Providing opportunities to learn about and connect with nature…
Welcome to the BNS website, where you will find information on the Society and how to be involved, our field trips and events, past newsletters and publications, our projects and advocacy work, information about local events and issues, and more! Feel free to take a look around and enjoy the natural history resources on the site.
The Blomidon Naturalists Society – A Brief History
The Blomidon Naturalists Society (BNS) exists to encourage and develop understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of nature in its members and the interested public. The Blomidon Naturalists Society is organized under the Society’s Act of Nova Scotia and began in March 1974. Since then it has grown in membership to over 150 individual and family memberships. The Society organization is directed by an executive plus directors. The BNS is a registered charity and has conservation easement status with the province of Nova Scotia. Membership is open to any person interested in natural history.
Our Objectives
The primary objective of the Society is to encourage and develop understanding and appreciation of nature in its members and the interested public. The word ‘nature’ is interpreted broadly and includes rocks, plants, animals, water, air, and stars.
The purpose of the BNS is to share and facilitate knowledge sharing about nature, to advocate for its conservation and protection, and to inspire wonder for the natural world in all generations to ensure there are future generations of naturalists. We achieve this by fostering a community grounded in nature exploration, education and stewardship. We welcome everyone who is curious and wants to learn and share about nature.
Our core values are environmental stewardship, building a connection to nature, community engagement and diversity, and collaborative knowledge sharing.
Developing a Connection to Nature…
Meetings
The Society meets monthly at 7:30 pm in the evening on the third Tuesday of the Month (except in December when the meeting is on the second Monday and in July and August when there are no meetings). Historically, meetings have taken place at Acadia University. However, in 2020 and 2021, meetings have been held virtually via Zoom. Meetings involve a presentation on a given topic, with space for discussion and conversation.
Currently, we are hosting meetings in a hybrid model that will allow for in-person gathering and online participation to accommodate a wide range of participants and presenters. We currently meet in person at the Wolfville Curling Club and online on Zoom for our monthly meetings, with a social at 7:00 pm and the meeting starting at 7:30 pm.
Webinars are held online on Zoom.
Field Trips & Events
Field trips and other events are scheduled throughout the year, usually on the weekends. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, field trips have been less frequent. Precautions for gathering will be in place. See our Activities Calendar for specific dates and time.
We also host full-day courses on specific topics, and collaborate with other community partners on environmental and educational events.
Flying Squirrel Adventures
Flying Squirrel Adventures (FSA) is a program of the Blomidon Naturalists Society. FSA initiates and facilitates immersive nature outings, activities and event series for people of all ages in the Annapolis Valley. Check out the FSA website and learn more about the many great offerings geared at children, families, newcomers and everyone seeking rich and exciting nature experiences.
Land Acknowledgement
Blomidon Naturalists Society activities take place in Mi’kma’ki, the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaw title. We want to recognize that outdoor education and play would not be possible without access to the natural world that has been stewarded since time immemorial by the many Indigenous peoples of this land. We acknowledge that we have a responsibility to honour and learn about their histories and current cultures and to actively work in support of reconciliation. We are committed to fostering respectful and sustainable relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of this land, with all other organisms, with the land and with the water.
