What’s New
Check here regularly for updates around the Island!
On this Page
- What’s new on the island
- Noteworthy photos around the island
- Our new marsh mural is complete!
- Nature Kids – First event Feb. 21 from 1-3pm
- Evening Program at the Nature House Feb. 12 at 7pm
- New high visibility section at Otter Point
- Otter Point needs a new bridge
- Please stay on the trails
- Join the Williams Lake Field Naturalists
- Fred never stops giving to Scout Island
- Scout Island school report 2025
What’s new on the Island
february 2026
Winter has gently eased things into a slower rhythm on Scout Island, but there’s still plenty to enjoy. The feeders are busy with red-winged blackbirds, house finches, evening grossbeaks, dark-eyed juncos, and cheerful chickadees. Trails can be slick this time of year, so grab those ice grippers and tread carefully. Recent highlights include short-eared owl viewings and eagles taking advantage of the open water on Williams Creek to fish – the winter wild surprises.
Noteworthy photos around the island
We feature noteworthy photos from local photographers here. Check in regularly for the next photo dump! To submit your own photos, send them to manager@scoutisland.ca.
Our new marsh mural is complete!
Our beautiful marsh mural inside the Nature House, along the stairs to the basement, is now complete!
A heartfelt thank-you to Jonny Russell for dedicating so much time and
effort to create this stunning piece for everyone to enjoy. I’ve especially loved hearing the preschoolers playing “I Spy” on the stairs, delighting in discovering all the hidden creatures within it.
Nature Kids
February 21, 2026 from 1:00-3:00pm
Do you have children/grandchildren between the ages of 5-12 years and would like outdoor programs or outings geared to this age group? We are reinvigorating the NatureKids BC program in Williams Lake in 2026! Our goal is to have an event each month for NatureKids members to take part in that will include activities at Scout Island or field trips to other nature sites in our area. Although a few events will be family events, open to the community, the majority of events will be only open to NatureKids members.
NatureKids is a free membership. For more information on NatureKids BC go to www.naturekidsbc.ca
where you may also register your child/children. Registration forms will also be available at Scout Island and at our activities.
Our first event will be on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Nature House from 1:00-3:00pm. This will be a family event open to the community. You are getting an early heads up notice.
Topic: Birds and Birdfeeders – Participants will learn basic information about what makes a bird a bird, different classifications, identification/viewing of our winter birds this year through hands on specimens and outdoor observation. The day will wrap up with building a take home birdfeeder for interested families.
Note: Birdfeeder kits are limited so if this is something that your family is interested in please register at membership@williamslakefieldnaturalists.ca adding NatureKids in the subject line.
Evening Program at the Nature House
February 12, 2026
The City of Williams Lake, Williams Lake First Nation and the BC Wildfire Service will be hosting a presentation on Thursday, February 12 at 7 pm at the Scout Island Nature Centre. This presentation will focus on how Scout Island, as a centre for public education, can support ongoing education opportunities on the benefits and history of cultural and prescribed burning.
Deepen your understanding of the history of fire as an ecological restoration tool and how cultural and prescribed burning practices can benefit and influence positive environmental changes, and how we can continue to educate our community on these practices.
Join the Williams Lake Field Naturalists
Do you love being out in nature? Why not join the Williams Lake Field Naturalists! Since 1978, the club has managed and cared for the Nature Centre. In fact, some of the original members are still part of the team! Members help out at Scout Island by becoming directors on the Williams Lake Field Naturalists board, digging weeds and planting trees, doing artwork for the centre, training summer staff, or building and/or repairing infrastructure. New members are always welcomed! If you join, you can also take part in great field trips, presentations, and workshops about our local ecosystems.
Joining is easy, just visit Williams Lake Field Naturalists.
Membership is important as it gives Scout Island a strong voice. As well, being a member means you are a member of BC Nature one of the strongest advocates for nature in the province.
new high visibility section at otter point
The new high visibility section of Otter Point is complete!! Great service from WL Railings and volunteers Peter, Rick and Rodger. It was a soggy work morning. And yes, we will definitely have some decals up before next spring to help avoid bird collisions. We hope this project improves visibility of the marsh for all, particularly small people and the mobility challenged.
