Category Archives: Education

Join the BLPA in the City Nature Challenge!

The Burnaby Lake Park Association is attending this year’s Burnaby Blooms and offering you an opportunity to learn how to use iNaturalist during this year’s City Nature Challenge (CNC), April 29-May 8, 2022.

What is the CNC? It’s an annual citizen science event that gets people outside to enjoy nature in their city as well as create a living record of urban wildlife. Participants are asked to get outside and take photos of wildlife (this includes both plants and animals!) using the free iNaturalist app or iNaturalist.ca. More than 400 cities took part in 2021 from around the world, 25 of which were right here in Canada.

While the City of Burnaby is not officially participating in the CNC this year, the BLPA wants to introduce the community to how fun an easy it is to use the iNaturalist app and website – simply snap a photo, share what you have seen and learn about the nature around you!

Join the BLPA at Burnaby Blooms for a workshop a guided walk to use the app:

  • DATE: Saturday, May 7
  • TIME: 2:30 – 3:30 pm. (2:30-3:00 – workshop, 3:00-3:30 walk to use the app
  • LOCATION: Deer Lake Park – see map below for meeting location
  • REGISTRATION: City of Burnaby registration link
  • COST: $5 – The City of Burnaby will accept Drop in fee on-site!

To get the most out of the workshop, please download the iNaturalist app ahead of time and set up your account.

You can put your iNaturalist app to use year-round, tracking biodiversity wherever and whenever you’re in the mood to observe nature. Many nature groups host projects like the CNC through the year. The BLPA will have a project this fall that you can join.

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

If you’re new to iNaturalist, check out these tutorials on how iNaturalist works:

From the iNaturalist phone app: How to make an observation on iNaturalist

From the iNaturalist website: How to use iNaturalist’s Photo and Sound uploader

BLPA Social Media Content Survey

The internet and social media have been great tools for us to keep in touch with our community, especially during the past 20 months when we have not been in the park like we usually are. Our channels are a tool to keep you informed about what is going at Burnaby Lake, and connect you to Nature – whether it is letting you know about stewardship opportunities, learning about Burnaby Lake’s ecosystem, its birds, wildlife and plants or simply to share the beauty of our home sweet home.

This quick survey helps us find out how you connect with us and how you think we are doing so we can improve.

If you complete the survey by December 31st, 2021, you will be entered into a random drawing from all submitted surveys by that date to win a $25 Gift Certificate to Mountain Equipment Co-op. You must provide your name and email address at the end of the survey so we can contact you if you are the winner. Must be age 16+ to enter.

Click here to take the survey.

* One entry per person per completed survey. BLPA Directors or contractors are not eligible to win.

Christmas Bird Count for Kids & their Household Bubble!

This is usually the weekend that the BLPA hosts its annual Holiday Open House as well as support Metro Vancouver Regional Park Interpreters with the Christmas Bird Count for Kids. However, due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions, there will not be an official event hosted at Burnaby Lake Regional Park this year. We hope that we will be able to host an Open House event in the new year.

But great news! Our friends at Birds Canada, have provided several resources so you can still do your own Bird Count with your household bubble according to the BC Provincial Health Officer orders. It’s a great way to enjoy and explore nature in the winter. Whether you are an experienced or novice birder, you can join in by tallying birds at Burnaby Lake Regional Park, a neighbourhood field or in your very own backyard or from your patio.

Find out how here.

Remember to have fun, stay safe, and if you post on social, tag us at #burnabylakepark, @burnabylakepark and #cbc4kids #BirdsCanada. We would love to see how much fun you get up to and your favourite memories of your count!