Mary Lake Nature Sanctuary
You are Invited
Events at Mary Lake Nature Sanctuary
Regular events are scheduled at Mary Lake, they include walks, volunteer events and events at the nature house.
Special Events
Spirit of Nature Walks
2nd Sunday of the month
We invite you to come and immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere of this special property. This land has been under conservation ownership since 1947 so nature definitely has a strong presence here.
The Mary Lake property has 7 different ecosystems, contains a 7 acre lake with various riparian areas and both the Earsman and Millstream creeks which are part of the 13,000 year old watershed flow thru it. There is definitely something special about Mary Lake!
1 – 4 pm: self – guided with map of trails
2 – 3 pm: optional guided walk & talk
3 – 4 pm: Slide show & discussion in the house on the lake. Herbal teas for a loonie
For our monthly “Spirit of Nature ” walks we are asking for a $5 donation at the gate to help us with our fundraising efforts.
Children under 12 are free. If you have a membership with GVGS then you can attend for free.
- We ask that children be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- People with mobility issues are welcome to ask for vehicle access on the main driveway.
- Please stay on marked trails and be mindful not to disturb the wildlife that call Mary Lake their home.
- Many birds and animals live at Mary Lake so there is a no pets policy to ensure minimum disturbance.
Location: 1772 Millstream Rd just north of the Finlayson Arm Rd. junction
Parking: Please park along Millstream Rd. and meet at front gate to sign in
Note: This property is a conservation area and closed to the public at all other times
Guided Forest Therapy Walks
Dates:
Interested in Forest Bathing? Join a group walk led by an Association of Forest and Nature Therapy Guide in training Rachel Calder. Click on the ticket link above to choose a date and save your space.
The walk is free for members of the Greater Victoria Greenbelt Society(need to RSVP) or a minimum donation of $10.00 per person for the general public. Annual Memberships dues are $30.00/ Individuals, $20 for students or $45 for a family per year and may be purchased here: https://www.marylakeconnections.ca/become-a-member/
Maximum # of participants: 15
Minimum Age: 12 years old
Forest Therapy walks include a series of sensory based invitations, in a small group setting, to lower stress and increase wellness through deepening our relationship with the more than human world. The entirety of the walk may only be a few/several hundred meters and could have some uneven ground. The practice is offered in a way that allows for personal autonomy; invitations may be adjusted in any way to ensure each participant’s comfort.
We acknowledge this sacred land as traditional and unceded territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations.
Upcoming Special Event
Distracted by Beauty: Wander like an Artist
Take some time to look at nature like an artist, slowly and with joy while supporting the Mary Lake Nature Sanctuary project.
Joanne Thomson is a full-time artist and is very good at taking annoying slow walks in wooded areas. She uses these walks to gather sketches for her paintings and drawings.
On these special Sunday Mary Lake walks she welcomes you to join her. If you are also easily distracted by beauty large and small, the pace of this walk will be just right.
Vistas are wonderful, and the view across the water is inspiring, yet on the way there is so much more. Joanne will talk about looking at the forest as an artist does as we experience the small wonders at Mary Lake: water drops, mosses, old snags, young trees, leaves, ferns, birds, mushrooms, cones, fungi, and more.
We will wander the woods with viewfinders and talk about what we see, sharing our discoveries. Joanne will talk about how to select images that can easily work for 2D paintings.
Please leave your cameras in your bags for the return walk and try the escorted walk using only your eyes to record what you see.
PLEASE PRE-REGISTER to confirm attendance
Suggested Minimum Donation: $10. Donations of $20 or more are eligible for a charitable donation receipt.
Walks guided by artist Joanne Thomson followed by self-serve refreshments at the Tea Bar in the lakeside Nature House
Escorted Groups will be 10 -15 people starting at these times
• 1 pm –1:30 pm
• 2 pm – 2:30 pm
• 3 pm – 3:30 pm
Feel free to wander until 4 pm. when gates close.
CONTACT
Joanne Thomson
joannedthomson@shaw.ca
www.joannethomson.com
250-881-1539
Here is a gallery of Joanne’s inspired work http://www.joannethomson.com/large-paintings.html
Location: 1772 Millstream Rd just north of the Finlayson Arm Rd. junction
Parking: Please park along Millstream Rd. and meet at front gate to sign in
Note: This property is a conservation area and closed to the public at all other times
Mary Lake Nature Sanctuary
1772 Millstream Rd,
Victoria, BC V9B 6E4
Greater Victoria Greenbelt Society
499 Millstream Lake Rd.
Victoria, BC. V9B 6H5
Registered Charity BN: 11894 6953 RR0001
WSÁNEC Coast Salish
Mary Lake lies within the traditional territories of the WSÁNEC (Saanich) Coast Salish Peoples.
We recognize the integral role the ancestors of the WSÁNEC Coast Salish Peoples have played as past stewards of the Mary Lake and Highlands lands.