Nature Trust
Earth Wiind Fire 2010
 Join Us for a Fabulous Fun Fundraiser!
 
L to R: Stuart Klassen, John-Carlo Felicella, Rod Butters
Join us for Earth Wind Fire!
There's still time to buy tickets for a night that will tantalize all your senses! Join us on May 29 at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna for amazing food, outstanding wine and beer, and live music by the Zamboni Brothers, Cat Wells and Anna Jacyszyn.
 
 
 
 
For more information go to the Earth Wind Fire webpage. To purchase your tickets online click here or contact Robin Rivers at 1-866-288-7878 ext 226 or [email protected].
THE GIFT OF LAND
Leaving a Natural Legacy
 
Shuswap River
Shuswap River
The Nature Trust of BC is working with individuals who are interested in donating two properties using the Federal Ecological Gifts Program. The first property, located near Okanagan Falls, will add to the complex of conservation grasslands, one of BC's most at risk habitats. The second is along the Shuswap River and will help to maintain the intact riparian area and enhance salmon habitat.
 
Okanagan Falls
Okanagan Falls
Even in the case where properties are being donated, there are costs associated including legal, appraisal and land surveys. In addition, there needs to be an endowment fund in place for ongoing land management. The Nature Trust is seeking help to cover some of the costs associated with these ecological gifts in the amount of $30,000.
 
Your help is essential to allow us to move forward on these conservation projects. Click here to donate online.
WILD FESTIVAL 
 
Robert Bateman painting bird houses
Nature Trust of BC Wild Festival
The Nature Trust is proud to be the title sponsor of this special Kelowna event that helps students get outdoors and engage with nature through hands on experiences. On June 8 students will visit Okanagan College and build birdhouses, learn to fish, hike and paint with renowned marine life artist Wyland. The 2010 Festival will serve as a celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity and the key role that young people will play in conserving biodiversity in Canada. For more information, visit: http://www.gettoknow.ca/events/festival/ 
UNCONFERENCE 
 
The 2010 International Get to Know Unconference, coordinated by the Robert Bateman Get to Know Program, will be held June 7 - 9 at Okanagan College in Kelowna. A first of its kind, this event is hoped to begin a whole new type of dialogue. Delegates will include high level leaders and innovators in three major sectors: non-governmental organizations, private sector and government. The purpose is to develop a strategy for a continent-wide effort to get kids outdoors and connecting with neighbours of other species.
GRAHAM OSBORNE
PHOTO WORKSHOPS
 
Photo: Graham Osborne
Vaseux Lake
Go behind the scenes with professional nature photographer Graham Osborne. During each workshop he will share some of his tips for creating world class images, including composition techniques, secrets to maximizing depth of field, innovative uses of different lens focal lengths, how to capitalize on the unique light qualities of dusk and dawn, and using the whole frame to create visually focused compositions.
 
The workshops take place May 28-29, August 13-14, and November 26-27 in Harrison Hot Springs, BC. Each workshop is Friday 7-10 pm and Saturday dawn to dusk and limited to 6 people to ensure individual attention.
 
Participants should have an average working knowledge of their camera, and if possible, be able to operate it in manual mode. A film or digital SLR camera (i.e. with interchangeable lens capabilities) is recommended but not essential. For details, visit www.grahamosborne.com/workshops.html or call 604-535-9060.
CELEBRATING NATURE
The Nature Trust's 4th Annual Photo Contest 
 
2009 Photo Contest Winners
Clockwise from left: Don Erhardt, Kevin Lee, Len Langevin, Daphne Eve
The 2010 Nature Trust of BC photo contest, Celebrating Nature, will kick off on June 7 and run until October 4. In recognition of the International Year of Biodiversity, the categories are:
 
- The Web of Life (the diversity of living things in BC)
- The Big Picture (BC landscapes)
- The Power of Nature (storms, glaciers, waterfalls, etc. in BC)
- Making a Difference (local parks, green spaces, rain gardens In BC)
 
Look for prize updates and full contest details on our website in June. Judges include photographers Graham Osborne and Andrew Klaver. Amateur photographers who are residents of BC are invited to enter.
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS!
Thank You!
 
www.brantfestival.bc.caThank you to the many people who helped with the 20th Brant Wildlife Festival on Vancouver Island. A successful series of nature events in Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Comox from the beginning of March until the end of April was made possible by dozens of volunteer tour leaders, guest speakers, artists, and photographers.
 
Special thanks to the Pearson Family and all the folks at Aviawest at Pacific Shores Resort & Spa for hosting Splash, the festival fundraiser. It was an amazing evening of excellent food prepared by executive chef Andrew Howarth, wine and beer selected by Attila Cimsit, auction items donated by the local community, and music by Phil Dwyer.
 
The Nature Trust of BC coordinated the festival with sponsorship from BC Hydro, BC Ministry of Environment, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Lohn Foundation and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. We also want to thank Wildlife Habitat Canada for sponsoring the opening night and supporting the conservation interpreter position.
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Meadowlark Festival: Join The Nature Trust's South Okanagan Conservation Land Manager, Carleton MacNaughton, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge Specialist, Richard Armstrong, for a hike to McIntyre Bluff during the fesitval.
May 24, 6 am to 2 pm.
To register for this hike and for details of over 80 other exciting events visit: www.meadowlarkfestival.bc.ca 
 
 
Boundary Bay Clean Up: Join The Nature Trust and other volunteers as we travel out to Delta for our annual clean up day. No special skills are needed, just a desire to make a difference by picking up plastic and other debris on the foreshore.  
Saturday, June 5, 10 am - 2 pm Visit www.naturetrust.bc.ca or call Robin Rivers at 604-924-9771 for details.  
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