|
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre opened in July 2000 as a ‘community based project’ focused on nature interpretation and habitat conservation.
The Nature Centre provides visitors a first-hand opportunity to see and learn about the North Okanagan’s unique and diverse natural heritage through views, information, programs and displays of the region’s natural areas. Three lakes and five ecosystems can be seen from this site and a total of nineteen points-of-interest provide spectacular, panoramic views of the North Okanagan and its diverse ecosystems.
The Centre is located at 250 Allan Brooks Way, Vernon
(above the army camp via 34th street/Mission Hill Road).
Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. (Closed Mondays)
Season starts May 1st and ends Thanksgiving Sunday.
- $3.00 per student
- Free for teachers or Home school Co-ordinator
- One adult per ten children is free
- $3.00 per additional adult
- Please no siblings
Payment in full is required on your arrival. Teachers please let us know in advance if the school is to be invoiced.
Telephone: (250)260-4227
Office ph/fax: (250)558-4208
Email: education@abnc.ca
WELCOME! We are happy to have teachers meet us at the Nature Centre free of charge to pre-plan a field trip.
- School Trip Reservation Form - 25Kb PDF
- Register by phone: Monday to Friday, from 9:00am-4:00pm
- Reserve in advance
- Notify us one week in advance of any changes to your reservation
- Inform us of any participants with special needs
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre is best suited for groups of approximately 30 participants.
- One adult for every group of 10 students for grades one and up
- One adult for every group of 4-6 children for preschool and kindergarten
- Boys and girls washrooms
- Wheelchair accessible
- Picnic tables
- Trash can and recycle bin
- Bus parking
- Live bee display on site
- Bee sting kit and first aid kit on site
- Dress for changeable weather
- higher elevation
- frequent wind
- possible rain
- direct sun exposure
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Bring drinking water!
We are guests in the home of the plants and animals living around the Nature Centre. As guests we are welcome to admire this home and study it-and then leave it as we found it.
Supervision is the responsibility of the teacher and parent helpers at all times.
- Stay on the trails
- Walk when on the site
- Leave the gravel surface intact
- Leave the plants and animals as you find them
- No climbing on rocks
- No climbing on fences/railings
- No pets
- No smoking on the site
- Sessions are 120 minutes in length
- Morning session is from 9:00-11:00am
- Afternoon session is from 12:30-2:30pm
These topics span both Social Studies and Science IRP’s. Their focus will be indicated by the following:
Social Studies  Science 
| Kindergarten - Grade 1 |
“Creature Features and Land Features”
Plant and animal characteristics
Picture maps
Program overview |
| Grade 2 - 3 |
“Good Neighbours”
Plants and animals in the environment
Simple mapping
Program overview |
| Grade 4-5 |
“Climate Change and You”
Ecological Footprinting
Water: Looks Can Be Deceiving
Climate and Weather: Adapting to Change
Program overview |
| Grade 6-7 |
“The Valley of Fire and Ice”
The 4 ecosystems
Earth’s makeup and landmass formations
How the valley was formed
Program overview |
(Applies to all grades)
FIELD TRIP STRUCTURE
Students will visit 3-4 different stations at the Centre
- The Grassland Trail
- The Pond and West Loop Trail
- The Habitat Room
- The Discovery Room
- The Weather Station
- The Water Station
- The Look Out – Picnic Tables and benches
To optimize the student learning experience, have students divided into 3-4 groups before arriving. We also recommend the wearing of name tags.
|
