Monks Point Park, Tofino – June 8 – 10, 2012
Monks Point Park is one of TLC’s latest properties and is located in Tofino on Vancouver Island. The property consists of a rocky point with a main house, cottage, boathouse, garage and other outbuildings, all beautifully built and well suited to the property. There is a trail that follows the edge of the cliffs around the outside of the property allowing views in all directions. The trail includes a foot bridge in one location, however, the wet West Coast weather has taken its toll on this bridge and it is in need of replacement. On this working holiday weekend you will have the opportunity to help in re-building the bridge and doing other small projects while picking up some basic building skills. The cottage will provide comfortable accommodation and cooking and eating facilities. Also, there will be plenty of time for participants to explore the town of Tofino which is only a ten minute walk away.
Work Tasks:
We will be re-building the foot bridge on the pathway around the property. The old bridge will already be removed and the work will consist of laying stringers and tread material and attaching hand railings. We may also have time to do some gardening around the main house and to remove invasive plant species throughout the property.
Tools will be provided, however, if you have hammers, knee pads, loppers, or pruners that you would like to use, please bring them along.
Holiday Itinerary:
Friday, June 8: Arrival Day
4 p.m.: Arrivals, settle into the cabin, introductions, walking tour of the property
6 p.m.: Dinner provided by TLC
Evening: Time to relax and get to know your fellow travellers
Saturday, June 9:
8 a.m.: Breakfast provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
9 a.m.: Introduction to the project/tool safety/bridge construction
Noon: Lunch provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
1 p.m.: Bridge construction
4:30 p.m.: Free time to relax and check out Tofino
6 p.m.: Supper provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
Sunday, June 10:
8 a.m.: Breakfast provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
9 a.m.: Bridge construction/other work
11:30 a.m.: Lunch provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
Cabin clean-up and packing
1:00 p.m.: departure time
Arrival Details: Friday, June 8
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Tofino, however, TLC may be able to help in arranging carpooling amongst participants. Please advise us when registering if you will need a ride. Please note that the availability of rides will depend on other participants and may not be possible for this holiday. If you are coming from the Lower Mainland and bringing a vehicle, a reservation with B.C. Ferries is recommended as Fridays are very busy!
Departure Details: Sunday, June 10
Departure from Monks Point Park will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday. At this time of year it will be possible to visit the beach on the way out of town and still have time to travel back to Victoria in the daylight. Or you may want to extend your visit in Tofino before or after the Conservation Holiday. Visit one of these websites to find out more.
http://www.tofino-bc.com/
http://www.tourismtofino.com/
http://www.my-tofino.com/
Evening Activities: Evening activities are usually informal, and may include games, puzzles and group music. If you play an easily portable instrument, bring it along. If you have a favourite game you would like to share with the group, feel free to bring it with you. Monks Point Park is conveniently located and only a ten minute walk into the town of Tofino.
Non-Member Cost: $280 + HST
Member Cost: $260 + HST
Wildwood Ecoforest, Cedar – July 13 – 15, 2012
Visit this unique property and get a sense of Merv Wilkinson life at Wildwood forest on the edge of Quennell Lake.
The main focus of this holiday will be on repairing the old wood shed next to Merv’s house. There will be a few other options to choose from as well (gardening around Merv’s house, trail maintenance, blackberry removal etc.).
We will also have the opportunity to explore the forest and look at the thought and work that has gone to make this forest the unique and special place it is.
Work Tasks:
We will be repairing the wood shed on the Wildwood property. We may also have time to do some gardening around the main house, trail maintenance and removal of invasive plant species throughout the property.
All required tools and materials will be provided, however, if you have a tool belt, hammers, loppers, pruners, clippers, or weed removal tools that you may prefer to use, please bring them. Gloves would be helpful too.
Holiday Itinerary
Friday, July 13:
4 – 6 p.m.: Arrive, set up tents, organize the campsite, enjoy dinner and orientation.
Saturday, July 14:
8 a.m.: Breakfast
9 a.m.: Work begins
12 p.m.: Lunch
1:30 – 4 p.m.: Property tour and description of stewardship philosophy and practices
7 p.m.: Dinner
Sunday, July 15:
8 a.m.: Breakfast
9 a.m.: Begin work
1 p.m.: Finish work and break up camp
Base Camp:
One of the clearings in the woods will serve as our campsite. We will be camping and cooking outdoors for the duration of the holiday. There is a rustic outhouse.
Arrival Details: Friday, July 13
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Wildwood, arriving between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Departure Details: Sunday, July 15
Departure from Wildwood will be Sunday after lunch around 2 p.m.
