Non-Profit Spotlight: Nature Squamish
Nature Squamish is a volunteer-run community organization dedicated to hands-on conservation, environmental education, and citizen science across the Squamish Valley. From winter eagle monitoring on the Eagle Run dike to monthly bird counts in the estuary, their programs invite locals to learn, participate, and protect the ecosystems that make the Howe Sound Biosphere so special. If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to volunteer in Squamish, this is it.
Adult eagles can be much easier to spot than juveniles: 2025 Eagle Count day by Kyle Kulas
Spotlight: EagleWatch (Nov–Jan)
Each winter, volunteers are on the Eagle Run dike for one hour each morning and one hour each afternoon, every day during the peak season (early November to early January). Volunteers count and record eagles and other wildlife, along with weather notes—data that’s shared back with the community. On weekends, interpreters are often on the dike to greet visitors (as volunteer availability allows).
Time commitment
Shifts are flexible.
Each shift is ~30–60 minutes.
No experience needed; families welcome.
Other ways to support
Brackendale Winter Eagle Count: if a season-long commitment isn’t possible, join this single-day survey in early January. Teams cover ~20 areas from the Elaho to downtown Squamish and Paradise Valley to the Stawamus River—on foot, snowshoe, ski, or raft.
Why it matters: one coordinated snapshot improves trend visibility year to year.Monthly Squamish Estuary Bird Count: Join the Squamish Birders every second Sunday of the month to count birds in the Squamish estuary. Explore the estuary, learn local species, and contribute to one of BC’s longest-running bird monitoring programs. No experience needed, just curiosity and a love of nature.
Why it matters: together, we’re building knowledge, protecting habitats, and keeping Squamish’s skies full of birds year after year.Become a member: Membership is the simplest way to keep programs like EagleWatch and the estuary counts running. Memberships start at $25/year and include BC Nature affiliation and access to the BC Nature quarterly online magazine.
Why it matters: your dues underwrite the people-power, coordination, and materials that keep programs like EagleWatch and the estuary counts humming.
Nature Squamish volunteers by Davina Dube
P.S. If you want more local ways to help nature, subscribe to the Biosphere Bathing newsletter. In it you’ll find concise, actionable updates and volunteer opportunities you can jump on fast.