Join us for a journey into the Land of Moss. Discover the hidden world of mosses in the traditional, unceded, and ancestral territory of the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie First Nation) — whose name originates from the mosses that thrive on this land.
Led by bryologist Sophia BenJeddi, this workshop will unveil the miniature, primordial forests beneath our feet, where mosses play a vital ecological role. In partnership with hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ linguists Leah Meunier and Abigail Cunningham from q̓ic̓əy̓, participants will learn about moss ecology and the deep cultural significance these mosses hold for the Katzie people.
Held in the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF), which is home to over 200 species of mosses, this unique experience is Wild & Immersive’s first-ever Land of Moss Ecology Workshop, hosted by the University of British Columbia. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with both the natural world and Indigenous knowledge, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language and song.
One online session will be hosted on Wednesday October 23rd, and two in-person sessions are offered on Saturday October 26th at the UBC Malcolm Knapp Research Forest:
Level 1: Meet the Mosses (Zoom). A 75-minute seminar on Zoom from 7:00-8:15pm on Wednesday October 23 ($10)
Level 2: Introduction to Bryophytes. 3-hour field session at the research forest from 9am-12pm on Saturday October 26 ($35, includes level 1)
Level 3: Bryophyte Immersion. 3-hour intensive field session at the research forest from 1pm-4pm on Saturday October 26 ($55, includes levels 1 and 2)
These sessions are designed to build upon each other. Attendees can choose to enroll in online only, or add the half or full hands-on field day.
The interactive online Level 1 Meet the Mosses will highlight the role of mosses in forest health, traditional ecological knowledge, and global carbon sequestration.
Level 2 will provide a hands-on opportunity to learn to identify local moss species in the field.
Level 3 includes a more intensive fieldwork component accompanied by microscope study.
Meet the Facilitators
