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
- 26th annual Scout Island Plant and Garage Sale – May 23 9:30-1:30
- We will have a booth at the Children’s Festival in Boitanio park May 24 10-3
- Marsh Magic Festival – May 31 10am-2pm
- Otter Point needs a new bridge
- Please stay on the trails
- Join the Williams Lake Field Naturalists
- Scout Island school report 2025
What’s new on the Island
april 21,2026
Spring has officially burst onto the scene! Painted turtles are stretched out on sunny logs like little sunbathers, while flocks of white-crowned sparrows hop energetically along the pathways. American white pelican have made their grand return, soaring high on warm thermals or gliding into the shallows for a meal. Fresh green buds are popping open on the trees, and the trails are alive with people soaking up the sunshine. Here at Scout Island Nature Centre, we’re just as busy as the wildlife, with an exciting lineup of programs and activities planned for May!
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.
marsh magic festival at scout island
Sunday may 31st, 2026 10am-2pm
We are excited to invite you to our second Marsh Magic Festival! Our first festival, held in June 2024 was fantastic, with approximately 300 individuals attending. Here people can join to explore, learn and celebrate the magic of our unique and dynamic marsh at Scout Island. This event will include more than a dozen stations involving crafts, displays, nature educational stations and activities. Many partners are involved in this family friendly, hands on experience.
26 annual scout island plant and yard sale
may 23, 2026 9:30am-1:30pm
We appreciate any extra veggie or flower starts and garage sale items you might like to donate! You can drop off items UPSTAIRS at the Nature House on Friday May 22nd after 2pm, the morning of the event or contact Charlotte at 250-267-4562 to make other arrangements. Organizers can also be reached via email at scout.island.plant.sale@gmail.com if you have questions about the event. Your donations and purchases make this a success every year and proceeds allow the Williams Lake Field Naturalists to provide a bursary for a graduating local high school student. Thank you for making this possible!!!!
First annual scout island solid gold swingin’ spectacular
may 9, 2026 doors open 6:30 pm
You’re Invited to a Night of Jazz, Dancing & Community Fun!
Join us for the very first Jazz Dance Fundraiser in support of the Scout Island Nature Centre — an evening filled with great music, lively dancing, and community spirit.
Saturday, May 9: Doors open at 6:30 PM Show starts at 7:30 PM at the Celtic Curling Centre in Williams Lake. Tickets available at the Open Book!
The night will feature the Cariboo Gold Dance Band with Kirsten Lyons, playing all your favourites so you can swing, jitterbug, foxtrot, or simply relax and enjoy the music. Throughout the evening, guests can look forward to door prizes, a silent auction, a full bar, and delicious desserts available for purchase.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors, making it an easy and enjoyable way to support this vibrant community hub that offers nature programs for all ages and a beautiful trail system to explore.
If you’d like to purchase and reserve an entire table contact Lara at manager@scoutisland.ca.
Come out and make this inaugural event one to remember!
Firesmart scavenger hunt
may 2, 2026 from 2-4 pm
Get ready to explore, learn, and take action with the FireSmart Scavenger Hunt! This interactive event will guide you through simple ways to protect your home and community from wildfire risks. Explore the trails at Scout Island, complete fun challenges, and discover how small changes—like clearing debris or choosing fire-resistant plants—can make a big difference. This is a free event and fun for kids and families! Presented by the Taya Vanderkop-Girard from the City of Williams Lake, in partnership with Scout Island Nature Centre, Williams lake First Nations and the Cariboo Regional District.
film partnership – “H is for Hawk”
thursday April 16th, 7pm – Paradise Theatre
Come check out this beautiful film at the Paradise Theatre – presented in partnership with the Williams Lake Film Club.
Nature Kids – “wHO WAS HERE?”
MARCH 21, 2026 from 1:00-3:00pm
NatureKids event at Scout Island on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 1:00-3:00 pm (arrive early to sign in). Participants will be looking for tracks (snow or mud depending on conditions), signs of animals eating, and/or animal resting spots.
Come dressed to be outside and ready to do a bit exploring on site!
As this is a NatureKids program it is geared to children ages 5-12 years of age registered with NatureKids BC. If not already a member of the NatureKids BC program, it is a free membership that can be completed at www.naturekidsbc.ca. Register for “Who Was Here?” at membership@williamslakefieldnaturalists.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
mARCH 5, 2026 at 7pm
Dr. Chris Shepherd from the Centre of Biological Diversity presents Global Wildlife Trade – and what role does Canada play in it all.
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.
