Have you ever been exploring a local trail and wished you could learn more about the ecology or natural history of the area? We certainly have! That’s why Nature NB created A Walk With a Naturalist, a podcast designed to give you guided tours of natural sites across New Brunswick.

Equipped with just your smartphone, a podcast streaming app, and your best walking shoes, you can learn from site experts and local naturalists anytime by loading up these site-specific episodes and letting them guide you through some of New Brunswick’s trails and parks.

Atholville | Campbellton Regional Community, NB

Experienced birders know that sewage lagoons are often some of the best places to see birds along their migration routes. Learn more about the birds that you might see and the calls that you might hear as you explore this trail in Atholville in the Campbellton Regional Community.

Chiasson-Office Beach | Lamèque Region, NB

Take a walk along the water’s edge on the beach at Chiasson-Office. Lewnanny Richardson, Nature NB’s Species at Risk Program Director, tells you some of his favourite memories from over 20 years of working on the beaches in the Acadian Peninsula and explains how you can help endangered species in the area.

Dutch Point Park | Hampton, NB

This walk takes you through the trail system of Dutch Point Park, a 30-acre park that boasts spectacular views of the surrounding wetlands. Hosted by a panel of Hampton experts and enthusiasts, you’ll learn a lot about what makes this park special to so many people.

A podcast is like radio on demand. Podcasts consist of audio news and shows that you can listen to whenever, wherever, from the convenience of your personal devices. With just a few short steps, you can begin listening to podcasts such as A Walk With a Naturalist (AWWAN) and more!

1. You can listen to podcasts on almost any smartphone, tablet, or computer, but to listen to AWWAN while in nature, you’ll need something portable, so we recommend a smartphone or tablet.
2. Next, you’ll need an app that can play podcasts. Podcasts are unique, because there are multiple apps where you can listen to them. Apps we recommend that you may already have installed are Apple Podcasts (available on iPhone and iPad), Pocket Casts (available on Android phones and tablets), and Spotify (available on all platforms).
3. Download the app of your choice and create an account to begin using the app. If you already have an account on one of these apps, you’re good to go.
4. Navigate to the app’s search function, and type in “A Walk with a Naturalist”. Look for the show that has the logo pictured on the phone at right to know you’ve found the correct one.
5. Scroll through the podcast’s feed to find the episodes that correspond to the location where you are. Find the episode(s) with the name that matches what you see on the sign at the site and hit play!
6. You can also listen to the episodes directly from the Nature NB website on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Scroll down to the section called “Sites to Visit” and browse the locations listed.