SONC Creston Valley field trip summary above - May 2024

          SONC MEMBERS - Creston 2026
SONC's upcoming field trip to the Creston Valley is scheduled for Tuesday May 19 through Friday May 22 2026, immediately following the Victoria Day long weekend.

Key Information:
The Highway 3 drive from the south Okanagan to Creston (401 km; 5-6 hours with stoppage time) will be on Tuesday May 19.  Field trips and free time for individual interests are planned for Wednesday May 20 and Thursday May 21.  Return travel to the south Okanagan will be on Friday May 22.  This schedule has us overnighting in Creston on the nights of May 19, 20 and 21.

For our field excursions, we've planned easy to moderate walks of 2-3 hours duration, primarily encompassing valley-bottom wetlands, dykes and trails.  Some areas are accessible by vehicle (depending on conservation limitations, rain/heat events and dyke/bridge conditions), so we anticipate some "car birding" to facilitate viewing the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA) conservation lands and surrounding area.

Marc-Andre Beaucher (CVWMA Biologist and Head of Conservation Programs) has again offered to guide our Wednesday and Thursday morning outings (Corn Creek Marsh SW sector; Summit Creek; possibly the Leech Lake and Duck Lake units).  We will need to be "bear aware" during our field trips (as learned during our 2024 CVWMA outings when a Grizzly appeared on the Duck Lake north dyke between our two groups of birders).

We are hoping to arrange a canoe tour of the Corn Creek Marsh on the afternoon of Thursday May 21.  At present, we are awaiting a response from the Kootenay-Columbia Discovery Centre Society.  The 8 person canoes (PFDs provided), guided by enthusiastic biology students, meander around the wetlands providing an enhanced perspective.

Accommodation (nights of May 19, 20 and 21) and Meals:The Valley View Cabins (Link: Restful Retreat | The Valley View | Creston) will be our "centre of operations".  Gillian Kemle, operator of the Valley View, is pleased to again provide accommodation for our group.  The property includes cozy accommodation, outdoor kitchen / BBQ, group fire pit and garden recreation areas.  It has been reserved for 3-nights of SONC accommodation (capacity limited to 18-22).  The property consists of renovated, semi-detached cabins on a small acreage with mature coniferous trees providing shade and seasonal bird sightings.  A group discount has been offered by the Valley View.

For meals, please bring your favourite food / beverage items to use the outdoor kitchen (propane BBQ) or in-suite kitchenettes, particularly for breakfast and lunch.  We will be arranging one or two group dinners at local establishments and / or the Valley View.  When SONC folks arrive Tuesday afternoon, we can enjoy the Valley View grounds, using their BBQ (or ordering take-out from local restaurants), garden games and socializing prior to our field trip excursions on Wednesday and Thursday.  If you wish to bring musical instruments or singing skills to supplement our evening firepit socializing, please feel free to do so.

Next Steps:
For planning and accommodation purposes, committed participant numbers will be helpful.  Please confirm your participation and number of attendees via email to Rod Malcolm (roderickmalcolm@outlook.com) on or before April 1, 2026.  Members will be responsible for their own costs including vehicle transportation, accommodation, meals, canoe excursion, and any incidental expenses.

To secure accommodation at the Valley View (see link above), please book directly, as soon as possible, due to capacity limitations.  Please identify yourself to Gillian Kemle (250-428-2336) as a SONC member, to obtain your group rate for the three accommodation nights (May 19, 20 and 21).  Although this will be our HQ for the field trip, there are other nearby accommodations in Creston, including a Ramada Inn and the Magnuson Hotel, both within a 4 minute drive of the Valley View.  Participant numbers will be capped at 24, for logistic reasons, so first come first registered.  SONC members will be prioritized, but if we don't reach 24, non-members (i.e. family of SONC members) will be welcome to join us (day membership & waiver forms required for non-members).

Thanks everyone.  We look forward to a fun field event with our wonderful SONC members.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Rod & Elaine Malcolm  -  South Okanagan Naturalists' Club

PS: The CVWMA encompasses approximately 7,000 hectares (roughly 17,000 acres).  It includes diverse habitat, micro-climate features and varied wetlands (river, lakes, marshes) providing a rich environment for naturalists to enjoy some of the best wildlife diversity in British Columbia.  The following link provides additional info, including trail descriptions:  Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area | Explore Creston Valley.