Field Trips - Fall 2025
Please Note: anyone wishing to take part in these walks should follow current Provincial Health guidelines when travelling to the designated meeting place.
Please Note: anyone wishing to carpool should email the trip leader to make arrangements before-hand, otherwise meet at the designated meeting place..
Pre-registration will be mandatory as we must know in advance how many participants to expect and, if necessary, arrange for more than one leader to ensure that no more than ten persons are in each group in order to maintain required social distancing.
Please email the leader for more information and to pre-register.
The walks are generally about two hours long and are open to all Naturalist Clubs members (adults & children, but no pets please). Please dress for the weather and bring water, binoculars and a snack (plus bug spray in summer).
Note: these walks are weather dependent so if the weather is bad and no calls are received then the leader will not show up.
> Saturday September 6th
Forslund Watson Property
Leader: Ryan Usenik
Time: 9:00 am at 2705 - 232nd Street..
Join Ryan as he leads us through this property which LFN manages with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources and Rural Development, and is part open fields with ponds and part woodland. Wear sturdy footwear as we will be walking in open fields and natural woodland trails.
NOTE: there is not a washroom at this site.
Email Ryan Usenik
> Thursday September 11th
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary - Delta
Leader: John Gordon
Time: 9:00 am at Reifel. Meet in the Sanctuary parking lot.
Join John to walk the trails in the well-known nature reserve. Expect to see and hear lots of birds as well as a great variety of trees and shrubs. Please dress for the weather and wear proper footwear. There is a small admission fee. Bring a lunch, snacks, and refreshments..
NOTE: you must register your vehicle ahead of time. Go to the Reifel website for registration information.
Email John Gordon
> Saturday September 20th
South Langley Regional Trail and Irene Pearce Trail [NOTE: new leader]
Leader: Ryan Usenik
Time: 9:00 am in the parking lot at 500 - 224th Street.
Join Ryan to walk the trails in this rural park that was first turned into a park after pressure was exerted by the Council of Ratepayers and the LFN. Originally known as Langley Municipal Park, it has recently been sold to Metro Vancouver Parks for $1 and combined with one other property that fronts 232nd Street, and is now called South Langley Regional Park. The new property fronting 232nd Street is not accessible at this time, but will be developed over the next few years. The Park has stands of mature Douglas Fir and inclues the Irene Pearce Trail which passes farm fields and crosses wetlands that feed the Little Campbell River.
Email Ryan Usenik
> Thursday September 25th
Blackie Spit, Crescent Beach, Surrey
Leader: Perry Poulson
Time: 9:00 am; meet at the Crescent Beach pier (across from the parking lot by the outdoor swimming pool).
Join Perry to explore the Spit and look for the birds that are migrating south through this important area with its varied habitat. This is an easy 3 km walk on gravel trails. Whashrooms are available at the parking lot.
Email Perry Poulsen
> Saturday October 4th
Jackman Wetlands Park
Leader: Gareth Pugh
Time: 9:00 am.in the parking lot at 272nd Street at 10th Avenue across from the Transfer Station.
Join Gareth to walk the trails of this rural park, which is the site of a former Township gravel pit and dump. After the dump was declared full in the 1980's and capped, it was designated as a park and LFN helped with the restoration tree planting that was done. The ponds are home to wintering ducks and beavers can be seen there.
Email Gareth Pugh
> Wednesday October 8th
Williams Park
Leader: Anne Gosse
Time: 9:00 am in the grave parking lot at the park entrance 6595 - 238th Street.
Join Anne for a walk around this rural park with open spaces, forested areas and the river trail along the banks of the Salmon River. Williams Park has been described as a "hidden gem" and is located in part of the Salmon River Watershed. There is a picnic shelter, washrooms, and one trail is handicap accessible. Bring water and a snack to enjoy after the walk.
Email Anne Gosse
> Thursday October 18th
A Rocha Brooksdale and Adjoining Forest/Wetland
Leaders: Ted Goshulak and Steven Esau (A Rocha staff member)
Time: 8:00 am at A Rocha Brooksdale, 1620 - 192nd Street, S. Surrey [NOTE: time].
Join Ted and Steven to walk the trails in this forest, which is adjacent to Stokes Pit and has been the centre of controversy over the past few years as attempts have been made to turn it into as industrial estate. It is owned by the City of Surrey and the one edge includes an area of restored salmon habitat. Parts of the walk include some hills and uneven paths. The walk is around 2 km in length. After the walk there will be an opportunity for a guided walk around the A Rocha Brooksdale site.
Email Ted Goshulak
> Saturday October 25th
Trinity Western University
Leader: David Clements
Time: 9:00 am at the University, 22500 University Drive.
Trinity Western University's Ecosystem Study Area (ESA) is comprised of diverse riparian habitats surrounding waterways including tributaries of the Salmon River, the Salmon River itself, and MacMillan Lake. These habitats are home to a diversity of plant and animal species. Many bird species can be seen including numerous passerines, raptors, and waterfowl. There is a extensive rearing habitat for Coho Salmon and the forested areas are also home to the endangered Oregon Forest Snail, which has been studied extensively by Trinity Western researchers. The ESA serves as an excellent outdoor classroom for Trinity students and is also open to the public, with an extensive network of recently upgraded trails.
Email David Clements
> Saturday November 1st
Brydon Lagoon
Leader: Wim Vesseur
Time: 9:00 am at the 53rd Avenue parking lot near 198A Street, Langley.
Join Wim to walk around the lagoon where a variety of duck species come to spend the winter and see the restoration work being carried out by LEPS. This is an easy walk of about 2 km.
NOTE: there is not a washroom at this site.
Email Wim Vesseur
> Saturday November 8th
Gloucester Estates, West Creek Headwaters Wetlands
Leader: Ted Lightfoot
Time: 9:00 am at 5458 - 272nd Street, Aldergrove
Join Ted for a walk around this important wetland where salmon spawn, beavers build their dams, and a variety of birds live and breed. Ted will show us the beaver dams and explain how they create such a valuable habitat in the midst of an industrial development. Dress warmly, bring a lunch and a warm drink. This walk is about 2 km on a level trail.
Email Ted Lightfoot
> Saturday November 15th
Houston Trail in Derby Reach Regional Park, Nature Beyond Names
Leader: Phil Henderson
Time: 9:00 am at the parking lot on Allard Crescent
We humans spend a lot of time naming things, then changing those names until we are happy, at least some of us, if only temporarily. Naming and labelling are necessary for us to keep track and sort things out. On this walk, we won't abandon names and categories (raven, bird; fern, plant) but we will try to view nature as a whole, then possibly deconstruct, bringing names into the picture to help us understand and make sense of things. The process of figuring things, such as how organisms fit into their environment and interact with one another, may be more important than figuring things out, because chances are we won't; what we think we have figured our may be entirely speculative and quite possibly, wrong. Bring your eyes, ears, nostrils, and ideas, however wild and speculative, to the Houston Loop parking lot and trailhead, 09:00, rain or shine.
Email Phil Henderson
> Saturday November 29th
Serpentine Fen Wildlife Management Area
Leader: Viveka Ohman
Time: 10:00 am in the parking lot at Serpentine River bridge.
Join us for a walk around this wetland that is jointly managed by Ducks Unlimited and the Ministry of the Environment, where a variety of ducks and other birds spend the winter. This is an easy walk of about 3.5 km.
NOTE: there is not a washroom at this site.
Email Viveka Ohman
>Saturday December 6th
Milaster Property, Aldergrove
Leader: Eric Habisch
Time: 9:00 am at 7040 - 272nd Street.
Join Eric to see this new park which is not yet open to the public but in which LFN are carrying out biodiversity studies for the Township of Langley. Wear waterproof footwear as one part of the trail is very wet. This walk is moderately difficult and is about 2 km. in length.
NOTE: there is not a washroom at this site.
Email Eric Habisch
> Saturday December 13th
Blackie Spit - Crescent Beach
Leader: Keith Chrystall
Time: 9:00 am at Crescent Beach Pier (across the parking lot by the outdoor swimming pool).
Join Keth for a walk around this popular park where a variety of migrant and resident birds can be found in winter; followed by a warm-up at a local coffee shop. This is an easy walk of about 3 km and a great opportunity to brush up on your duck identification skills.
Email Keith Chrystall
Please Note: anyone wishing to take part in these walks should follow current Provincial Health guidelines when travelling to the designated meeting place.
Please Note: anyone wishing to carpool should email the trip leader to make arrangements before-hand, otherwise meet at the designated meeting place..
Pre-registration will be mandatory as we must know in advance how many participants to expect and, if necessary, arrange for more than one leader to ensure that no more than ten persons are in each group in order to maintain required social distancing.
Please email the leader for more information and to pre-register.
The walks are generally about two hours long and are open to all Naturalist Clubs members (adults & children, but no pets please). Please dress for the weather and bring water, binoculars and a snack (plus bug spray in summer).
Note: these walks are weather dependent so if the weather is bad and no calls are received then the leader will not show up.
> Saturday September 6th
Forslund Watson Property
Leader: Ryan Usenik
Time: 9:00 am at 2705 - 232nd Street..
Join Ryan as he leads us through this property which LFN manages with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources and Rural Development, and is part open fields with ponds and part woodland. Wear sturdy footwear as we will be walking in open fields and natural woodland trails.
NOTE: there is not a washroom at this site.
Email Ryan Usenik
> Thursday September 11th
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary - Delta
Leader: John Gordon
Time: 9:00 am at Reifel. Meet in the Sanctuary parking lot.
Join John to walk the trails in the well-known nature reserve. Expect to see and hear lots of birds as well as a great variety of trees and shrubs. Please dress for the weather and wear proper footwear. There is a small admission fee. Bring a lunch, snacks, and refreshments..
NOTE: you must register your vehicle ahead of time. Go to the Reifel website for registration information.
Email John Gordon
> Saturday September 20th
South Langley Regional Trail and Irene Pearce Trail [NOTE: new leader]
Leader: Ryan Usenik
Time: 9:00 am in the parking lot at 500 - 224th Street.
Join Ryan to walk the trails in this rural park that was first turned into a park after pressure was exerted by the Council of Ratepayers and the LFN. Originally known as Langley Municipal Park, it has recently been sold to Metro Vancouver Parks for $1 and combined with one other property that fronts 232nd Street, and is now called South Langley Regional Park. The new property fronting 232nd Street is not accessible at this time, but will be developed over the next few years. The Park has stands of mature Douglas Fir and inclues the Irene Pearce Trail which passes farm fields and crosses wetlands that feed the Little Campbell River.
Email Ryan Usenik
> Thursday September 25th
Blackie Spit, Crescent Beach, Surrey
Leader: Perry Poulson
Time: 9:00 am; meet at the Crescent Beach pier (across from the parking lot by the outdoor swimming pool).
Join Perry to explore the Spit and look for the birds that are migrating south through this important area with its varied habitat. This is an easy 3 km walk on gravel trails. Whashrooms are available at the parking lot.
Email Perry Poulsen
> Saturday October 4th
Jackman Wetlands Park
Leader: Gareth Pugh
Time: 9:00 am.in the parking lot at 272nd Street at 10th Avenue across from the Transfer Station.
Join Gareth to walk the trails of this rural park, which is the site of a former Township gravel pit and dump. After the dump was declared full in the 1980's and capped, it was designated as a park and LFN helped with the restoration tree planting that was done. The ponds are home to wintering ducks and beavers can be seen there.
Email Gareth Pugh
> Wednesday October 8th
Williams Park
Leader: Anne Gosse
Time: 9:00 am in the grave parking lot at the park entrance 6595 - 238th Street.
Join Anne for a walk around this rural park with open spaces, forested areas and the river trail along the banks of the Salmon River. Williams Park has been described as a "hidden gem" and is located in part of the Salmon River Watershed. There is a picnic shelter, washrooms, and one trail is handicap accessible. Bring water and a snack to enjoy after the walk.
Email Anne Gosse
> Thursday October 18th
A Rocha Brooksdale and Adjoining Forest/Wetland
Leaders: Ted Goshulak and Steven Esau (A Rocha staff member)
Time: 8:00 am at A Rocha Brooksdale, 1620 - 192nd Street, S. Surrey [NOTE: time].
