NEWS & UPDATES - July 2021
Questionnaire 3: Displays & Exhibits
The Kootenay-Columbia Discovery Centre Society (KCDCS) would like to hear from our Members! We want to know your thoughts on various elements related to the development of a new Discovery Centre at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area.

We are doing a series of 4 Questionnaires, each one will take less than 5 minutes to complete. They will be released over a period of time in our monthly enewsletters and will be available on our website. These are the topics:
  • Questionnaire 1: Space and Design
  • Questionnaire 2: Programs
  • Questionnaire 3: Displays and Exhibits
  • Questionnaire 4: Outdoor Space, Accessibility and Trails

These questionnaires are part of a larger process to develop a master plan and design for a new Centre.

Each questionnaire that you fill out will give you one entry into a Prize Draw that will take place once the final questionnaire is released (so a maximum of 4 entries can be obtained).

Prizes include:
  • Bushnell Binoculars (10x42)
  • Oil Portrait (18x24, full colour) signed by artist (local Creston artist)
  • 4 Canoe Tours at KCDCS
  • KCDCS t-shirt and hat

If you are not a Member, you can still complete the questionnaire. We encourage you to become a Member, it is free, so that you can keep up to date on progress related to the development of a new Centre and current operations. Memberships can be obtained here.

Ready to fill out the second Questionnaire? Here it is: Questionnaire 3: Displays & Exhibits

Thank you. if you have any questions or additional comments, please reach out to us at: education@discovery-centre.ca
Centre Highlights
The Discovery Centre is OPEN 7 days a week in July and August!

We will be offering GUIDED CANOE TOURS as well as many options for self-guided exploration including: SCAVENGER HUNTS, WILDLIFE AND BIRD CHECKLISTS, WALKING TOURS and ADVENTURE BACKPACKS...

We are creating NEW DISPLAYS and special weekend PARKING LOT POP UP TABLES featuring fun and educational information and activities.
Guided Canoe Tours
Guided canoe tours are on!

Join a naturalist for a 1.5 hour guided canoe tour through the wetland. You must preregister and you can bring a minimum of 4 or a maximum of 10 people.

Offered daily when open.

Times: 9:30am; 11:00am; 1:00pm; 2:30pm

Cost:$50 Flat rate

Email or call us (250-402-8661) to book!

Self Guided Options
Self Guided BoardWalk Loop and March Trail (Evening) Loop Tour Booklets

Grab an informational booklet onsite or download them on our website and head out on the trail to learn more about the wetland and wildlife that live here!
Adventure Backpacks

To enhance your adventure in the wetland, take one of our themed backpacks with you on your next hike.

They are free to borrow and are available when we are open
Virtual BoardWalk Loop Tour
The seasonal staff have put together a Virtual BoardWalk Loop Tour. If you can't make it out to our wetland but want to see some of the sights and learn more about the wetland, then you can do so from anywhere on your computer, tablet or phone! Also, when onsite, there are QR Codes that you can scan at various stops so that you can view the videos easily on your device while on the trail.

Thanks to Ale for her creativity and all staff for their contributions and cameos!!

Click on the map below to open it up!
Displays...
Parking Lot Pop Up Tables
Weekend fun! We will have various themed tables set up in the parking lot for you to come and look, explore, learn and do!
Coming Soon...the MicroEye Discovery

Thanks to grants from Columbia Basin Trust and FortisBC, we have purchased the MicroEye Discovery!

DISCOVERY is a microscope designed for use in public spaces. Robust and extremely hardwearing, it stands at over 500mm (20 inches) in height with a modern design easy to use design. Made for use in museums and nature centres, it will be an awesome addition to the Discovery Centre displays.

It is hand made in New Zealand - we have been scheduled for a late July production.

Trust us, we will let you know when it is here!
Meet the Seasonal Staff!
Our 2021 seasonal staff: Ale, Brittany and Caleb.
They are super keen and excited to host you this summer, so please come on by and say Hi!
Pretty Wild!
Join us on social media for Mondays "Pretty Wild" Posts where we will feature a creature that you might see out in the wetland!

Features to date:
European Black Slug
Columbia Spotted Frog
Western Painted Turtle
Swallowtail Butterfly

KCDCS YouTube Channel
We are busy creating videos about the wetland and wildlife and are posting them on our YouTube channel! So, if you want to subscribe and check them out, please do!

Watch out for video clips posted to our social media and website!
Jr. Nat Camps
Thank you so much for your interest in our summer Jr Naturalist day camps. Many of the camps are full or close to full, so if you are interested, please get in touch soon! Click here for details.

NEW! Frolicking Frogs (Full)
Ages 4 & 5 (preschool age)
July 26-28
Sessions: Monday-Wednesday
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Cost: $65 per week

Curious Caterpillars (Full)
Ages 6 & 7 (completed Kindergarten or Grade 1)
July 5-9 and August 9-13
Sessions: Monday-Friday
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $110 per week

Boisterous Beavers (Full)
Ages 8 & 9 (completed Grade 2 or 3)
July 12-16 and August 16-20
Sessions: Monday-Friday
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $110 per week

Eager Eagles (A Few Spaces Available)
Ages 10 & 11 (completed Grade 4 or 5)
July 19-23 and August 23-27
Sessions: Monday-Friday
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $110 per week

Wandering Wolves (Spaces Available)
Ages 12 & 13 (completed Grade 6 or 7)
August 2-6
Sessions: Monday-Friday
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $110 per week
We will be at the Creston Valley Farmers' Market this Saturday, July 10th!

Come and say Hi!
ID Bird Songs with Merlin Bird App
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has an app for your phone/tablet called Merlin Bird ID (powered by eBird). It is free and not only can you identify birds by their physical appearance (by choosing characteristics or uploading a photo), but now you can identify them by their song!

Sound ID listens to the birds around you and shows real-time suggestions for who’s singing. Compare your recording to the songs and calls in Merlin to confirm what you heard. Available for birds in the US and Canada.

We tried it out and it works awesome!

For more information or to download, visit Cornell Lab website
Invasive Species Council of BC Seek Youth Volunteers
The Invasive Species Council of BC is currently recruiting youth volunteers between the ages of 15-30.

Youth volunteers help to protect BC from new and spreading invasive species by gaining expert knowledge of our local environment and ecosystems, and by taking meaningful action in the field and virtually.

To find out more about our program please visit our website: https://bcinvasives.ca/take-action/volunteer/
Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area
At this time of year, there are seasonal closures of the Duck Lake dyke to vehicle access due to poor conditions as well as seasonal migration of the northern leopard frog (March 15th - April 30th). To access advisories and up to date information related to the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, please check out their website or Facebook page.
Memberships to KCDCS are FREE!

To increase support and awareness for KCDCS' mission, we are offering free Memberships! Join the 1,000 Members and show support for environmental education in our region! This helps us to obtain grants and sponsorships to move us forward!
If you are interested in supporting KCDCS' 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.

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!

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