WHAT WE DO AT NATURE VICTORIA

Celebrating + Sharing

Nature Victoria is deeply committed to fostering education, collaboration, and community engagement in the natural sciences. The organization offers scholarships and bursaries to support students pursuing studies in species and habitat conservation. Additionally, Nature Victoria actively participates in regional science fairs by providing financial support and volunteering as judges, aiming to inspire and encourage student projects focused on ecology and nature. The organization also collaborates with various environmental groups, offering funding and support to advance conservation efforts and ensure the sustainability of these initiatives. In addition, Nature Victoria participates in community events organized by others, such as the Capital Region’s fall Hawkwatch, The Friends of Uplands Park’s Camas Days, World Oceans Day and the Friends of Shoal Harbour’s All Buffleheads Day.

Collaboration

Nature Victoria supports other organizations that are working to achieve the same ends. We do this by attending the information or board meetings of other organizations to contribute ideas and to support their work. This includes the Gorge Waterway Initiative and the Esquimalt Lagoon Stewardship Initiative. Nature Victoria is an active participant in Greater Victoria NatureHood (GVNH), a collaborative group of municipalities, environmental groups, and environment-oriented commercial enterprises in the greater Victoria area who work to improve people’s understanding and enjoyment of the nature we live in.

We also directly support the operations of other organizations. For example, we provide funds to both the Rocky Point Bird Observatory and the Habitat Acquisition Trust. Nature Victoria created these organizations long ago and we are dedicated to their on-going success. We frequently consider funding requests and donations to other organizations on an ad hoc basis.

Many of our board members – and many of our members – also work with other nature-related organizations, even sitting on their boards.

Awards

The Society has scholarships and bursaries at the University of Victoria at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and undergraduate bursaries at Royal Roads University and Camosun College.

The application process for each award can be found on each institution’s website. We encourage anyone interested in pursuing an academic career in the natural sciences to apply.

Scholarships & Bursaries
  1. Samuel Simco Undergraduate Bursary $1000: One or more bursaries, established by the Victoria Natural History Society from funds bequeathed for this purpose by the late Mr. Samuel Simco, awarded to undergraduate students in Biology specializing in the area of species and/or habitat conservation. Selection will be made by the Senate Committee on Awards upon the recommendation of the Department of Biology, University of Victoria
  2. Samuel Simco Graduate Bursary $1000: One or more bursaries, established by the Victoria Natural History Society from funds bequeathed for this purpose by the late Mr. Samuel Simco, awarded to graduate students in Biology specializing in the area of species and/or habitat conservation. Selection will be made by the Senate Committee on Awards upon the recommendation of the Department of Biology, University of Victoria.
  3. Bev Glover Memorial Scholarship $1000: A scholarship awarded to an academically outstanding undergraduate student entering third or fourth year in a Major or Honours program in Biology who is specializing in the area of species or habitat conservation. Approval of the recipients will be made by the Senate Committee on Awards upon the recommendation of the Department of Biology, University of Victoria.
  4. Alice M. Hay Scholarship $1000: An award given to a graduate student in biology who is specializing in the area of species and/or habitat conservation. Selection will be made by the Graduate Awards Committee upon the recommendation of the Department of Biology, University of Victoria.
  5. Freeman F. King Scholarship: A scholarship awarded to a student of University of Victoria entering fourth year Biology and preparing for a career in natural history. Preference is given to students with an interest in field studies, especially in terrestrial biology.
  6. Dennis and Lyndis Davis Scholarship: Scholarships awarded to academically outstanding undergraduate students in the Department of Biology, the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, or the School of Environmental Studies. Preference will be given to students pursuing studies in species, habitat or ecosystem conservation, ecology or biodiversity. Nominations will be made by the Faculty of Science, University of Victoria.
  7. VNHS Royal Roads University Bursary $1000: The award is open to new full-time students in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science program who demonstrate financial need. Preference  will be given to applicants who have been active in a natural history or environmental organization.
  8. VNHS Camosun College Bursary $1000: Established 1992 – to provide financial assistance to full-time students enrolled in 2nd year of the Environmental Tech Program.  The bursary will be awarded annually to a student who maintains satisfactory academic standing and demonstrates financial need.

Science Fair

Nature Victoria supports the Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair with monetary support, currently $1000 annually, and by having our members assist in judging. The funds donated by Nature Victoria are for students submitting ecological and/or nature-based projects. Prizes include cash and a copy of the Nature Guide to the Victoria Region.

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