Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship We partner with and support local communities & land stewards to conserve, steward, and restore natural areas so that they thrive.

Local grassroots charitable organization assisting and supporting land stewards and community groups conserve, restore and enhance local species and spaces. Charitable Registration # 84539 8775 RR0001 (donations are eligible for tax receipts).

A little change of plans AND an exciting collaboration!When we heard that the Naramata Citizens Association and Okanagan...
10/13/2026

A little change of plans AND an exciting collaboration!

When we heard that the Naramata Citizens Association and Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OASISS) were planning an invasive tree workshop in Naramata the very same week as our shelterbelt workshop, we all thought "what a great opportunity to join forces!"

So, we're combining our workshops into one evening of learning, sharing, and talking all things plants!

🌿 LET'S TALK ABOUT PLANTS!
Building Biodiversity on the Farm & Managing Invasive Trees
October 28, 6:00pm-8:00pm at Naramata Community Church

Join Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship, Elephant Island Winery, JoieFarm Winery, OASISS, and the Naramata Citizens Association, to learn how to create wildlife-friendly landscapes with native trees, shrubs, and pollinator gardens, while also identifying and managing invasive trees.

Whether you're a farmer, gardener, acreage owner, or simply interested in local plants, there's something for everyone!

🌱 Already registered? You're all set! Same date, time, and location- just more to learn!

🔗 Register here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/shelterbelts-in-action

What a great day of planting at Creekside Park in Coldstream! 🌱🌳A HUGE thank you to the 25 amazing volunteers who joined...
10/11/2026

What a great day of planting at Creekside Park in Coldstream! 🌱🌳
A HUGE thank you to the 25 amazing volunteers who joined us today to plant over 150 native riparian trees and shrubs to enhance habitat for Western Screech-owls!
Today, we planted a mix of Black Cottonwood, Waterbirch, Red-Osier Dogwood, Sandbar Willow, Nootka Rose, and Mountain Alder.
We couldn’t have done it without so many hardworking hands! It was a wonderful day of planting, great conversations, and coming together to make a difference for local wildlife. 💚
This project was made possible with funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and BC Community Gaming Grant.
Thank you to everyone who spent part of their Thanksgiving weekend at our first ever Thanks-planting! 🍂🦉

Regional District of North Okanagan

Did you know that only female bees can sting?The bee stinger is a changed form of an egg laying organ called the oviposi...
10/09/2026

Did you know that only female bees can sting?

The bee stinger is a changed form of an egg laying organ called the ovipositor which only female bees posses. Males bees (also known as drones) do not have an ovipositor due to the lack of need to lay eggs.

Bee's posses a stinger to defend their hive from danger and will only sting if they feel threatened. Since worker Honey bee stingers are usually barbed, once a bee stings its stinger gets stuck in the threat and often will kill the bee. On the other hand Bumble bee stingers are straight which allows the singer to exit the threat, survive, and sting again.

What a difference 10 years can make!In 2016, OSS saw an opportunity to create a riparian thicket at a marsh in the City ...
10/08/2026

What a difference 10 years can make!

In 2016, OSS saw an opportunity to create a riparian thicket at a marsh in the City of Penticton. We began working with the City of Penticton and local volunteers to restore habitat around this former oxbow of the Okanagan River. Between 2016 and 2020, more than 300 volunteers helped plant over 2,500 native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses. Since then, 24 youth field technicians have cared for the site, helping to ensure that the native plants had access to sunlight over invasive plants.

A decade later, the difference is remarkable. 10 years ago, the site was rototilled soil- Now, small shrubs have become dense thickets. Trees have matured. Native vegetation has filled in, creating substantially more cover, food and habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife.

Riverside is a great reminder that restoration doesn't happen overnight. The plants going into the ground at our projects this fall may look small today—but we're planting the habitat of the future.

Read more on the blog: https://www.osstewardship.ca/post/a-decade-at-riverside-marsh

40,000 native plants and over a decade of growth!Since OSS began in 2013, we’ve planted approximately 3,000 native trees...
10/07/2026

40,000 native plants and over a decade of growth!

Since OSS began in 2013, we’ve planted approximately 3,000 native trees and shrubs each year across the Okanagan and Similkameen. That adds up to more than 40,000 native plants put into the ground to restore wetlands, riparian areas and other important wildlife habitat.

