Photo: Allan Brooks Nature Centre

The Allan Brooks Nature Centre celebrated its best year ever in 2016, but there are plans to soar to new heights in 2017.

Returning next year is the popular raptor program. The program took off last summer and was an instant hit. So not only will it be back, but it will feature new programs for people who want an up close and personal experience with birds of prey.

Aaron Deans, ABNC executive director, said the centre had 10,000 people visit in 2016 – a record for the Vernon facility.

Next year, the centre is planning six weeks of raptor-based programs along with the Raptor Festival in September. The centre is also planning raptor-based programs for younger children.

“It's been a vision for many years, long before I got here,” said Deans. “Our region is renowned for the high concentration of raptor species.”

Deans said one of the activities the centre will repeat in 2017 is where people can don a large leather glove and have a trained bird of prey fly to them land on the glove.

“It's such a unique experience to get that close to a bird of prey,” said Deans.

The raptor programs are held at the Peregrine Theatre, and plans are in the works to expand the outdoor venue.

The theatre would have a small footprint and will seat 250-300 people as nature first is always a priority for the ABNC.

The Peregrine Theatre was built with donated equipment, lumber and volunteer hours. 

Upgrades to the current space would include theatre expansion and creation of additional bathrooms and parking to not only respond to the centre’s needs, but serve a regional desire for more arts and cultural performance space. 

A desire for more performance art venues was identified by the Regional District of North Okanagan as the No. 1 need in the Greater Vernon Cultural Plan. Proposed upgrades would allow the ABNC to offer additional nature programming, outdoor performances, educational presentations, corporate events, weddings and more.

Tax receipts will be given for donations that can be made through the ABNC website.

“People can give the gift of nature and arts and culture,” said Deans.