Two Summer Camps were held from Sunday, July 9 to Sunday, July 16, 2023 and Sunday, July 16 to Sunday, July 23, 2023. The “drive in” tenting/RV camps were held on the Big Bar Ranch group sites. Big Bar Ranch (https://www.bigbarranch.com/) is situated near the southern rim of the Interior Plateau, at an elevation of 1,030m, but there are nearly 2,000 vertical meters between the low and the high points to explore. To the southeast of the ranch, the Marble range, a row of limestone mountains, top out at 2,243 m on the alpine summit of Mount Bowman. To the west rises the low dome of Big Bar Mountain, only 1,700 m but extremely wide. On the other side it drops spectacularly to the beautiful Fraser River canyon.

The Marble Range is a good hiking destination for moderate to strenuous hikes on all days. More hikes to Lime Ridge, Jesmond Fire Lookout with wild flowers, good botanizing and great birding everywhere.

Big Bar Creek, which took its name from a gravel bar, where the creek joins the Fraser River, inturn, gives its name to the whole area from Big Bar Lake around the north end of the Marble Range, some 15km away. From the heat and rocks along the Fraser, up through the bunch grass range, to the aspen groves, and finally the pine woods, there are enough ecosystems to explore where a previous camp recorded 168 species of birds.

Visits to the Gang Ranch and other local destinations were organized. Local nature specialists were invited for walks and talks.

Complete lists of birds, butterflies, mammals, and plants seen during the camp is available from the link below: