By Times Chronicle Staff
The Osoyoos Desert Centre will spring into action with the opening of the 2026 season on Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’re thrilled to offer people the opportunity to connect with this remarkable natural environment,” says Jayme Friedt, Executive Director, highlighting the opportunity to explore the rare and at-risk antelope-brush grassland unique to the South Okanagan.
“People are always amazed to learn about the variety of species that thrive here – amphibians like the Great Basin Spadefoot, Behr’s Hairstreak butterflies, Nuttall’s Cottontail rabbits and Western Bluebirds. And of course, our unique plant life, like the antelope-brush itself and the prickly pear cactus – Canada’s only native cactus – are also very impressive.”.
Visitors to ODC can tour its 1.5 km accessible boardwalk trail that loops through the habitat. The Centre’s native plant garden has samples and information about local flora that adapted to the desert environment and interact with hands on displays inside the interpretive building.
An outdoor shaded picnic area at the Centre is also available for visitors to sit and enjoy a snack or a bagged lunch and soak in the views.
“We have a really fun scavenger hunt bingo game for the kiddos this year and the first 50 people through our gates get a free package of Milkweed or Yarrow seeds right from our native plant garden,” Friedt adds.
Later this season Osoyoos Desert Centre plans to offer various workshops starting with a Mason Bee house building workshop called “Buzzing for Bees” on Sunday, May 17. The annual Nature Talks line up will be announced in June and talks will take place every weekend throughout July and August.
Osoyoos Desert Centre is located at 14580 – 146 Avenue, three km north of Osoyoos. Spring hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m to 2 pm. Starting May 13 the hours change to daily 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is $30 for families, $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and youth (ages 6-17) and children 5 and under are free. For more information call 250-495-2470, visit desert.org or email [email protected].
