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Category: Field Trips

VicPS field trip: Sunday, July 20, 2025

The VicPS fieldtrip this month will be to the lovely Chemainus River.  The site requires a 15-minute walk on a gentle to moderate grade from the parking lot to the river, the ability to traverse a rocky riverbank, and it’s possible you may want to wade across the slippery rocks of the river to the other side.  It is appropriate for families, and children old enough to be around the river.  All children must be in the company of an adult. 

Expect beautiful views, wet feet and a high probability of finding specimens. Sunday is forecast to be a bit cooler than mid-week, but do bring and use sunscreen.

Details are in the email that each member should have received; contact Jerri Wilkins if you have not received the email.  Please RSVP.

    A Summer of VicPS

    The monthly VicPS meetings are on summer hiatus and the focus is on fieldtrips, public education, and the Symposium.

    June 15 – Field Trip, TBD (Lead: Corbin Rolfe)

    Join Corbin Rolfe as he leads his first official VicPS fieldtrip!  Please look for an email from Corbin with details of the trip, closer to the date.

    June 22 – PUBLIC EDUCATION:  Cowichan Valley Nature Kids (lead:  Jerri Wilkins)

    VicPS has been invited back for a second year to provide a ‘fossil field day’ for kids in the Cowichan Valley. Last year our volunteers had a blast introducing kids to the ancient marine life on Mt. Tzouhalem in Duncan. If you like participating in public education, Jerri will reach out closer to the date seeking volunteers. No experience necessary – we all learn by doing!  

    July 20 –  Field Trip (lead:  Jerri Wilkins)

    We’ll visit one of the most beautiful and productive sites on our annual field trip schedule, and one Jerri looks forward to visiting every year.  It’s a moderate walk and a good site for families, and for swimming (sometimes on purpose). Look for the invite closer to the date.

    July 24 – PUBLIC EDUCATION: Island View and You (lead: Carol Barbon)

    This is our annual opportunity to join the Capital Regional District and nature-based organizations for a day of public education focused on the past and present animals and ecosystems of Island View Beach (Cowichan Head) on the Saanich Peninsula. Closer to the date Carol will be looking for volunteers to hang out at Island View Beach for the day….tough job! If you attended the May 18th fieldtrip, this is your opportunity to test your memory by sharing knowledge with others.  Jerri know who you are… we will be in touch!

    August 10 – Field Trip (lead:  Jerri Wilkins)

    This site on the shore is easily accessible, and for those with patience and a good eye, it can reveal well-preserved gastropods and occasionally an ammonite.  Details will be provided in a fieldtrip guide closer to the date.

     August 21 – PUBLIC EDUCATION: Slithery, Slimy & Scaly (lead:  Carol Barbon)

    For this event, we join the Capital Regional District and nature-based organizations at Elk/Beaver Lake to talk about all things slithery, slimy and scaly. VicPS brings a new perspective to this annual event, exploring with kids why we don’t see snakes and frogs and lizards in the local fossil record.  Or do we? Volunteer to help Carol, and you’ll learn the answers. She will reach out for volunteers closer to the date.

    August 21-24 – BCPA-VIPS Paleontological Symposium 2025

    This bi-annual meeting of paleontological researchers is four days of all things paleo as it relates to Vancouver Island and BC.  Presentations on the latest scientific research, scientific posters, workshops and fieldtrips and lots of like-minded professionals and enthusiasts to meet.  Check out the details below, and sign up today:

    15th BC Paleontological Symposium 2025 v2 – Vancouver Island Paleontological Society

    VicPS field trip: Sunday, May 18, 2025

    The VicPS fieldtrip this month will be close to Victoria: on the Saanich Peninsula. Paid members will have received details concerning the field trip as an email.

    Please follow the emailed instructions and RSVP your intention to participate.

    VicPS now has 40 members, the largest membership in the history of VicPS!  

    Local April 2025 VicPS Events

    With no speaker scheduled for the April 9th meeting, our President will report out on recent activities – we did just host a Fossil Fair! – and catch us all up, as well as introduce new members to our Society. 

    The meeting link will be sent via separate email to paid members. 

    We are in the final stages of determining which workshop will take place on April 12th, and details of the April 20th fieldtrip will be circulated a week in advance. Look to your email for further details.

    A Season of Field Trips!

    Here are the dates of the proposed VicPS field trips. Members will have received details regarding the planned destinations. Feedback to our president on this topic is encouraged, and RSVP to the field trip leader is desired prior to each trip.