Evening Activities: Evening activities are usually informal, and may include swimming, berry picking (if ripe), bocce or other games, puzzles and group music. If you play an easily portable instrument, bring it along. If you have a favourite game you would like to share with the group, feel free to bring it with you.
Non-Member Cost: 215 + HST
Member Cost: 200 + HST
The Canadian Camping and Construction Experience, September 10 – 17, 2012
This week-long holiday will take place at Wildwood Eco-forest on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It offers visitors spectacular scenery and a chance to truly enjoy nature. Wildwood is now widely recognised as a model for eco-forestry and has become a learning site for those wanting to gain skills in eco-forestry.
The holiday: Participants will get a chance to absorb some of the history, see and stay in the Wildwood Eco-forest and participate in the building of a work/picnic shelter from scratch. This structure will be utilised by visiting classes and future work crews. The accommodation is in tents and participants will experience the thrill of living outdoors with an outdoor ‘kitchen’ set-up. Leisure activities may include swimming and games and participants are encouraged to bring musical instruments.
Meeting point: A TLC staff member will meet participants upon arrival at Victoria International Airport on the start day Monday 10 September 2012 at 12 noon and transfer participants by van to the work site.
Accommodation: For the first 6 nights accommodation is camping, on site, in two-person tents unless a special request is made in advance of the holiday for a one-person tent. Due to the nature of the location facilities are very basic. One shower and one toilet are provided in separate outside buildings. The final night will be in a hotel in Victoria.
Bedding: Single air mattresses and ground sheets are provided. Participants must bring their own sleeping bag but these can be provided if requested in advance of the holiday.
Cost: $468.75 + HST
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup – September 21 – 23, 2012
South Winchelsea Island
This September, for the sixth year in a row, TLC will participate in The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. The rocky shoreline of South Winchelsea Island is roughly 2 kilometres long and each year several garbage bags worth of floating debris collect in the nooks and crevices. The shoreline is home to harbour seals, river otter, mink, starfish, mussels and much more. As stewards of this special place it is important that we keep this shoreline clean.
We will also be continuing our work of removing invasive broom and blackberry along the trail and amongst the bluffs of this Garry oak ecosystem. This work has been being carried out over the last 12 years by countless groups of dedicated volunteers and must continue for as long as the roots of the blackberry and the seeds of the broom continue to survive. We are making headway and in the last few years the blackberry vines have dwindled in many places to only small shoots.
As a participant on this holiday you will be adding your helping hands to the long line of those that have come before and those that will come after in the careful work of caring for this rocky windswept island.
South Winchelsea Island. Photo by J Patterson.
Work Tasks:
Our work will focus on clearing the entire shoreline of the island of garbage that has washed in over the last year. We will also continue our conservation work throughout the island where we have been clearing invasive plants from this sensitive ecosystem.
Tools will be provided, however, if you have loppers, pruners, clippers, or weed removal tools that you would like to use, please bring them along.
Holiday Itinerary:
Friday, September 21: Arrival Day
Evening: Get to know your fellow travellers – dinner provided by TLC
Saturday, September 22:
8 a.m.: Breakfast provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
9 a.m.: Introduction to the island
Tool and Safety talk/Conservation Work
Noon: Lunch provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
1 p.m.: Conservation Work
4:30 p.m.: Free time to relax on the deck or to explore the island
6 p.m.: Supper provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
Sunday, September 23:
8 a.m.: Breakfast provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
9 a.m.: Conservation work
Noon: Lunch provided by TLC – prepared by staff and participants
Cabin clean-up for 3 p.m. departure
Photo by H Skydt.
Arrival Details: Friday, September 21
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Schooner Cove Marina. For more information about transportation see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
5:30 p.m.: Meet at Schooner Cove Marina in Nanoose Bay, 3521 Dolphin Drive. Meet by the gate to the marina. The marina gate is at the lowermost parking area.
5:45-6 p.m.: Boat departs Schooner Cove for first shuttle to the island.
6:45 p.m.: Everyone ashore at South Winchelsea Island – unload gear and supplies from boat.
Departure Details: Sunday, September 23
3 p.m.: First boat shuttle off the island. Our departure time is planned to enable ferry travellers to board the 5 p.m. ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay.
Evening Activities: Evening activities are usually informal, and may include games, puzzles and group music. If you play an easily portable instrument, bring it along. If you have a favourite game you would like to share with the group, feel free to bring it with you.
Non-Member Cost: $215 + HST
Member Cost: $193.50 + HST
