Welcome to the SONC website.

If you have any suggestions please get in touch with Bob Handfield or Glenda Ross.

Mission Statement:

"To provide a dynamic local focus for experiencing the natural world of B.C. and for promoting its conservation"

  • Indoor meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of the month, September to May (except for December) at 7:00 pm at Penticton Seniors' Drop-In Centre, 2965 South Main Street, Penticton.
  • . Please bring your own coffee mug ---- New members always welcome.
  • Our birding, wildflower, geology, social group meets every Thursday in the north parking lot of Cherry Lane Mall (north of Warren Ave. and east of Atkinson St.) at 9 AM.
  • Field Trips are generally made in the spring and fall.

Annual Waiver

Download PDF Waiver

Required annually with membership fee.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Oct 23rd 2025 - AGM
Prior to Rick’s Excellent Adventure with Whooping Cranes

Next Monthly Meeting

Oct 23rd 2025 - Rick McKelvey
Rick’s Excellent Adventure with Whooping Cranes

Rick retired from the Canadian Wildlife Service in Delta, BC, after more than 30 years managing migratory birds, and latterly implementing the Species at Risk Act. He left CWS as the manager of the Pacific Wildlife Research Centre in 2005. He then moved to Penticton, where he was the manager of the South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program for a short time, after which he worked as a consultant. He has been fully retired since 2009 but is still active in the biology field, working to have the Penticton oxbows recognized as the important wetlands they are, lobbying for protection of the Esplanade, and intervening in a host of other issues as they arise. His outdoor interests include hiking and cycling in the summer, skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, wildlife photography and bird watching anytime. He has been a member of SONC for the past 10 years.

Pizza Night Meeting

February 27, 2025

Join us at our February meeting for our Members-Pizza night. Time of meeting____.

The pizza is $10 each. There will be coffee and tea available or bring your own drink. Dessert will be provided as well. Bring your own plates, cups and utensils.

If someone wants vegan or gluten free let Alex know so we can get the correct amount.

Payment can be made on line via credit card or e-transfer Colleen at colleensimmons@live.ca If this does not work for some, please contact Alex at a.bodden@shaw.ca

DEADLINE: date_________.

This is an opportunity for members to share some of their favourite sightings captured on cameras and Patrick Parenteau will be creating the visual shows for the evening, so if anyone wants to create a power point or send in individual pictures please send your .jpegs to him at  dvpixinternational@gmail.com If you do a .ppt you may want to bring a copy along just in case.

In regards to submitting photos, .jpeg files are preferred but Patrick can convert anything you supply. If it is just a few images, then use email and submit the largest file size up to 12mb total; but if you have a lot of files, use Dropbox or similar cloud storage and just send Patrick a link. Watermark your files if you know how. I encourage everyone to send images. Thanks

Name(Required)
Price: $ 10.00 CAD
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Recent Newsletter

Bird Outings

Thursday birding outings are back!

Outings generally start at 9AM.  If you would like to know more about Thursday outing please email Wendy at wendyastewart@shaw.ca

Trip Outings

View Creston Valley Field Trip Report (PDF)

SONC Creston Valley field trip summary - May 2024

New for Review

60th anniversary Celebration Penticton golf and country club

This year is SONC's 60th anniversary - quite an incredible milestone for a volunteer organization. Join the celebration on Sept 30th. See Poster below for details.

A reminder - vaccine passports are required and masks are recommended

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May 15-19 2025 - Meadowlark Nature Festival.
Info at: MeadowlarkFestival.ca

Feb 2025 - Help Wanted - Bio Blitz Project at Old Fairview, Oliver.
Info at:  Action Needed Now // Club Projects 

Looking for something specific?

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Remembering Marlene HIKICHI

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We are very saddened to learn today of the passing of Marlene Hikichi, a long-time SONC member, outing organizer, club secretary, champion of nature and friend to many SONC members.

Marlene passed away following a recent health issue. She leaves behind her beloved husband Mits, her partner in life and all things nature, and their two sons.

(click on the view PDF button below) for a writeup about Marlene and their connections to nature and SONC.

View Full Article or Download PDF File

Anniversary Video

If you missed the Club’s 60th Anniversary dinner and presentation in September 2022 you can watch the retrospective video produced by Club member Patrick Parenteau by clicking on the play link below (about 25 minutes).