    DateTimeTrip Leader
    April 21, Sunday8:00 amJerri Wilkins
    May 5, Sunday8:00 amJohn Kitson
    May 19, SundayJerri Wilkins
    June 5 – 6, Wed. – Thurs.John Kitson
    June 16, SundayJerri Wilkins
    June 30, SundayJohn Kitson
    July 21, SundayJerri Wilkins
    July 28, SundayJohn Kitson
    August 18, SundayJerri Wilkins
    August 25, SundayJohn Kitson
    September 15, SundayJerri Wilkins
    September 29, SundayJohn Kitson
    October 20, SundayJerri Wilkins
    November 17, SundayJerri Wilkins

    VicPS field trip: Sunday, January 21, 2024: Possible changes due to weather

    The present snowy conditions at certain places up island may cause the field trip plan to change. Please ensure you check for emailed updates about the field trip before you set off to join us on Sunday morning.

    When:9 AM, Sunday, January 21st, 2024
    Travel:Meet at Helmcken Park & Ride at 9 AM to arrange carpooling.
    Where:Paid members will please check their email for more details.
    Equipment:Hammer large enough to break concretions, chisel, wrapping paper, masking tape, marker, GPS and notebook for recording details.

    Bring lunch, water, snacks, dress for changes in weather and wear
    shoes appropriate for gravel, rock and slopes.

    New VicPS Calendar

    Our website now has a page that shows the Google calendar for the vicpalaeo@gmail.com account that our president generally uses to communicate by email with members. All those events that we’re being notifed about can be found listed there. Note that field trips will continue to lack info about where we’re going; look to your email for those details as the field trip date approaches.

    From the top level menu, Events->Calendar of Events should get you to https://vicpalaeo.org/events/.

    VicPS field trip: Sunday, October 29th

    When:7:30AM, Sunday, October 29th, 2023
    Travel:Meet at Helmcken Park & Ride at 7:30AM to arrange carpooling.
    Where:Paid members will please check their email for more details.
    Equipment:Hammer large enough to break concretions, chisel, wrapping paper, masking tape, marker, GPS and notebook for recording details.

    Bring lunch, water, snacks, dress for changes in weather and wear
    shoes appropriate for shallow water.

    Please note: The initial PDF emailed to members may show an incorrect date for this field trip. It is in fact planned as per the subject line, Sunday, October 29th, 2023.

    Fall 2023: Recent and Upcoming Activities

    Paid VicPS members wll have received an email with the following information, and more detal about upcoming planned field trips.

    Sept 10th Fieldtrip, Cowichan Head, Saanich

    We had beautiful weather this past weekend putting our eyes to work for the RBCM to supplement the Cowichan Head Pleistocene collection with some new material that has eroded from the bluffs over the past season (see photos on the VicPS Facebook page). Dr. Richard Hebda gave us an overview (and for some, a refresher) of the relative ages of each strata, and where the marine became deltaic, etc. up through time. He pointed out the various ‘zones’ along the beach where macrofossils, plant material and marine fossils are likely to be collected, and reminded us that, in the macrofossil zone, look for bright white (bone) and black (tooth material). We did not find more fish (like the beautiful specimen posted to Nanaimo Group Fossils Facebook page last month, and in short order delivered to the RBCM), but we did find what Dr. Hebda identified as fish coprolite. Derek left with a heavier pack containing a handful of plant specimens, a feeding trace and a few tiny bone bits, and we all took away a wealth of information about the history of the bluffs and what current interpretations reveal about environmental change here on the Peninsula over that past 100,000+ years.  A big shout out to newest member, Logan, for scoring the BEST find of the day…a small piece of wood perfect for carbon-dating.  Logan, we’ll make sure you hear what the research on your discovery reveals!

    October 15th Fieldtrip

    This is the date for our next planned field trip. Details to follow once confirmed. Also, look for an announcement on a joint field trip of VicPS and VIPS to make up for one that was cancelled last year.

    September 20th Meeting IN PERSON!

    We begin our fall meetings with an IN-PERSON MEET & GREET and SHOW & TELL! We have not had a show and tell since COVID began in 2020, so please bring AS MUCH MATERIAL AS YOU CAN and let’s see what we can identify. Details of time and place to follow. Finding a room we can afford has been a challenge and your Council are checking out a few.  If anyone is aware of a room big enough for 15-20, Internet enabled, please advise.

    We will also hold a VicPS Director’s meeting on September 20th, after which we will hold a Symposium wrap-up meeting (date pending) and report out on the Symposium outcomes, including financials.

    October 21st, BCPA AGM

    The BCPA will hold its AGM in October. We will share the insights we get into what’s happening across BC with you after the meeting.

    Welcome back from summer, and please watch for further emails with details on the planned activities above.