Allan Brooks Nature Centre Society

Allan Brooks Nature Centre Society The Allan Brooks Nature Centre fosters a connection between schools, the public, and nature through its programming.

It offers residents and visitors of the Okanagan region opportunities for nature-based learning, and engaging events and experiences. Perched atop the grasslands just south of Vernon the Allan Brooks Nature Centre (ABNC) is your place to satisfy your natural curiosity and reconnect with the joys of nature. The Nature Centre provides visitors a first-hand opportunity to see and learn about the Okanaganโ€™s unique and diverse natural heritage through views, information, programs, and displays of the regionโ€™s natural areas. The Centre occupies the old Vernon Upper Air Weather Station overlooking the city of Vernon and was first opened on July 1, 2000. It is ideally situated on a grassland knoll at the confluence of the Okanagan and Coldstream valleys. Three lakes and five ecosystems can be seen from this site and spectacular, panoramic views of the Okanagan and its diverse ecosystems. The Allan Brooks Nature Centre is committed to promoting the enjoyment of nature and increasing awareness of habitat conservation through environmental education and nature-related activities in the Okanagan region.

๐…๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ˆ๐ฌ ๐š๐ง ๐ˆ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐š๐ง๐ญ ๐“๐ข๐ฆ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐Ž๐ค๐š๐ง๐š๐ ๐š๐ง ๐๐ž๐š๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ŸปAs fall arrives, black bears enter a period called hyperphagia, when they ...
10/07/2026

๐…๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ˆ๐ฌ ๐š๐ง ๐ˆ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐š๐ง๐ญ ๐“๐ข๐ฆ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐Ž๐ค๐š๐ง๐š๐ ๐š๐ง ๐๐ž๐š๐ซ๐ฌ ๐Ÿป

As fall arrives, black bears enter a period called hyperphagia, when they spend much of their time eating and building the fat reserves they need for winter.

Itโ€™s also an important reminder for us to keep garbage, fallen fruit, pet food and other attractants secured. Protecting wildlife sometimes starts with something as simple as managing what we leave behind.

๐…๐ฎ๐ง ๐…๐š๐œ๐ญ ๐…๐ซ๐ข๐๐š๐ฒ! ๐Ÿฆ”Did you know a group of porcupines is called a prickle? And despite the old myth, porcupines can't sh...
10/02/2026

๐…๐ฎ๐ง ๐…๐š๐œ๐ญ ๐…๐ซ๐ข๐๐š๐ฒ! ๐Ÿฆ”

Did you know a group of porcupines is called a prickle?

And despite the old myth, porcupines can't shoot their quills. The quills detach when something comes into contact with them.

Now you know!

Today, Allan Brooks Nature Centre recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and honours the children, fam...
10/01/2026

Today, Allan Brooks Nature Centre recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and honours the children, families, Survivors, and communities impacted by residential schools.

We encourage everyone to take time today to listen, learn, reflect, and deepen our understanding of the history and ongoing journey of reconciliation. ๐Ÿงก

๐ŸŒฟ ๐๐ž๐ฐ ๐๐š๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐  ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ!Roseanne Van Ee is back with another edition of Okanaganโ€™s Nature Nut.This month, Roseanne ta...
09/23/2026

๐ŸŒฟ ๐๐ž๐ฐ ๐๐š๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐  ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ!

Roseanne Van Ee is back with another edition of Okanaganโ€™s Nature Nut.

This month, Roseanne takes a closer look at Black Bears โ€” from their incredible climbing and foraging abilities to how they prepare for hibernation.

She also shares some interesting facts about black bear behaviour, their changing hair colours, and some important reminders about staying safe when weโ€™re in bear country.

Read Roseanneโ€™s latest blog here:
https://abnc.ca/black-bears/

Have you ever spotted a black bear in the wild? ๐Ÿป

๐Ÿ’š Thank you, First West Foundation!Weโ€™re incredibly grateful to receive a $20,000 2026 Impact Grant through the Valley F...
09/21/2026

๐Ÿ’š Thank you, First West Foundation!

Weโ€™re incredibly grateful to receive a $20,000 2026 Impact Grant through the Valley First Community Endowment Fund.

This support helps Allan Brooks Nature Centre continue our work in the community and support our education programs, creating meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to connect with and learn about nature. ๐ŸŒฟ

Thank you to the First West Foundation for supporting our community and the work we do at ABNC! ๐Ÿ’š

๐Ÿฆ ๐–๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ž๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐š๐ง ๐ข๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐ ๐›๐ข๐ซ๐?Just one week before Global Bird Rescue (September 21โ€“27, 2026), join...
09/16/2026

๐Ÿฆ ๐–๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ž๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐š๐ง ๐ข๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐ ๐›๐ข๐ซ๐?

