Enjoy and Learn About Nature

The Irving Nature Park is open to the public, free of charge. Enjoy our scenic picnic areas and free gas barbecues.
For more information, call 653-7367.

Schedule of Events 2010

June 12, 2010 9:00 pm	Things that go Peep in the Night Join staff as they discuss the mysterious creatures that reveal themselves at night within the murky waters of the Children’s Forest Pond. We’ll be critter dipping, so bring rubber boots and a flashlight. This event is great for the entire family! Bring a mug for free hot chocolate. Meet at the Children’s Forest (midway along Sand Cove Rd between Sheldon Pt. and Saints Rest Beach –watch for roadside sign).
June 27, 2010 2:00 pm	The Park: from Past to Present Join a park Naturalist as they bring you 4 billion years of history in one short 1.5 hour talk. We’ll discuss local rock formations, dirty ice cubes, and the shifting landscape of Southern New Brunswick as we walk through time. Participants will also be able to sift through local soils to find the remains of 13,000-year-old marine creatures. Meet at the Main Gate (the West end of Saint’s Rest Beach).
June 29, 2010 7:15 pm	Wolastoq Park: Statue Treasure Hunt and the Story of how Albert Deveau created them Join local story teller Dave Goss as he leads a treasure hunt that will take you to every statue in the park, then re-walk the route and hear stories of the statues and how they were carved by Mr.Deveau. Prizes to be won, and hot chocolate to be enjoyed. Meet at Wolastoq Park at the picnic site from Landcaster Avenue West.
July 25, 2010 2:00 pm	Geo-caching for Geo-cash Please note: This event has been rescheduled from July 11 (its original date) to July 25 due to weather. Caching for cash – what a concept! Complete a timed course around our park using your GPS unit to locate bundles of cash (OK, play money!) that will be used during the auction at the end of the event for some wonderful prizes. Meet at the Interpretation Shelter (large canopy beside the Information Kiosk), where there will be a short presentation on geo-caching and you will pick up the cache co-ordinates, get a time stamp, and the hunt begins. Please bring your own GPS units as the park does not have loaners.
July 31, 2010 2:00 pm	Useful and Edible Plants in your Backyard Dandelion coffee? Balsam fir bandage? Spruce tree chewing gum? Come join us as we explore the various uses of plants and trees found in your backyard. On our journey, we will discuss how to identify useful plants in New Brunswick’s forest, as well as toxic ones that can cause serious harm when eaten. Meet at the Information Kiosk parking lot.
August 13, 2010 8:30 pm	Astronomy Night On August 13 the crescent moon, Venus, Mars, and Saturn will be clustered together in the evening twilight, with Mercury trying not to be seen closer to the horizon. Their close proximity to each other is an illusion, for they are millions of kilometres apart. Join the Saint John Astronomy Club and Irving Nature Park staff for a presentation on the planets' sizes and distance and why we see them clustered like this. Following the presentation we will attempt to locate and observe them with telecopes and binoculars. As darkness sets in, the telescopes will be pointed at wonders of the night sky that lie far beyond the solar system, and perhaps we will see some lingering "shooting stars" from the Perseid meteor shower. Meet under the Interpretation shelter. The gate will be reopened for this event.
August 24, 2010 7:15 pm	Pirate Dave and his friends come to the Irving Nature Park Pirate Dave, with the assistance of some of the Irving Nature Park Staff, will acquaint participants with the life of pirates though stories, songs, and stunts in this one-hour program which will be followed by a chance to enjoy Pirate hot chocolate and ginger cookies.