To supplement its regular monthly meetings, the Society organizes enjoyable and educational events such as field trips, public fossil fairs, workshops, and symposiums.

Field trips

The Society has a well-coordinated program of monthly field trips to sites of palaeontological and geological interest. During these trips, a rich variety of fossils are collected by VicPS members, including plants and marine animals ranging in age from just tens of thousands of years to several hundred million years.

Fieldtrips are primarily for members; guests may attend a fieldtrip to see if they are interested in becoming members of the Society. Because of the potentially hazardous nature of these field trips, new members and guests must sign liability waivers before coming along.

Fieldtrips are normally held on the Sunday after the monthly meeting. Please contact us for details and confirmed dates of upcoming trips.

Also see our Field Trip Policy.

Fossil Fairs

The Society organizes fossil displays several times a year for public education and enjoyment, with the showcase event being the Fossil Fair at the Swan Lake-Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary in the spring. The 2009 Fossil Fair is scheduled for the weekend of March 28-29.

The BCPA Palaeontology Symposium

Every two years, the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance hosts a palaeontology symposium. This event features a variety of workshops, lectures, keynote speakers, and field trips and are popular with both amateur and professional palaeontologists:

• 1995 - First B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Courtenay, hosted by the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society.
• 1997 - Second B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Vancouver, hosted by the Vancouver Paleontological Society.
• 1999 - Third B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Victoria, hosted by the Victoria Palaeontology Society.
• 2001 - Fourth B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Kamloops, hosted by the Thompson Nicola Paleontological Society.
• 2003 - Fifth B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Nanaimo, hosted by the Vancouver Island Paleontological Museum Society.
• 2005 - Sixth B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Prince George, hosted by the Northern British Columbia Paleontological Society.
• 2007 - Seventh B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Courtenay, hosted by the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society.
• 2009 - Eighth B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Vancouver, hosted by the Vancouver Paleontological Society.
• 2011 - Ninth B.C. Paleontological Symposium, Victoria, hosted by the Victoria Palaeontology Society.