The Outings Committee organizes field trips for the spring and fall months. Generally the trips are in the Shuswap / Okanagan area, and reflect the diverse interests of our group in flora, fauna and other areas of ecological interest. 

A diifficulty rating (DR) of 1, 2 or 3 is assigned to outings, reflecting terrain, length and elevation gain..

Regular Club Outings

Thursday May 4^th – Solvang Jespersen’s Farm near South Broadview Elementary. Join leader Cathy Meakes at 8:30 and bring rubber boots if you have them. Expect to see several species of sparrows, other landbirds, and waterfowl on the pond. The outing is on private land with the owner’s permission. The farm is located at 362 35^th Street NE. The easiest way there is to turn off 30^th St. NE at Gathering Place Church and follow 2^nd Ave NE to the end. Turn left and go to the last driveway just before entrance to Evergreen Mobile Home Park. Cathy will meet you there. DR-1.

Thursday May 11^th Swan Lake Trail and Allan Brooks Nature Centre Area. Meet leader Cathy Meakes at the Junglemania parking lot in Salmon Arm at 7:30 a.m. where we will arrange carpooling to Vernon. Well-known Vernon area naturalist Jack van Dyke will meet us at Swan Lake. Our focus will be on birds but we also will look forward to the early season grasslands wildflower show! This will be an all-day trip, so bring a pack lunch and water. Enroute washroom breaks will be organized. There is a new portable washroom facility at the Swan Lake parking lot! After hiking at Swan Lake, we will move to the Allan Brooks Nature Centre and nearby grasslands to look for hawks, eagles, and other grasslands birds. Expect to be back in Salmon Arm in the late afternoon. DR-2

Thursday May 18^th Coyote Park. Meet leaders Barb and Ken Raynor at one of the best places in Salmon Arm to see and hear Nashville Warblers and many other songbirds and spring flowers. Meet at 8:30 at the main parking lot alongside Lakeshore Dr. Some moderately steep hills. DR-2

Thursday May 25^th Birding Hotspots in Revelstoke. Meet leaders Marcia and John Woods at 07:30 at the Junglemania in Salmon Arm to organize carpooling for this all-day trip. We plan to visit one of BC’s best known backyard birding hotspots in Revelstoke and then the highly productive Columbia River floodplain. Songbirds will be in full voice and you can expect to see and hear many American Redstarts! Bring a pack lunch and water for the day; We will never be too far from a washroom! Expect to be back in Salmon Arm in the late afternoon. DR-2

Thursday June 1^st Mallory Ridge Birding and Botany. Meet at the Junglemania Parking lot in Salmon Arm at 07:30 to organize carpooling for this 4-5 hour trip. We will rendezvous with trip leader Eleanor Marshall at the end of Mallory Road for a 3-4 hour walk in in a variety of habitats on the little-known, but fascinating, Mallory Ridge. Because we will be walking with permission across some private land, this trip is restricted to club members only. DR-2/3.

 Thursday June 15^th Birding and Wildflowers at Skimikin Lake. Meet leader Doug Mongerson at 8:30 in the parking lot outside the main entrance to Skimikin Lake Recreation Area. From there Doug will lead you on several trails and other hotspots for birds and flowers. Three-toed Woodpeckers are regularly seen here and Common Loons nest on the lake. DR-2.

Bird-watching for Families at the Salmon Arm Wharf DR-1

This series of five outings will all start at 08:30 at the Nature House and feature introducing bird-watching and seeing Western Grebes, American White Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, Ospreys, Bald Eagles and of course, turtles! In addition to the named leaders, any SNC member is welcome help. Please bring a spotting scope if you have one. The hikes will be about 1 ½ hours in length. Molly Cooperman will be our main contact for the NatureKids and will be advertising in the community. We also will be advertising in local media. If available, a SABNES summer student will co-lead each event. All hikes start and end at the Nature House.

Sunday May 14^th – Leader Cathy Meakes

Sunday May 28^th – Leader Patricia Perkins

Sunday June 11^th – Leader Doug Mongerson

Sunday June 25^th – Leader John and Marcia Woods