Canadian Federation of University Women - Nanaimo
Action, Advocacy, Education since 1945


Seashore Unit - Life Between the Tides

CFUW Nanaimo has been delivering the Seashore Unit since 1969, and celebrated the 40th anniversary in April 2009.   Every spring we collect a wide variety of inter-tidal marine specimens, which we house in tanks at the Pacific Biological Station for the duration of the unit. Our program runs for approximately five weeks.

Each day, volunteers collect a representative selection of animals from the tanks, and load them into large buckets of salt water. The buckets and jerry cans of salt water are loaded into our cars and taken to one of 2 school locations. At the school, we arrange the animals in aquariums of salt water. Other materials, including our collection of dried and preserved material, visual displays and books, are also displayed at the school. We are then joined by a field-tripping Grade 3 class to see our presentation. Our presentation includes:



We receive no funds from any source and operate strictly on a volunteer basis. We have applied for, and received, a few grants to help purchase equipment and supplies.  One year we were fortunate enough to receive funds to hire a student; in 2004 we were fortunate to host a Katimavik participant.   Our volunteers are keen and active.  As well as some knowledge of intertidal marine life, most often learned 'on the job', our volunteers have stamina (for lifting heavy buckets) and a love of teaching kids.

This programme is provided at no charge to the schools. A similar programme run by the Vancouver Aquarium charges $1000 per day!  We are proud of our unit and grateful for the help and support we receive from the Pacific Biological Station, School District 68 and our club.

Awards received by "Life Between The Tides"

CFUW Project AwardCFUW
Project Award

City of Nanaimo Environment AwardCity of Nanaimo
Environmental Achievement Award

Katimavik Award AwardKatimavik
Participation Award