Restoration doesn't happen overnight. A one-gallon shrub planted by a volunteer may not look particularly impressive on planting day. But give it time, care and a chance to establish, and it becomes part of something much bigger. Thousands of individual plants become patches of habitat. Those patches strengthen and expand existing natural areas. And year after year, those projects add up.

But planting without the aftercare rarely reaps any benefits. The weeds take over and win access to nutrients and light if the restoration ends at planting day. That's why we hire youth field technicians each year. They are absolutely critical to the success of our restoration projects.

More than 40,000 plants later, we're still planting AND still taking care of what we've planted.

Read more on the blog! https://www.osstewardship.ca/post/it-s-planting-season

and

sign up to read our e-news if you don't want to miss out on stories like this: https://www.osstewardship.ca/fieldnotes

Join us for Thanks-planting this Saturday! Join Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship at Creekside Park in Coldstream for a c...
10/06/2026

Join us for Thanks-planting this Saturday!

Join Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship at Creekside Park in Coldstream for a community planting day. Together, we’ll plant native cottonwoods and riparian shrubs to enhance riparian habitat and help create future nesting and roosting habitat for Western Screech-Owls and other wildlife.

No experience is needed- we’ll provide the plants, tools, and guidance. Come ready to dig, get a little dirty, and spend a fall afternoon giving back to local habitat.

**Please register so we know how many volunteers to expect and can have enough tools and supplies on hand.** https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/thanks-planting-at-creekside-park

🌱 **All ages welcome**
🧤 **Bring:** Weather-appropriate clothing, sturdy footwear, work gloves if you have them, and a water bottle.

Happy World Habitat Day!This years theme is "Adequate housing for all". While this theme relates to people, it should al...
10/05/2026

Happy World Habitat Day!

This years theme is "Adequate housing for all". While this theme relates to people, it should also apply to our native wildlife. Everyone should have a decent place to live. Sadly, a lot of wildlife are losing decent habitat, in fact, habitat loss is one of the biggest reasons for declines in wildlife populations. Loss of habitat can also attribute to an increase in human-wildlife conflict. With limited natural habitat, wildlife like deer and bears will make their way to more human populated areas.

But there are some ways you can help protect or increase habitat quality for our local critters :
- Plant native plants in your yard - these plants provide more suitable habitat than ornamental vegetation.
- Use wildlife friendly fencing - this can help provide safe passage for wildlife and help prevent habitat fragmentation.
- When hiking, camping, ATVing, or other types of outdoor recreation, stay on trails to prevent deterioration of sensitive habitats.

Happy World Animal Day!This year the theme for World Animal Day is " See the world through their eyes". This theme empha...
10/04/2026

Happy World Animal Day!

This year the theme for World Animal Day is " See the world through their eyes". This theme emphasizes the fact that many decisions made by people, only think about how humans are going to be affected, not really considering the many other species can be affected as well.

Things like urban sprawl will provide more homes for people, but these actions will also destroy the home of many different animals as well. Or smaller decisions, like planting invasive plants in your yard. While the plant might be beautiful and is a great addition to your yard, but it can deteriorate habitats needed by specific wildlife. So what might benefit people, might not benefit everything else. It is important to consider all living beings before making decisions.

It is not just humans that live on this earth, but other animals as well. Taking a more holistic approach will help in considering how all things are influenced, instead of just people.

Did you know that Truffles are fungi but not considered a type of mushroom?Truffles are a type of fungi that grow dense,...
10/02/2026

Did you know that Truffles are fungi but not considered a type of mushroom?

Truffles are a type of fungi that grow dense, rock shaped reproductive bodies underground vs. mushrooms which are a type of fungal fruiting body that grow above ground and include both a stem and cap. Unlike mushrooms, truffles need an animal to spread their spores in order to efficiently reproduce. Truffles will secrete a smell that attracts animals (typically rodents) that will dig them up, consume them, and then spread the spores in their waste.

Truffles, like some other fungi species, are included in a group called Ectomychorrhizal fungi (EMF). EMF are vital for ecosystem health because of their symbiotic relationship with trees. This relationship consists of the EMF fixing nitrogen into a form that trees can use in return for carbohydrates and structure for the fungi. The relationship between EMF and trees allow forests to thrive and flourish.

Address

#6-477 Martin Street
Penticton, BC
V2A5L2

Telephone

+12507701467

Website

, , ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship:

Shortcuts

Share

Category