NEWS & UPDATES - JUNE 2020
Thank you for subscribing to our eNewsletter updates! Our aim is to keep you informed on the happenings of the Kootenay-Columbia Discovery Centre - from program delivery to the development of a new Centre and everything in between. We appreciate your support and interest!
LOOKING AHEAD TO OPENING...
We are working towards reopening the doors to the temporary Discovery Centre and offering some programs in the early summer. We are working with local health authorities and following provincial recommendations to make sure that we are providing a safe environment for staff and visitors.

What will it look like? While we are still determining the logistics and details, we hope to have the building open (streamlined displays and limited numbers in the building at at time) and staff on-site to provide information and answer questions by July. We will have resources such as maps, self guided trail walks, wildlife checklists and scavenger hunts to help you make the most out of your outdoor adventure. As the season progresses, we will determine if we can offer some themed guided adventures to small groups of people.

Jr Naturalist Summer Day Camps...
We hope to be able to offer our day camps (Jr Naturalists) in July and August. We will be offering one session a week with a maximum of 10 kids. We will be following provincial guidelines related to child care, parks and day camps. If you think you will be interested in having your child attend, we can provide further information, answer any questions, and preregister you! Call us @ (250) 402 8661 or email us . You can also check out our Summer Camp page for tentative dates and details. We will keep you posted!
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
We developed a Wetland Scavenger Hunt for you to enjoy!

Feel free to download and use the next time you head out into the wetland...any wetland!


Post your findings on our Facebook page .
SOME WILD FUN - NATURE QUIZZES
TURTLE QUIZ!!

For the month of June, we will be uploading wildlife/nature quizzes to our website for you to enjoy!

Check out our first one....all about Turtles !!

Have an idea for a Quiz topic? Let us know!

ADD ON ACTIVITY - WEBINAR ON TURTLES!!

Thursday, June 4 - 10am Pacific / 11am Mountain
Recommended Grade Levels: Primary and Intermediate Elementary

This program will explore the Western Painted Turtle, a species of turtle native to BC. Students will discover the history of turtles, learn about their traits and behaviours and what we can do help to protect these blue-listed turtles. Presenter Ayla Bennett is an environmental educator from Fernie, BC. She holds a BSc in Environmental Science and is passionate about conservation and the outdoors.

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE
We are really happy with our new website! it is full of updated information on the development of the new Discovery Centre as well as educational resources.

Please check it out !!
Memberships to KCDCS are FREE right now!

To increase support and awareness for what KCDCS is doing, we are offering free Memberships that will be valid until December 31, 2021. The more Members we have, the more we can show support for environmental education in our region! This helps us to obtain grants and sponsorships to move us forward!

Starting May 1st, all NEW MEMBERS will be automatically entered into a draw to receive 4 FREE CANOE TOUR PASSES that you can redeem for future tours when available (Draw will happen on June 15th).

BE BEAR SAVY WHEN RECREATING
Spring is a great time to get out and enjoy nature. Bears and other large wildlife are also thinking the same thing.

Be aware that there is a chance you might see a black or grizzly bear when recreating in our Valley (and other wild areas too). Sightings of moose and elk are also possible.

There have been bear sightings at the CVWMA in the past weeks at Summit Creek/Leach Lake area. The CVWMA provides updated sightings on their Facebook Page , as well as posting information at access points. If you want to report a sighting , you can call them at (250) 402 6900 or email them.

So how do you stay safe? Please check out these best practices for how to safely recreate with wildlife in mind:

WildSafe BC (Black Bear)
WildSafe BC (Grizzly Bear)
BC Parks (Staying Safe in Bear Country)

CVWMA UPDATES

To access advisories and up to date information related to the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, please check out their website or Facebook page .

Creston Valley Bird-a-Thon Results
Results are in! The Creston Valley Bird Festival organized a Bird-a-thon in Creston on May 9th, International Migratory Bird Day, the scheduled weekend for the Festival (which was cancelled due to COVID-19). Birders took to the Valley, social distancing practices in place of course, and found 134 species. CV Bird Fest wishes to thank to all Valley birders who headed out in the beautiful sunshine. To find the full list of species, click here .

Like most events this spring, the Creston Valley Bird Festival had to be cancelled for 2020. But, look ahead to 2021 and start planning your Bird Fest adventure! For information, visit the CV Bird Festival website .
COOL FINDS FROM OTHER PLACES
There are many wonderful organizations who provide awesome online resources and have ramped up their content in the face of the current global pandemic - helping people to connect and evade boredom in an alternate way as we see necessary restrictions on face to face interactions.

Here are some of out favourite resources that we have found to help you stay entertained and sane both outdoors and in...
100 Must Read Nature Books for Kids of All Ages

  • From Backwoods Mama, the books are broken down into age categories…I am sure you have read many of them, and we hope you find inspiration to read some more!
  • One of our favourites? Howl Like a Wolf by Kathleen Yale and Kaley McKean. You can learn to think, move and act like 15 amazing animals...
Cornell Lab of Ornithology (All About Birds)

  • Tune into one of their many webcams...from Red-tailed hawks to Bermuda petrels...
  • Learn how to identify birds and learn more with fun facts and information. They are the experts!
If you are interested in supporting KCDCS's mission to deliver environmental education and awareness programs, please click the link above. You can earmark your donation for ongoing program delivery or the development of a new Discovery Centre. KCDCS is a registered federal charity and can issue you a tax receipt.