Join Ted and Steven to walk the trails in this forest, which is adjacent to Stokes Pit and has been the centre of controversy over the past few years as attempts have been made to turn it into as industrial estate. It is owned by the City of Surrey and the one edge includes an area of restored salmon habitat. Parts of the walk include some hills and uneven paths. The walk is around 2 km in length. After the walk there will be an opportunity for a guided walk around the A Rocha Brooksdale site.
Email Ted Goshulak
> Saturday October 25th
Trinity Western University
Leader: David Clements
Time: 9:00 am at the University, 22500 University Drive.
Trinity Western University's Ecosystem Study Area (ESA) is comprised of diverse riparian habitats surrounding waterways including tributaries of the Salmon River, the Salmon River itself, and MacMillan Lake. These habitats are home to a diversity of plant and animal species. Many bird species can be seen including numerous passerines, raptors, and waterfowl. There is a extensive rearing habitat for Coho Salmon and the forested areas are also home to the endangered Oregon Forest Snail, which has been studied extensively by Trinity Western researchers. The ESA serves as an excellent outdoor classroom for Trinity students and is also open to the public, with an extensive network of recently upgraded trails.
Email David Clements
> Saturday November 1st
Brydon Lagoon
Leader: Wim Vesseur
Time: 9:00 am at the 53rd Avenue parking lot near 198A Street, Langley.
Join Wim to walk around the lagoon where a variety of duck species come to spend the winter and see the restoration work being carried out by LEPS. This is an easy walk of about 2 km.
NOTE: there is not a washroom at this site.
Email Wim Vesseur
> Saturday November 8th
Gloucester Estates, West Creek Headwaters Wetlands
Leader: Ted Lightfoot
Time: 9:00 am at 5458 - 272nd Street, Aldergrove
Join Ted for a walk around this important wetland where salmon spawn, beavers build their dams, and a variety of birds live and breed. Ted will show us the beaver dams and explain how they create such a valuable habitat in the midst of an industrial development. Dress warmly, bring a lunch and a warm drink. This walk is about 2 km on a level trail.
Email Ted Lightfoot
> Saturday November 15th
Houston Trail in Derby Reach Regional Park, Nature Beyond Names
Leader: Phil Henderson
Time: 9:00 am at the parking lot on Allard Crescent
We humans spend a lot of time naming things, then changing those names until we are happy, at least some of us, if only temporarily. Naming and labelling are necessary for us to keep track and sort things out. On this walk, we won't abandon names and categories (raven, bird; fern, plant) but we will try to view nature as a whole, then possibly deconstruct, bringing names into the picture to help us understand and make sense of things. The process of figuring things, such as how organisms fit into their environment and interact with one another, may be more important than figuring things out, because chances are we won't; what we think we have figured our may be entirely speculative and quite possibly, wrong. Bring your eyes, ears, nostrils, and ideas, however wild and speculative, to the Houston Loop parking lot and trailhead, 09:00, rain or shine.
Email Phil Henderson
> Saturday November 29th
Serpentine Fen Wildlife Management Area
Leader: Viveka Ohman
Time: 10:00 am in the parking lot at Serpentine River bridge.
Join us for a walk around this wetland that is jointly managed by Ducks Unlimited and the Ministry of the Environment, where a variety of ducks and other birds spend the winter. This is an easy walk of about 3.5 km.
NOTE: there is not a washroom at this site.
Email Viveka Ohman
>Saturday December 6th
Milaster Property, Aldergrove
Leader: Eric Habisch
Time: 9:00 am at 7040 - 272nd Street.
Join Eric to see this new park which is not yet open to the public but in which LFN are carrying out biodiversity studies for the Township of Langley. Wear waterproof footwear as one part of the trail is very wet. This walk is moderately difficult and is about 2 km. in length.
NOTE: there is not a washroom at this site.
Email Eric Habisch
> Saturday December 13th
Blackie Spit - Crescent Beach
Leader: Keith Chrystall
Time: 9:00 am at Crescent Beach Pier (across the parking lot by the outdoor swimming pool).
Join Keth for a walk around this popular park where a variety of migrant and resident birds can be found in winter; followed by a warm-up at a local coffee shop. This is an easy walk of about 3 km and a great opportunity to brush up on your duck identification skills.
Email Keith Chrystall
