Regional Parks invites you to bring a carved pumpkin, a flashlight and a donation for the West Kelowna Food Bank to the ‘Spooktacular Halloween Pumpkin Walk’ at the Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park. The fun, family event goes Sunday, October 27th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The park is located just off Whitworth Road in West Kelowna.

Your carved pumpkins can be dropped off on Sunday, October 27th between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please remember to bring a L.E.D. tea light candle or similar device to light your pumpkin.  The pumpkins will be lit and placed alongside the trails in the historic nut orchard. Then from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., stroll the paths and view the display of illuminated, carved pumpkins. Cast your vote for the best pumpkin and drop off a donation to the food bank. Hot drinks will also be available and remember to wear your Halloween costume!

For more information please visit the Regional District website, regionaldistrict.com/parks, check out ‘Your Guide to Regional Parks’ or contact the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan at 250-469-6140.

Start date:  Immediate   
End date:  Tuesday, November 26th, 2013

Free ‘Tracks Walking Club’ in Peachland

The hugely successful ‘Tracks Walking Club’ is underway in Peachland and you’re welcome to join!

Residents in the Peachland area are taking part in this free, beginners walking club during October and November as Regional Parks Services co-hosts ‘Tracks’ with the District of Peachland.   This is the Okanagan's newest Hearts in Motion Walking Club registered with the BC Heart and Stroke Foundation!

Peachland ‘Tracks’ will meet each Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9:00 am at Cenotaph Park at Beach Avenue and 2nd Street. Each walk progresses by five minutes until the final walk on November 28th.   After each outing, walkers will meet at the Fourth Street Place (4475 4th Street) for a coffee and tea break.

‘Tracks’ is a free beginners walking program- there is no cost to join but pre-registration is required! To register for Peachland ‘Tracks’ please contact the District of Peachland Community Centre at 250-767-2133 or email rec-clerk@peachland.ca.

For more information visit the Regional District website regionaldistrict.com/parks or contact the EECO at 250-469-6140, email eeco@cord.bc.ca or drop into the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan in Mission Creek Regional Park, Springfield and Durnin Roads.


Start date:  Immediate
End date:   Friday, November 22nd  – 4:00 pm

Green Christmas Decorative Workshops

The EECO in Mission Creek Regional Park is once again hosting its popular ‘Green Christmas’ workshops.   Learn how and make decorative wreaths and swags for the holiday season.

As this program for adults is so popular, Regional Parks Services encourages anyone interested to register quickly at the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan by calling 250-469-6140 or emailing eeco@cord.bc.ca.  There is a cost of $10 per person to participate in the workshops.

The workshops go Saturday, November 23rd with a morning session from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and an afternoon session from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Greenery and other natural materials will be provided including prunings of Douglas fir, Cedar boughs, Oregon grape leaves, snowberries, and other natural items gathered from Regional Parks during our fall pruning. Participants are asked to please bring their own gloves, pruning shears and scissors, as well as any seasonal ribbon or old ornaments to reuse.

For more information about this or other Regional Park programs please visit the Regional District website www.regionaldistrict.com/parks or contact the EECO at 250-469-6140.

Start date:  November 1st    
End date:   Tuesday, December 18th – 9:00 am

‘EECO Story Time’

Little ones will love ‘EECO Story Time’ a free drop-in program for children aged three to five and their caregivers.

This one-hour program features nature-themed stories and songs followed by an art or craft project. The program is an excellent way for younger children to interact with others while learning more about the natural world.

‘EECO Story Time’ runs each Tuesday morning at 10:00 from November 12th until December 17th.  It breaks for the Christmas – New Year’s holidays and runs again Tuesday mornings from January 7th to February 25th.

The EECO or Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan is located in Mission Creek Regional Park, Springfield and Durnin Roads. For more information please visit www.regionaldistrict.com/parks, drop-in or call the EECO at 250-469-6140.


Start date:  Immediate
End date:   August 2014

‘Healthy by Nature’ Exhibit at the EECO

What do you need to be healthy? What do plants and animals need?

Visitors exploring the new ‘Healthy by Nature’ exhibit at the EECO can expect to learn how spending time in nature can help keep their mind and body healthy.   Also highlighted are the natural processes at work in nature that help keep our air and water clean, and ways we can help protect the health of our ecosystems. 

The EECO (Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan) is located in Mission Creek Regional Park, Springfield and Durnin Roads.   The EECO is open Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.  On November 1st, it begins its winter operating hours, Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

For more information about this or other Regional Park programs please visit the Regional District website regionaldistrict.com/parks or contact the EECO at 250-469-6140.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013