The little explorers at Tales & Trails and Nature Preschool are already loving the new viewing window.
Otter Point Needs a New Bridge
The poor old Otter Point bridge had to be closed at the end of September 2025 due to structural issues. However, we are happy to announce that with some fantastic community support from Celtic Engineering, Cariboo Steel and West Fraser it was repaired on November 3rd, 2025 and should last until it’s planned replacement date in August/September 2026. As many of you know, community donations are the heartbeat of Scout Island. They help us provide year-round nature mentorship, keep the Nature House vibrant and full of life, keep the trails, boardwalks and bridges safe for use, and offer meaningful programs for all ages.
Right now, we are working towards a big funding goal for replacing the Otter Point Bridge next August. We’re not quite there yet with our fundraising, but every contribution helps us get closer.
Please Stay on the Trails
Did you know that the Scout Island Nature Centre lands are owned by The Nature Trust of BC? The Nature Trust has over 500 properties in BC and all of these properties are of ecological significance.
B.C. has the highest number of species of any province or territory in Canada. Yet more than a quarter of the species in B.C. are now at risk because of low or dwindling populations. Saving their habitat is the first step in protecting our wildlife, fish and plants.
While you are enjoying your time at Scout Island, think about all the plants, animals and birds that make the islands their home. By staying on the trails, you are protecting habitat and reducing the chance that you will disturb wildlife and their young, or damage important or rare plants. You will also be protecting the archaeological richness of the area.
When you go off the designated trails you are disturbing habitat, increasing the chances of soil erosion and increasing the establishment of invasive species. So please do your part to ensure these lands are protected for future generations of wildlife, plants, and people, too.
Evening Program at the Nature House
January 22 at 7pm
A Program is scheduled for January 22nd at 7 PM at the Nature House. This presentation will provide an overview of the life history of caribou in British Columbia with a particular focus on the herds that found in the Cariboo region. It will explore key aspects of caribou biology, including their seasonal movements, and habitat requirements. Additionally, it will address the growing range of challenges faced by caribou populations today such as loss of habitat and predation pressure. Updated population estimates for the Cariboo-region herds will be shared, along with an explanation of the monitoring methods used to track changes in their numbers over time.
The session will be led by Rachel Stapleton, a Wildlife Biologist with the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship. Rachel specializes in caribou population monitoring and has experience conducting field surveys and analyzing demographic trends. Her work contributes directly to evidence-based management strategies aimed at ensuring the persistence and resilience of caribou across British Columbia.
Evening Program at the Nature House
November 25 at 7pm
A program is scheduled for November 25th at 7 PM at the Nature House. This is an excellent film about Salmon and the Fraser River.
Bev Sellars will attend with her film and join us for a discussion afterwards. Please bring a snack to share and we can have tea and treats after viewing the film that is called “The Spirit Who Swims”.
fred never stops giving to scout island
By Sue Hemphill
All of you know Fred’s long history of giving to the Field Naturalists and to Scout Island. I found documents he signed in 1979 as President of the WL Field Naturalists and the “managing” of Scout Island by the Field Naturalists began at that time. So much of what Scout Island is today is a result of years of volunteer time by Fred (and many others). Scout Island is the place he asks to come to whenever I have time to book the Handidart and take him down. We had a lively lunch with him in the Nature House library and then went out for a walk at the end of September. I pointed out the new trail sign Lara had made, and he was so pleased that someone else had taken over this long-time task of his.
It is no surprise that when it came time to sell his house and all of the contents in it, he decided that all proceeds from the sale of the contents should go as a donation to Scout Island. It was a very generous donation and has been used to pay for staff time. Fred knows this is the most difficult cost to raise funding for and requested that it be used that way.
If you If you have time, stop in and visit Fred at the Seniors Village on Western Ave. He is in the Eagle View wing and always enjoys visitors and a good conversation. If it is a sunny day, take him out in the sun. You can contact me (250 620 3498) if you want more details on how to visit Fred as you can’t just call him.
Hands on History
october 25th from 1pm – 3pm
adult & Family 2025 programs
Day camp 2025 registrations closed
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. Our summer nature fun program is for all children aged 4 to 13 over the summer. We are now doing online registration so see links on this website or our Facebook to register.
Check back in the spring for 2026 registration.
