The Rolling Barrage is an annual coast to coast motorcycle ride across Canada to create awareness and raise funds that assist other non-profits and charities in their efforts to support mental health for Veterans and the First Responder community.  Their mission is to remove the stigma of PTSD.  This is not a disease or a disorder; it is an injury sustained from the traumas sustained in one’s duty to to protect Canada and her citizens. The Rolling Barrage fosters inclusivity  and camaraderie within their membership and in the communities that host their cross Canada Journey..  Riding a motorcycle, sometimes referred to as “Wind Therapy”, has a positive effect on mood, reduces stress and improves a person’s overall psychological well being.  Join this enlightening seminar and learn much more.

We will visit a McArthur Island, a local birding “hotspot” where the walking is easy, and the birds are usually diverse and abundant. We will likely see a variety of duck species and other water birds as well as gulls—in the slough and the river. Our walk will take us into open, grassy habitat as well as a wooded area where we can find members of the crow family, a diversity of song birds and if we are lucky some raptors.

Come out and learn about Geocaching — a real-world, outdoor adventure that is happening all the time in 190 countries. To play, participants use the Geocaching app and/or a GPS device to navigate to cleverly hidden containers called geocaches. McArthur Island is a geo-training playground for new geocachers with a variety of cache types and difficulty levels. Come to this and meet indoors for a brief introduction to the sport, and then we will go for a sensible walk (rain or shine). We will find some caches!

Bob Haywood-Farmer and his cousin own and operate Indian Gardens Ranch, a cattle ranch in the Thompson Nicola Region. His family has been ranching in Savona, BC for almost 100 years; the fourth generation will be keeping it in the family when Bob is ready to retire.  They produce hay, have a 12,000 acre grazing lease at Wallachin, and run a herd of almost 2000 cattle.  This modern ranch is steeped in history and has a number of original buildings still standing.  Bring your questions about local history as Bob is a wealth of information on the area.

Qigong was developed in China thousands of years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being. Qigong has both psychological and physical components and involves the regulation of the mind, breath and body’s movement and posture . Dynamic (active) qigong techniques primarily focus on body movements, especially movements of the whole body or arms and legs. Meditative (passive) qigong techniques can be practised in any posture that can be maintained over time and involve breath and mind exercises, with almost no body movement.

Mission Flats is a well-known name in Kamloops, but surprisingly few Kamloopsians know how it received its appellation. It was in 1880 when three Catholic nuns from Victoria to teach children at the newly erected St. Louis school along the Thompson River, a couple of miles west of the incipient town of Kamloops. The nuns belonged to the Sisters of St. Ann, a name that lives on in Kamloops as St. Ann’s Academy.  Geographical historian, Ken Favrholdt has studied the evolution of the mission and pinpointed the site of the buildings. In his presentation  Ken traces the history of the people connected to the school, a venture that lasted less than a decade.

The Kamloops Freemasons will present a history of the establishment of the Masonic in Kamloops since 1886. They will highlight the Masons’s role in the growth of Kamloops and the contributions of some of their prominent leaders. You may well recognize some of the names of schools, buildings, land features and streets which were named after prominent people who were also Free Masons. Afterwards the presenters will conduct a short tour showcasing the Masonic Lodge facility.

In the last of this season’s Come to the Concert classes, we explore two contrasting works: the challenging Symphony No.1 of Gustav Mahler of 1889 and Sherwood Legend by Canadian composer Elizabeth Raum. Mahler’s symphony has acquired the nickname “Titanic,” a name which certainly describes the task facing listeners of this complex work, who must find a shape for the experiences of the hero of this musical adventure. A similar rewarding but less daunting task faces listeners to Raum’s Sherwood Legend, whose more accessible hero is “Swashbuckling,” ”Pensive,” and an “Unabashed Scoundrel” more in the manner of movie heroes of the recent past.

Session 1: May 21st at the Kamloops Sports Council.  Introduction to the Venables Valley and Mantra Music Event: Join us for an introductory event that will delve into the details of the beautiful Hare Krishna community in Venables Valley. This session is a prerequisite for anyone interested in registering to visit the valley on May 28th. The event will feature a presentation about the community, accompanied by live, traditional, meditational music. This will provide a unique opportunity to experience the culture and spirituality of the Hare Krishna community.
Session 2:  May 28th A trip to the Hare Krushna community.  Tour to Venables Valley: Exploring the Hare Krishna Village, also known as Saranagati Village. The name “Saranagati” means surrender to the Lord, and the approximately 30-35 families residing there live by the principle of surrendering the results of their actions to the service of Lord Krishna The village features a stunning temple, a goshala (a shelter for protected and worshiped cows), and a school that is aligned with the BC school district and also teaches according to the ancient traditions of India. Remarkably, the entire community lives off the grid, without access to gas or water lines. Some families have been residing here for over 45 years. Many community members also engage in small-scale farming, growing their own basic produce. We have had some success with growing wheat and look forward to expanding our efforts in the future. The community is known for its simple, vibrant, and colorful culture. Regular programs and gatherings are organized, attracting many visitors who come to witness the community’s warmth and hospitality. We look forward to welcoming you to Venables Valley and sharing the beauty of our community. Lunch will be provided.

We will tour lower and middle grasslands in the Ashcroft area looking at native and seeded grasslands, wildfire recovery, invasive plants and grazing use. Led by Mike Dedels, Executive Director of the GCC (Grasslands Conservation Council). We will arrange carpooling from Kenna Cartwright Park parking just east of the prison. Please dress for the weather, wear good walking shoes and bring enough food and drink for the day.

On this field trip, we will briefly review the different types of land conservation mechanisms in BC and then go for a short walk on NCC’s Lac du Bois Conservation Area to review of some of NCC’s more recent land management projects on the property. We will go for a meander and find a nice spot to have lunch and answer any questions participants have about NCC and the things we see that day.