Nature House
Gorge Waterway Nature House
The Gorge Waterway Nature House is a youth-focused, hands on, place-based, family-friendly interactive environmental education space operated in partnership with World Fisheries Trust and the Township of Esquimalt. GWAS manages the Nature House, staffing it with volunteers and summer students.
The Nature House was designed to be a local community hub of environmental education and link environmental research with public outreach and youth education. The Nature House has attracted thousands of visitors since its opening and its capacity was further maximized after extensive renovations in 2012. Today, the Nature House hosts a Seaquaria Aquarium touch tank full of local marine species, a watershed model of the Gorge Waterway, and numerous interactive educational displays. There is something for everyone at the Nature House! The Gorge Waterway Nature House welcomes over 3000 visitors every year.
We are raising funds to add new items to the Nature House, like binoculars, microscopes, and GPS geocache devices. Donate here today!
Admission by Donation
Nature House Virtual Tour
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Octane Media for generously donating this virtual tour of the Nature House.
Activities
The Nature House is home to a Seaquaria Aquarium marine touch tank and renowned watershed model of the Gorge Waterway. It is home to an extensive library of local environmental resources and information. It also contains a child’s play area with children’s books, a species identification station, and coloring sheets.
Library
The Nature House is home to a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books for people of all ages. We offer a range of nature based children’s books, identification guides, and text books.
Gift Shop
The Nature House offers a small selection of field identification guides, curriculum and lesson plans, colouring books, posters, greeting cards, art and books about the local history of the Gorge, the surrounding park, and the local ecosystem. It is a great place to find a gift for the environmental steward in your family!
Concession
We sell hot and cold drinks, light snacks, and other refreshments. Become a member and receive free coffee or tea when you visit the nature house!
Hours
Spring (March – May)
Nature House Will Be Open Saturday and Sunday from 10AM-3PM
Summer (June – August)
Nature House Will Be Open Every Day From 10AM-3PM
Fall (September – October)
To be announced.
Hours subject to volunteer availability – any closures will be announced on our Facebook page.
Location
You can find us in Esquimalt Gorge Park – entrance located across from Gorge Pointe Pub. Follow the road down to the parking lot. Follow the path to the west of the parking lot down to the Nature House!
Other Nature Centres in BC
Don’t live in Victoria? Find a Nature House near you:
Follow The Gorge Waterway Nature House on Facebook and Instagram!
Learn more about the Nature House here: https://worldfish.org/gorge-waterway-nature-house/