Just one week before Global Bird Rescue (September 21โ€“27, 2026), join us for a special Summer Nature Talk all about understanding bird injuries, preventing collisions, and learning how we can help keep birds safe. ๐Ÿ’š

Kathleen Johnson, co-founder of the Calgary Urban Species Response Team, will share practical information about bird injuries and prevention tips that anyone can use. Sheโ€™ll also talk about the work her volunteer group does to rescue birds and bats, conduct surveys, and document wildlife in our urban environment.

๐Ÿ“… Saturday, September 19
โฐ 11:00โ€“11:30 AM
๐Ÿ“ Allan Brooks Nature Centre

Come learn the basics, get equipped with practical tips, and leave with some inspiration for how you can help save birds in your own community. ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŒฟ

๐Ÿšง Temporary Parking ClosurePlease note that the main parking lot at Allan Brooks Nature Centre will be closed from Septe...
09/15/2026

๐Ÿšง Temporary Parking Closure

Please note that the main parking lot at Allan Brooks Nature Centre will be closed from September 15โ€“23 due to construction.

If youโ€™re planning to visit us during this time, please plan accordingly.

Thank you for your understanding! ๐Ÿ’š

๐ŸŸ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐œ๐ฅ๐š๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ž๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐Š๐จ๐ค๐š๐ง๐ž๐ž ๐ฌ๐š๐ฅ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ง!This fall, students can get a hands-on look at the Kokanee salmo...
09/12/2026

๐ŸŸ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐œ๐ฅ๐š๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ž๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐Š๐จ๐ค๐š๐ง๐ž๐ž ๐ฌ๐š๐ฅ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ง!

This fall, students can get a hands-on look at the Kokanee salmon and learn more about their journey through the Okanagan watershed. ๐ŸŒŠ๐Ÿ‚

The program includes:
โœ“ Creek-side salmon observation
โœ“ Interactive watershed experience
โœ“ Salmon life-cycle lesson
โœ“ Fun salmon game

๐Ÿ“… Mid-September to mid-October 2026

Please note: Program timing is subject to nature and very low water levels. Actual program dates will be confirmed closer to the time.

Interested in bringing your class? Get in touch with our team:

๐Ÿ“ง David: [email protected]
๐Ÿ“ง Calista: [email protected]

More program information:
Kokanee Salmon Outing Program

09/10/2026

โ›ณ๏ธ ๐๐”๐“๐“ ๐…๐Ž๐‘ ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐๐‘๐ˆ๐™๐„! ๐ŸŒ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

Something fun is coming to the Allan Brooks Nature Centre!

Join Back Nine Vernon x Allan Brooks Nature Centre for a fun Putt for the Prize Putting Contest on Saturday, September 26!

๐ŸŽฏ Fun for golfers & non-golfers
๐Ÿ“ Allan Brooks Nature Centre
๐ŸŒ๏ธ Come take your shot!

๐Ÿ‘‰ https://backninegolf.ca/local/vernonbc

๐Ÿ’ง๐ŸŒฟ ๐‚๐š๐ง ๐š ๐›๐ž๐š๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐ ๐š๐ซ๐๐ž๐ง ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ž ๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซ? ๐€๐›๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฒ!Join us for our next Summer Nature Talk: Xeriscaping โ€“ What Is It A...
09/09/2026

๐Ÿ’ง๐ŸŒฟ ๐‚๐š๐ง ๐š ๐›๐ž๐š๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐ ๐š๐ซ๐๐ž๐ง ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ž ๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซ? ๐€๐›๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฒ!

Join us for our next Summer Nature Talk: Xeriscaping โ€“ What Is It And Why Is It Important and discover how thoughtful landscaping can help conserve water without sacrificing beauty.

Xeriscaping uses drought-tolerant plants, efficient watering, and smart garden design to reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation. With hot, dry summers and growing water restrictions in the Okanagan, it offers a practical and sustainable approach for homeowners and communities. ๐ŸŒฑ

Hear from xeriscaping expert Sigire Kendrick as she explores what xeriscaping really means and how you can start applying these ideas at home.

๐Ÿ“… Saturday, September 12
โฐ 11:00โ€“11:30 AM
๐Ÿ“ Allan Brooks Nature Centre

Come learn how a water-wise garden can still be beautiful, colourful, and full of life! ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ง

Address

250 Allan Brooks Way
Vernon, BC
V1H1G2

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