Vancouver is home to many beautiful outdoor spaces, which children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder particularly enjoy. The activities listing in this article, are chosen because they are free, quiet, less crowded, are self paced, gently sensory enriching, educational, and feature nature, birds and fish.
O.W.L.- Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 3800 72st, Delta BC 604 946-3171 www.owlrehab.org
OWL is a non profit society dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release or housing of injured and orphaned owls, eagles, raptors, falcons, hawks, osprey and vultures.
The OWL hospital, as we like to call it, has been a place that our kids have asked over and over to go to over the years. Their primary mission is to rescue, treat and release birds that have been injured in British Columbia, and many many birds come through and back out into the wild. The birds that are permanently injured are given a second chance at life at the facility, they become in house “embassadors” to become foster parents to orphaned babies, companions to injured parents, and help educated humans that come to visit them. You can see a full list of the embassadors in residence HERE. before you visit.
The facility is tucked away near boundary bay in Delta. Free parking. Tours of the birds is available on Weekends 9-4pm, it is free, but they do not allow casual walk ins, let them know you are coming, you can register online HERE
Most of the full time resident birds are housed outside, and it is a lovely quiet walk, with information on each resident on its enclosure. We have been inside, and met owls that are sitting on a perch and got to see them up very close. It is just wild to watch them rotate their heads backwards!
For children with Autism, this is a safe, quiet, predictable learning space. Kids love to come back again and again, and visit their favourite owl or eagle. If you want to stretch your legs after, continue down 72nd til you run out of road at Boundary Bay, Pair a packed picnic with this gorgeous walk for a nice outing.
Check the weather at WEATHERNETWORK
Check the traffic online at CITYNEWS
Check the tides with TIDEFORCAST
Stock up on snacks at INSTACART
Get your sunscreen at AMAZON
Buy TOUR tickets at VIATOR
Grab a coupon at GROUPON
Find a trail at ALLTRAILS
Grab an RV spot at BC CAMPING
Look for new outdoor gear CANADIAN TIRE