVID-19 safety measures can be applied. You are required to bring a face mask to the event.

Click here to register!