It’s tricky finding family-friendly summer events on weeknights in Vernon. Trying to get your kids outside is tough enough, let alone active and learning.
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre has a new offering this year to one-up last year’s movie nights. Family Fun Nights offer a different theme each week until mid-August and are fun for any age.
The decision to switch from family movie nights to activity nights was an obvious success based on the enjoyment that was had by more than 70 attendees for the launch of Family Camp Fun Night July 12. Happy faces full of marshmallow and smeared chocolate were aglow around the campfire. The crafts tables were pressed at points, even the eastern sky lit up with a show of the most brilliant double rainbow.
Parents made friends with strangers, shared names of their favourite places to camp with their kids and more than one family was interested in camping the night right there at the viewpoint. The July 9 Family Games Night was stormed out, but guests still had a great time inside playing games and seeing the Nature Centre after hours, some for the first time. Admission is by donation and helps the non-profit society with operating and program costs.
Allan Brooks also has Sunset Speaker Series back by popular demand on Wednesday evenings. With a new outdoor Peregrine Theatre on the Nature Centre grounds, new opportunities have arisen including a venue for these evening lessons in the sun and looking into the future for music, theatre and more.
Stuart Brown kicked off the Sunset Speaker series July 13 with his presentation on local snake species, identification, and what to do in certain situations; if you were to get bitten by a venomous pacific northwestern rattlesnake for example. After the interesting talk, participants got to hold Brown’s large exotic snakes, a rare opportunity.
The upcoming Family Fun Nights and Speaker Series are as follows:
July 26: Family Scavenger Hunt
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Bring the whole family, this will be your team! Search for items, complete tasks and don’t forget your charged smartphone for picture proof!
July 27: Forests in Flux with Greg O’Neill, Climate Change Adaptation Scientist
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Join Greg for a discussion on how climate change may affect forests. How are these impacts estimated? Can diversifying our forests protect them against climate change? This presentation will discuss the challenges facing forests, forest managers, and policy-makers. There will also be a hands-on activity where families learn about different plant species.
Aug. 9: Family Fire Safety Night
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — With a bonfire back by popular demand, Allan Brooks will take it one step further with a presentation on fire safety complete with some fun crafts and exercises.
Aug. 10: Prehistoric Vernon with Chuck Bulmer and Stephen Zopf
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Do you ever wonder what the Okanagan Valley is really made of? Or what Vernon was like in the time of the dinosaurs? Join Stephen Zopf and Chuck Bulmer for an exploration of prehistoric Vernon as they unravel the record laid down in the rocks and landscapes of our area. Includes an interpretive walk of discovery.
Following the last family events, Raptor Weeks are back from Aug. 16 to 20 with Flight Demonstrations and Close Encounter Courses involving hawks, owls, falcons and more. Also falling on Aug. 16 is Allan Brooks Business After 5 with the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. make new business connections in a fun and casual environment with great people, delicious canapés and hard cider, complete with amazing door prizes and a special Raptor Flight Demonstration. Admission for non-members is $10.