Wednesday Charm, NNS, Assocation, fellowship with purpose,Welcome Bass Coast 2026

Filed under: Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

July 9, 2026

A view to act

BC Nature,

A review:

BC Nature, officially known as the Federation of British Columbia Naturalists, is a non-profit organization dedicated to “Know Nature and Keep It Worth Knowing.” They operate as a federation of local natural history groups, representing approximately 6,500 members across 64 nature clubs throughout British Columbia.
Their mission encompasses both education and conservation:

* Conservation Providing

A unified voice for naturalists and nature clubs on conservation and environmental issues. They actively work to protect and educate the public and decision-makers about BC’s natural history, including biodiversity, species at risk, and parks.

* Education Fostering

An awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the natural environment for its wise use and maintenance for future generations. They encourage the formation and cooperation of nature clubs and facilitate communication among naturalists in BC.
BC Nature is involved in various initiatives, including the Municipal Protected Areas Project (MPAP) and Important Bird and Key Biodiversity Areas (IBA-KBA) programs. Their member clubs lead numerous conservation and stewardship projects and organize nature outings and speakers in their local communities.
BC Nature 2025 Convention in Merritt, BC
The 2025 BC Nature Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM), titled

“Nature in the Rainshadow 2025

–grasslands, forests & wetlands,” is being hosted by the Nicola Naturalist Society in Merritt, British Columbia. The convention runs from May 22-25, 2025, at the Merritt Civic Centre.
Key highlights of the convention include:
* Theme: “Nature in the Rainshadow” focuses on the unique ecosystems of the Nicola Valley, including grasslands, forests, and wetlands.
* Program: The conference features a variety of activities, including:
   * Presentations by experts on topics such as wildfire in the BC Interior, wildlife research, and thermal refuges for salmonids.
   * Early morning birding opportunities.
   * A range of field trips designed to explore the local natural environment. These include options like grassland ecology, bioblitz and iNaturalist workshops, lichen studies, mushroom forays, hikes in provincial parks, beaver re-introduction sites, extended birding trips, and even owl pellet analysis.

* The BC Nature Annual General Meeting.

* A banquet with a keynote speaker (Lennard Joe on First Nations’ stewardship), awards, and a silent auction.
* Evening activities such as moth identification and owling.
* Location: Merritt, BC, in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Nlaka’pamux and Syilx people.
* Hosts: The Nicola Naturalist Society is actively organizing and welcoming attendees to this event.
Many of the field outings, especially for Friday and Sunday, filled up quickly, so attendees needed to register early. The conference provides a valuable opportunity for naturalists to connect, learn, and explore the diverse natural beauty of the Nicola Valley.