Helping maintain ecological health, vibrancy and vitality

Long Beach Lodge Resort is proud to be a corporate sponsor of the Raincoast Education Society.

On Dec. 4, 2014, Society executive director Dan Harrison provided an overview of 2014 activities in and around Tofino and Long Beach, and a glimpse of the many worthwhile projects planned for 2015.

Starting in 2014, The Raincoast Education Society partnered with the University of Victoria and California State University to carry out radionuclide sampling of sea water and kelp in Clayoquot Sound. Project goals include collecting baseline data of radionuclides in ocean water and kelp in Clayoquot Sound; disseminating radioactivity findings from sampling efforts to residents and visitors of the Clayoquot Sound region; and then working with governments and universities to ensure findings from Clayoquot Sound are considered in ongoing research efforts.  The project is due to end in March 2015, however, the Society is working to keep the monitoring going.

Tofino Mudflats are a key piece of the Pacific Rim and Long Beach puzzle.

The Raincoast Education Society’s Tofino Mudflats Stewardship Project is focused on monitoring the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) - 21 square kilometers of rich, diverse habitats for numerous wildlife species. It is comprised of tidal flats, shallow to deep subtidal areas, rock and gravel beaches, marshes, tidal channels, streams, riparian areas, and dense coastal temperate rainforest.

Raincoast Education Society   Raincoast Education Society.

Many species call the Tofino mudflats home. Pipefish, ghost shrimp, and ribbon worms are just some of the small fish and invertebrates that spend their whole lives in the eelgrass and mud of Tofino Mudflats WMA. Other animals use the mudflats daily or seasonally. Thousands of migratory and local bird species can be found feeding and resting. Grey whales and orcas pass through the area’s deep channels. Bears, cougars and wolves forage in the forest and shoreline environments.

The Raincoast Education Society was also active in the community with a number of outreach and educational programs.

The Raincoast Institute offered high-quality continued education courses on conserving natural ecosystems for adults and children in 2014 and more are slated for 2015. This year the Institute will offer a range of weekend field-courses taught by local and visiting experts. Some of the course themes include: Mushrooms of the West Coast; Geology of the West Coast; Seaweeds of the West Coast; Nature Photography. Last fall, the Society joined with Long Beach Lodge Resort and Resort chef Ian Riddick for a mushroom foraging and cooking event.

Society executive director Dan Harrison says he is excited by the support the non-profit society and registered Canadian charity has received from corporate sponsors like Long Beach Lodge Resort. Resort owner Tim Hackett says groups like the Raincoast Education Society play a vital role monitoring and helping the region retain its ecological health, vibrancy and vitality.

About the Raincoast Education Society

The Raincoast Education Society (RES) is an independent non-profit society and registered Canadian charity. The RES was established in August 2000 with a mission to help shape an environmentally sustainable future for the Clayoquot and Barkley Sound region through education and community stewardship. Our aim is to enable citizens within and beyond the Clayoquot and Barkley Sound region to participate knowledgeably, effectively and responsibly in the work of shaping this future for our region and for our planet.




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