Dark Skies

Dark Skies: Milky Way Workshop and Night Hike

Join Meewasin and Tim Yaworski, "the Living Sky Guy," for an evening under the stars at Beaver Creek Conservation Area. As night falls, witness the Milky Way come to life.

The event begins with an introduction from Meewasin, followed by a presentation from Tim. You will learn about the celestial sights of the evening and get tips on how to capture the beauty of the Milky Way with a DSLR/mirrorless camera or a recent-generation smartphone on a tripod. This hands-on experience is perfectly timed for the beginning of peak Milky Way viewing season.

After the presentation, enjoy an exclusive, peaceful night hike along the trails. Together, we will explore the starry night through telescopes, binoculars and the new SeeStar smart telescope while enjoying a hot beverage of your choice.

General Information

• This program is family friendly. Children 8-17 years old are welcome on this program, as long as they are accompanied by an adult guardian. To ensure a positive experience, kids should be comfortable in the dark!
• Dress for the weather and come prepared to walk on uneven surfaces. Watch out for gopher holes. Remember, this is an adventure! Proper outerwear will make your experience more enjoyable and good footwear is a must!
• The Northeast Swale is a Conservation Area. We ask guests to tread lightly. Please refrain from littering or smoking on site.
• There is a porta potty available on site for bathroom use.
• The River Valley is a natural habitat for ticks. Ticks may be present on site. Please do a thorough tick check at the end of your visit.

Checklist

• Please bring a flashlight / light emitting device.
• A camp chair and blanket can make for a more comfortable experience.
  • We have a limited supply of flashlights, camp chairs and blankets that you can borrow first come, first serve.
• We also have red cellophane filters for all light devices for safe dark sky viewing.
• Dress for the weather: bug spray and proper outerwear will make your experience more enjoyable.
• Bring a full water bottle to carry with you if needed (there is no potable water on-site)

Accessibility Due to the features of this activity, this experience is not considered accessible for guests with limited mobility.

Beaver Creek Conservation Area is located approximately 13km south of Saskatoon. Starting on Lorne Avenue, take Highway 219 due south. After approximately 12km, you will see a sign reading, "Beaver Creek East" - do NOT turn here. Continue past this sign, approximately 1km, to a sign on the right reading, “Beaver Creek Conservation Area.” Turn right (west) and follow the winding road to the parking lot.

Click here for directions on Google Maps

Dark Skies experiences can be weather dependent – dark skies can be pretty boring on cloudy nights! In the event that the skies are not suitable for viewing, a postponement to our Alternate Date will be announced. If the skies are still not suitable for viewing on this date, a full refund will be issued automatically.