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THE GORGE WATERWAY NATURE HOUSE

Welcome to the Gorge Waterway Nature House: a vibrant educational space dedicated to youth environmental education and community engagement. Located on the scenic shores of the Gorge Waterway, our Nature House is a family-friendly, hands-on learning centre designed to inspire curiosity and foster a deep connection to our local watershed. The Nature House is managed by the Gorge Waterway Action Society with support from the Township of Esquimalt.

An aerial image of the waterfront in Esquimalt Gorge Park, looking toward the Nature House
An image of the Gorge Waterway Nature House, open in the summer, with a bike parked out front

As a community space for environmental education, the Nature House connects environmental research with public outreach and youth education. We welcome thousands of visitors through our doors each year. Today, the Nature House features numerous interactive educational displays and exhibits, including a watershed model of the Gorge Waterway, local flora and fauna specimens, and a Seaquaria aquarium touch tank filled with native marine species. Our team strives to create a welcoming and engaging space where everyone feels encouraged to learn about the Gorge and the incredible ecosystems around us.

WHAT'S IN THE NATURE HOUSE?

WATERSHED MODEL

This hands-on, family-friendly exhibit allows visitors to explore the intricacies of our local watershed with an interactive demonstration of how pollution and water flow impact our local waterways.​

A closeup of our watershed model, showing the Nature House on the model

SEAQUARIA TOUCH TANK

This interactive aquarium is filled with native marine species, including starfish and hermit crabs! Visitors can gently touch and learn about these amazing creatures. 

A closeup of our touch tank, brightly coloured with oranges and pinks

INFORMATION & RESOURCES

The Nature House provides informational brochures and resources about Esquimalt Gorge Park, the Gorge Waterway, and its surrounding ecosystems. Discover your local waterway and the incredible work being done in the Gorge.

An image of the many pamphlets and brochures available at the Nature House

EXHIBITS AND SPECIMENS

Visitors can learn about a diverse array of plant and animal life found in our region. The Nature House also houses small microscopes so guests can take a closer look.

A closeup of some pinned butterflies and moths on display at the Nature House

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES

From colouring pages to scavenger hunts to bird bingo, we have all sorts of activities and games for children and families to make learning about nature fun!

A staff member pointing to an interpretive game "Tide and Seek" at an outdoor event, with two children participating

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The Nature House is a hub for community involvement, offering opportunities for visitors to get involved in community events, restoration work, and workshops. Check out our events and volunteer information pages to learn more about upcoming community events.

A team of restoration volunteers stand proudly behind a big pile of invasive species they removed from the park

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE NATURE HOUSE!

Thank you to Octane Media for generously donating this virtual tour.

PLANNING A NATURE HOUSE VISIT?

We would love to help host your next school outing, birthday party, friend group, or... you name it! For a private booking, please contact us with details of your visit and we will do our best to accommodate you.

For groups of 10 or more during public hours, please inform us in advance via email or phone to ensure we have adequate staff and volunteers to provide a quality experience for everyone. For larger groups, we may suggest organizing smaller sub-groups with a leader to create a comfortable and enriching experience. For further questions regarding the Nature House, including accessibility requests or event inquiries, please contact us

HOURS

SPRING (MARCH - MAY)

Saturday and Sunday 10 am until 3 pm

SUMMER (JUNE - AUGUST)

Every day from 10 am until 4 pm

AUTUMN (SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER)

Saturday and Sunday 10 am until 3 pm

Our hours are subject to volunteer availability. Any closures or updates will be announced via our Facebook and Instagram pages.

GETTING TO THE NATURE HOUSE

The Gorge Waterway Nature House is in Esquimalt Gorge Park. The park is accessible by the #26 and #14 bus lines and is a short walk from the #25, #8, #9, and #11 bus lines. 
 

The park is easily accessible via bike and you are welcome to lock your bike to the side of the railings outside the Nature House. There are protected bike lanes along Tillicum Road and Gorge Road West. Selkirk Avenue is a quiet street that connects Esquimalt Gorge Park with the Galloping Goose trail via Gosper Crescent. Biking is not permitted along Esquimalt Gorge Park walking paths. 
 

If you drive, you can park in the main parking lot off Tillicum Road, and the Nature House is just down towards the water near the playground. There is a second parking lot located at the end of Sioux Place, accessible off of Craigflower Road. 

OTHER NATURE CENTRES IN BC

If you can't make it to the Gorge Waterway Nature House, use this tool to find a nature centre near you.

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If you would like us to add a nature centre in BC to this map, let us know!

NATURE HOUSE ACCESSIBILITY

We strive to make the Nature House accessible to all individuals. That said, we want to be sure you are aware of the Nature Houses' accommodations and limitations prior to visiting. If you have specific accessibility accommodations we can help you with, or questions about accessing the space, please contact us.
 

  • The Nature House is wheelchair accessible with a ramp and large front doors. The area in the gift shop at the front provides the most space to turn around and maneuver wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

  • Space in the Nature House is limited and the paths in the exhibit area are approximately 1.5 metres wide.

  • In front of the Nature House are foldable wooden chairs and tables available to the public. Inside the Nature House are small stools for children, but no adult seating areas.

  • Mid-day, there is limited shade available around the Nature House and no shaded outdoor seating. 

  • The lighting in the Nature House is dim and relies largely on natural lighting.

  • We do not have braille or auditory interpretation for our exhibits at this time.

  • Public bathrooms are available at the Nature House. They do not have automatic doors. Public bathrooms at the Gorge Park Pavilion are newer and have more accessibility features, if needed.

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