NEWS & UPDATES - November 2024

In this Update...

Here is what to expect in this eNewsletter edition, enjoy!

That's a Wrap
Winter School Programs
Thank you to Seasonal Staff
AGM Notice
Want to be a Board Member or Volunteer?
Supporters in the Spotlight
Duck Banding and Fall Migration
Fun in the Mud

That's a Wrap for 2024!

Thank you for a great season at the Discovery Centre!

We hosted over 4,300 people inside the Centre...

We delivered school programs to 2,150 students...our highest numbers to date!

We hosted 79 kids in our summer camps...

We paddled 326 people on our guided canoe and walking tours...a little lower numbers than usual due to low water levels in August that stopped us from paddling...

Your support and interest in our programs is greatly appreciated, whether you can enjoy in person or view from afar!

Thanks for a great 2024 and we are looking forward to opening the doors to you again in the spring of 2025! Meanwhile, we are busy fundraising for 2025 as well as offering in-class Winter Programs for Creston schools Grade K-7.

Winter School Programs

Thank you to the Seasonal Staff

A huge thank you to our seasonal staff in 2024 Gracie and Natasha! We had lots of fun delivering school programs, summer camps and canoe tours. They also helped with bat surveys, tree swallow nest box data collection, butterfly surveys and turtle nest surveys. Throw in some beaver dam and wild rice removal as well as weed whipping and pruning and they had a pretty full summer!

Joseph also joined us in May and June to help with school programs and turtle nest surveys.

KCDCS AGM - November 28th, 2024

KCDCS's Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday November 28th

Where: Virtually (via Zoom)

When: Thursday November 28th at 7pm-8:30pm

How to Attend: Sign-up here and receive the link to the event via email

We will share with you highlights from the 2024 season as well as updates on financials.

An Agenda and any related documents will be posted on our website closer to the date.

Want to Be a Board Member or Volunteer?

If you are interested in being on the KCDCS Board, we would love to hear from you!

We are looking for keen and enthusiastic individuals who will bring insight and passion to our commitment to environmental education and the development of a new Centre.

The Board meets once per month (with a summer break). There are opportunities for committee work based on your interest and experience. If you have time to offer and are willing to help, we would love to have you on our team.

An application form (easy and quick) can be found here.

Please apply by November 22nd.

If you have any Fundraising and/or Grant Writing experience, we would love to either have you on the Board or volunteer with us. Each year we need to fundraise to ensure our programs continue. We are looking for fresh and new ideas and assistance with this process.

Supporters in the Spotlight

"Kids are naturally curious and interested in nature and through these programs, we can give them a hands-on opportunity to explore, learn and grow in a positive and safe environment."

Carla Ahern, Senior Manager, KCDCS

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) offered financial support to KCDCS in 2024 to our wetland education and awareness programs.

Through the Outdoor Recreation Fund, the ORCBC supports community-based initiatives that create and shape meaningful outdoor recreational and nature-based experiences for British Columbians.

The funds we received from this grant went towards supporting our Jr Naturalist Summer Nature Camps.

To goal of the Jr Naturalist program is to engage children in hands-on learning and develop skills and knowledge related to: environmental awareness, ecosystems (wetland, forest), human and environmental health and respect, climate change, wildlife, environmental processes, and more.

We bring in many science concepts into the camps that we can explore and see in action first-hand in the wetland environment. STEAM principles are utilized to promote learning opportunities.

In 2024, we were able to offer 7 sessions of the camps and hosted 79 kids.

For more information on the ORCBC's granting program , please click here.

THANK YOU ROTARY CLUB CRESTON VALLEY

A huge thank you to Rotary Club of Creston Valley for their fundraising initiative, BeerFest, that took place in August. KCDCS was the lucky benefactor of the proceeds raised from the event. The money will goes towards our 2025 Jr Naturalist summer camps.

Donations Gratefully Accepted

KCDCS relies on grants and donations to make our educational programs and endeavours a success. We work hard to deliver a variety of programs to students, adults and special interest groups each year. We also continue to work towards the goal of seeing a new Interpretation Centre come to life. If you want to be part of our journey and support our work, please consider a donation. You can earmark your donations for:

Operation of Education Programs
Development of a New Centre, or
General (used where needed most)

Donations are accepted online via our safe and secure portal or by mail at PO Box 763, Creston, BC V0B1G0

Thank you!

Donate Now!

Duck Banding and Fall Migration at the CVWMA

Photo - Marc-Andre Beaucher of the CVWMA assisting with duck banding

Waterfowl Banding at the CVWMA

From: Julia Kaczkowski

Conservation Programs Assistant, CVWMA

This August, the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA) staff were delighted to help the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) set up waterfowl banding stations at several locations throughout the management area. Waterfowl banding hasn’t been performed in this area since the 1990’s, so we were very excited to take part in the re-establishment of a banding station. Banding data helps ECCC understand waterfowl population dynamics and movements, which in turn instructs management decisions that result in the maintenance of healthy waterfowl populations.

In total, 285 birds were banded this season. Mallards and Wood Ducks made up the majority, with two Blue-Winged Teals, one American Green-winged Teal, and one Common Goldeneye to round out the mix. We are hopeful that waterfowl banding at the CVWMA will continue in 2025 and future years.

Some sights and sounds of Fall Migration at the CVWMA

From: Carla Ahern, Senior Manager KCDCS

It was loud and it was busy on the ponds in the Corn Creek Marsh Unit (the ponds close to the Discovery Centre) this fall!

Some highlights for us as we got out with school programs, was seeing large numbers and variety of species. Huge flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds were so loud, you couldn't hear yourself think as hundreds of them descended onto the cattails and proceeded to all talk at once!

The Greater White-fronted Geese were out in full force, some days we were seeing upwards of 500 individuals, and they were super loud too!

A family of Trumpeter Swans was a delightful sight we enjoyed from May onward. We watched their courtship, we saw where they nested and we eagerly waited to see the young cygnets appear on the ponds - and we were not disappointed as 5 appeared. We watched them grow into adults as they spent the summer and fall together as a family unit.

Some other sightings included Wood ducks, American Wigeons, Pied-billed Grebes, Ring-necked Ducks, Northern Harriers, Woodpeckers, and more!

Fun in the Mud

You might have noticed an excavator in the wetland ponds around the Centre this fall...Digging focused on where beavers had made large dams that blocked water flow as well as areas where lots of silt and sediment had accumulated. Both of these things hinder water flow into and through the ponds, so a little digging in the mud helps to fix it!

Get your FREE Membership now to show support for our programs!

To increase support and awareness for KCDCS' mission, we are offering free Memberships! Join the over 1,300 Members and show support for environmental education in our region! This helps us to obtain grants and sponsorships to move us forward!

Become a Member

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