Children follow an instructor during a nature walk at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre in Vernon.
Image Credit: Kalamalka Rotary Club
January 16, 2020 - 4:00 PM
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre has received a sizeable donation from the Kal Rotary fund to help with much-needed renovations to the almost 50-year-old building.
According to a Rotary Club of Kalamalka media release, a $45,000 donation has been made to the Allan Brooks Centre, with the funds coming from the highly successful Kal Rotary Dream Auction.
"We’re very grateful for the generous support of Kal Rotary," Allan Brooks Nature Centre board chair Jim Popowich said in the release. "The current donation will allow us to provide an improved experience for our visitors and will greatly help extend the life of the facility."
The Allen Brooks Nature Centre is s housed in the former Upper Air Weather Station, a federal building which opened in 1972 and launched weather balloons to track upper atmosphere conditions and predict future weather. At close to 50-years-old, the building is showing its age and requires major upgrades to continue being used. A new HVAC system is needed, along with the replacement of single-pane, flooring and painting.
The nature centre provides children, adults and visitors to the Okanagan with nature-based learning opportunities and experiences ranging through public programming and event to curriculum-based education for preschool, primary and secondary students. In 2018 the centre received almost 9,000 visitors with numbers growing every year.
"Our club has been involved with the Allan Brooks Nature Centre for almost two decades," Kal Rotary President Dr. Carmen Larsen said in the release. "Including donations, onsite club meetings and work parties where club members donate their time to assist with projects at the Centre."
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