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This is the briefest message I have written to you. Some of you may say, 'about time' others may wonder if I have run out of good thoughts and words about the Centre and the work we do. No, I have not.
Throughout nature life has cycles, from seasonal weather patterns to a great diversity of life forms. We humans are just one in that great diversity and are subject to the same birth, life, death cycle as all the other lives we share this wonderous planet with.
The end part of this pattern has been close to me this spring and while, in its own way, has been a blessing for the dear people passing on, it has its impact on those who remain. Perhaps as a result of these events, perhaps because I became careless or was just too tired, I had a nasty fall. Nothing broken, nothing mortal, nothing time won't heal, but the pain lingers and my energy has been sapped, all leading to less words.
Meanwhile life cycles at the Centre are unfolding according to nature's plan.
As always, to our staff, thank you for your dedication. To our volunteers, simply put, we could not function without you. To our members, thank you for your continued support.
May a visit to the Osoyoos Desert Centre be part of your summer plans and may good health accompany you.
Lee
Lee McFadyen
Having the privilege of presiding over this organization
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New and returning peeps at ODC
Not only does the wildlife return to the Osoyoos Desert Centre but the humans do too! First though, a new face. If you haven't had a chance yet to meet Joni Reimer, our new Desert Centre Manager, be sure to stop by the ODC soon and say hello! Joni started in April this year and has been busy learning the many ropes. She has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies focusing on water resources and soil science and joins us from Churchill MB where most recently she was Research Manager at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. Welcome Joni! So glad to have you here!
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We're very happy to welcome back two of our conservation guides from year's past. You may remember Larissa Thelin who worked with us last season. Larissa has just completed her Master's degree in Ecology focusing on polar bear space and habitat use in relation to climate change. Larissa is a passionate science communicator and she too has spent some time in Churchill working as an ambassador for Polar Bears International. This July she's been invited to go to Svalbard, Norway where she'll be again talking to folks about polar bears and climate change at the Polar Bears International House.
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In 2020 as we were getting ready to open the ODC for another season, the pandemic hit. Needless to say, we opened very late that year but we were lucky to be able to hire one guide for the season. That was Kaylee Lesmeister, who braved the craziness of that first summer of COVID and joined us at the ODC. She then went off to complete her degree in Biology at the University of Victoria and we're so glad she's come back for a second stint as Conservation Guide! Kaylee has a love for environmental education and grew up in Oliver spending time camping, exploring, and working in the Okanagan's ecosystems.
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Each year we're able to hire a high school student for the months of July and August. We were thrilled when Vriti Bakshi, who worked with us as an admissions volunteer last summer, put in her application! Vriti recently graduated from Osoyoos Secondary School and will be heading off to Okanagan College in the fall to take business and journalism. Vriti says she is excited to share her love for the outdoors with our visitors this summer!
Here's to another great season with a great group of talented individuals!
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Shade, Glorious Shade
After suffering countless umbrella casualties at the ODC over the years, we are elated to announce we now have an effective, reliable shade structure erected in our open courtyard. Our new pergola is a beautiful modular design manufactured in Canada by Toja Grid. It's constructed of several 6x6 posts and beams, purchased from our long-time supporter T.L. Timber in Cawston, connected with various steel brackets. It's sleek and simple and the best part is it can be repurposed, moved and reconfigured in years to come to suit our growing needs. For now though, it provides a beautiful shady spot to sit and enjoy your picnic lunch after taking a tour on our boardwalk trail. Stop by and check it out!! Many thanks to Osoyoos Credit Union for their significant contribution towards the purchase of our pergola and to all our supporters who purchased raffle tickets last year. Your contributions helped make this beautiful pergola system possible! A big thanks also to Rich, Travis and Trevor of Tier 1 Maintenance Services for constructing our new pergola as well as our staff Joni, Larissa and Kaylee and our building committee volunteers Peter Beckett, Rob Summers and Trevor Reeves who lent many hands!
Thank you to our pergola sponsor!
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Be a citizen scientist!!
As more and more natural spaces are fragmented due to residential development and road construction and as traffic becomes heavier, the mortality of animals on roadways is increasing as well. This summer ODC is launching a citizen science project to monitor road mortality around our site. With the support of Parks Canada and the help of Raccoopack Media we've developed an app to help record and map strikes and mortalities on 146th Avenue. The data collected from this project will be used to build a baseline understanding of road ecology in our area and to investigate options to mitigate road mortality. The information will be crucial for the proposed National Park as well as for protecting wildlife and ecosystems in the South Okanagan Similkameen. If you're interested in becoming a citizen scientist and taking part in this project please contact Joni at manager@desert.org. The survey will include walking the entire length of 146th Avenue on both sides once a week and recording what you see on our app. You could also team up with a friend and walk the road in pairs with one person on each side. A smart phone and data is required. ODC will provide training and visibility vests.
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A Fledgling Gang of Nest Box Makers!
We were delighted to once again be a part of the Meadowlark Nature Festival events on the May long weekend. Luckily, the rain held off for about a dozen fledging bluebird nest box makers who took part in a workshop to construct their own nest boxes and also learn about bluebird ecology, life cycle, and the recovery of declining blue bird populations - a true citizen science success story! The event sold out in a flash and was tons of fun for everyone. Following the workshop all participants joined Kaylee on a guided tour along our boardwalk.
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Tourists give back - an emerging trend
With increasing concern for climate change and the environment, and in an effort to mitigate negative impacts, the travel industry has been embracing best-practices in sustainable tourism for many years now. Recently though, a new trend in tourism has emerged - regenerative tourism. Regenerative tourism takes the commitment and engagement one step further, aiming not only to reduce harm, but also to improve or enhance local communities and their surrounding environment. The idea is that visitors take in the sights and amenities, but also take time to volunteer on a local conservation activity or project that provides a benefit.
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 |  | Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has been a leader on this front for several years (read more about TOTA's commitment here). Recently Eve Layman, Destination Development & Stewardship Specialist at TOTA along with retired biologist Orv Dyer, have been spearheading a group of conservation partners including the Nature Trust of British Columbia, Bat Education and Ecological Protection Society (BEEPS) and Osoyoos Desert Centre to explore and initiate regenerative tourism opportunities in the Central/South Okanagan. In May, TOTA staff from Kelowna, along with the conservation partners, took part in a pilot field trip traveling to the Nature Trust’s Brock Field to learn about invasive plant species in the Antelope-brush ecosystem and then plant Antelope-brush seedlings. After that the group carried on to the ODC where they took part in a guided tour to get a look at a recovering Antelope-brush habitat and also learn about invasives on our site and the many species-at-risk that depend on this habitat for their survival. An awesome day was had by all and the exciting prospect of further deepening our commitment to regenerative tourism was shared by all. Many thanks to Eve and Orv for pulling this project together.
Photo credits: Trevor Reeves.
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ODC showcased in Canadian Geographic
We were delighted to be included in a recent Canadian Geographic article by Olivia Wiens on Canadian deserts. Wiens writes about desert environments in Yukon, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and of course here in the Okanagan. Read her article here.
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Students gain skills for lifelong stewardship
After a hugely successful pilot project initiated last year, this spring students in the South Okanagan again headed outdoors to take part in a boots-on-the-ground stewardship program to help in the restoration of our endangered Antelope-brush habitat. The Antelope-brush education program offers kids an immersive, land-based experience and a chance to learn first-hand about key sustainability concepts such as biodiversity and connectivity. Over 200 students and 10 teachers took part in the program which included dozens of activities like learning about big horn sheep, skull identification, animal tracking, working with the iNaturalist app, indigenous teachings, birding, habitat restoration, a field trip to ODC to look at a recovering Antelope-brush habitat and of course planting more than 250 Antelope-brush seedlings on a private landowner's property and several Nature Trust properties.
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Special thanks to Allison Dietrich of SD #67 who worked tirelessly on developing and coordinating this program and ensuring its success. Also thanks to Orv Dyer whose hard work, enthusiasm and guidance was key to getting this program off the ground.
ODC was glad to host staff members Brianna Ure, Zaneta Ewashko and Sami Brar from FortisBC, a significant funder of this year's program, who joined in on one of the school field trips at the Osoyoos Desert Centre.
See a video from the students here.
Best viewed by adjusting your settings quality to 720.
Read an article about the program by Nature Trust here.
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Big round of applause for the funders of our
Antelope-brush Restoration Educational Program
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Your support is invaluable! Become a Member Today!
ODC memberships help us to continue to initiate projects that conserve and restore antelope-brush in the South Okanagan and to advocate for and educate people about threatened habitats and species in our region. Members receive unlimited free admission to the Osoyoos Desert Centre, 10% discount in our Gift Shop and advance notice of select events and programs. Memberships are $30 per person, per year.
Become a member or renew your membership here. See you in the desert!
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