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.
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.
| Date | Time | Trip Leader |
|---|---|---|
| April 21, Sunday | 8:00 am | Jerri Wilkins |
| May 5, Sunday | 8:00 am | John Kitson |
| May 19, Sunday | Jerri Wilkins | |
| June 5 – 6, Wed. – Thurs. | John Kitson | |
| June 16, Sunday | Jerri Wilkins | |
| June 30, Sunday | John Kitson | |
| July 21, Sunday | Jerri Wilkins | |
| July 28, Sunday | John Kitson | |
| August 18, Sunday | Jerri Wilkins | |
| August 25, Sunday | John Kitson | |
| September 15, Sunday | Jerri Wilkins | |
| September 29, Sunday | John Kitson | |
| October 20, Sunday | Jerri Wilkins | |
| November 17, Sunday | Jerri Wilkins |
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. |
The January 2024 VicPS meeting will be virtual only. Zoom participation details have been sent to VicPS members in an email.
The in-person meeting at UpTown Shopping Centre has been cancelled due to a threat of snow.
The topic for the evening is Baja B.C. Revisited, a one-hour segment of video from a 26-part series on the latest research into the origin of the Nanaimo Group/Nanaimo Basin. The series was recorded and aired in 2022/23 by University of Washington professor Nick Zentner. The 26-part series covers 4 different hypotheses for the origin of the Nanaimo Basin, interviewing a variety of experts conducting the research. This series became of interest afte Dr. Shahin Dashtgard’s 2022 presentation to VicPS regarding the challenges of interpreting the Nanaimo Group.
Other upcoming events may be discussed, as time and interest allow:
Welcome to 2024 and another year of exploring Vancouver Island.
The November VicPS meeting will be in person and virtual; Zoom participation details have been sent to VicPS members in an email.
For those joining in person, the meeting is:
The Community Room entrance is in the Uptown Shopping Centre parking garage (easy access) on Level 1 (Green). If you’ve ever parked under WalMart and taken the escalator up, the room is to your right at the top of the escalator. If you’re facing the Walmart entrance (about to enter the store), turn left, and at the top of the escalator, turn left. The room is directly ahead.
VicPS president Jerri Wilkins writes: The meeting topic “will be a pictorial walk through of the RBCM’s current exhibits (Sue the T. Rex and Dinos of BC). Both exhibits sparked a lot of questions for me about what we find (and don’t find) here on the island. I’m very curious to hear what you see, as we do a virtual walk-though.”
“We will also have A SHOW AND TELL of specimens from the recent field trip to Boomerang Lake. Thank you, Andrew Fidell, for an enjoyable experience, and the bonus side-trip to Qualicum Beach to take in a public presentation on cephalopods by Graham Beard! That bit of serendipity was absolutely fabulous! I was too engaged to take many photos, but I will talk about it!”
“As usual, anyone in the BCPA family is welcome to join our meeting.”
BCPA family members not in VicPS: send an email to request the Zoom details.
| 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.
Paid VicPS members will have received an emailed invitation regarding the field trip planned for Sunday, April 23rd. Please respond by email if you are planning to join the group.
As usual, attendees will meet at the Helmcken park-and-ride at 9 AM.
Paid VicPS members will have received an emailed invitation from member John Kitson regarding a field trip he will lead on Sunday, March 26. Please respond by email to John if you are planning to join the group.
A reminder for VicPS members that the planned November 20th field trip has been postponed until November 27th. Please see the email from Jerri Wilkins on this topic.
A reminder for VicPS members that the planned October 17th field trip has been cancelled. Please see the email from Jerri Wilkins on this topic.
