In the Past 1960’s – 1990’s
  • acquisition of lands now the Vaseux Lake Wildlife Refuge including the California Bighorn Sheep Reserve to the east of Vaseux Lake with SONC as founding members of Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society (OSPS); land now owned by Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
  • helped lobby for creation of what is now Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park in the Ashnola
  • achieved designation of Rock Ovens Regional Park above Naramata
  • carried out annual Audubon Christmas Bird Counts in Penticton and Vaseux Lake areas
1990’s-present:
  • involved in Parks Plan for the ‘90s government initiative
  • initial club in FBCN’s Land for Nature Project
  • participated in Provincial Protected Areas Strategy through membership on Brent Mountain Committee and Land for Nature
  • participated in Okanagan-Similkameen-Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan process through FBCN representatives
  • developed and now maintain, with College assistance, the Ruth St. John Memorial Habitat Garden on OUC, Penticton campus: public education on native plants and promotion of native plant and xeriscape (water-wise) gardening
  • ongoing consultation with City of Penticton Parks and Leisure Services concerning protection and rehabilitation of semi-natural areas such as the KVR right of way, Munson Mountain, the Esplanade, and Skaha Retention Pond
  • ongoing participation in Provincial and municipal or regional requests for submissions on proposed legislation relating to environmental matters and attendance at open house
  • bird and herptile surveys of red and blue-listed species at White Lake Biodiversity Ranch
  • organization and participation in Audubon Christmas Bird Counts in area
  • Family Nature Fun Days, two-four times each year
  • ongoing efforts to protect Max Lake and associated wetlands west of Penticton
  • development of butterfly garden at Trout Creek Elementary School, Summerland
  • fund-raising for Garnet Fire kiosk, Carmi
  • assistance with bird-banding station at Vaseux Lake Wildlife Refuge
  • assistance with organization, administration, and trip leadership for Meadowlark (nature) Festival each May