Part of embracing a new year is taking time to reflect on the conservation, education, and regeneration initiatives that unfolded in 2025. As we gathered stories, reviewed project reports, and crunched numbers, a clear picture emerged—one of growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact in our community.
The Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook branch delivered diverse programs, hosted fundraisers and community events, grew local food, diverted waste, removed trash from public spaces, and deepened community engagement. In the spirit of continuing our progress, we’re sharing our successes, lessons learned, and hopes for 2026.
Reflecting on 2025
Last year gave us plenty to celebrate. Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook ran 9 major programs in 2025: Apple Capture, Backyard Farmers, Camp Odyssey, Forest & Nature School, Kimberley Community Garden, Kimberley Farmers’ Market, Marysville Eco Park, Meadowbrook Education, and Spooner Park. These programs are not only running smoothly and sustainably, but continuing to evolve and expand in good hands.
The Apple Capture program picked 2,513 lbs of apples and pressed 310 litres of juice, helping reduce food waste and strengthen local food systems. Our Tool Share program had 79 unique users and 270 bookings—the highest number of users and bookings since 2021—showing a growing interest and investment in shared resources.
Several programs continued to nurture early connections with nature. Camp Odyssey welcomed 507 happy campers—our highest engagement to date—while 358 students participated in the Meadowbrook Education program and 68 students joined Forest and Nature School. The Wolf Cubs unparented play program completed its fourth consecutive season, proving to be a popular addition.
The Kimberley Farmers’ Market not only acted as a community hub, but also saw steady growth with an average of 31 vendors per night during peak season. Through the Farmers’ Market Coupon Program, we reimbursed 4,665 coupons, representing $13,995 worth of fresh, local food for low-income community members.
Community Events and Fundraisers
Our annual events and fundraisers continue to bring like-minded people together. In celebration of Earth Week, the Co-Community Cleanup & Spring Spruce Up inspired 105 individuals, 7 businesses, and numerous schools to canvas the streets with gloves and garbage bags, rejuvenating neighbourhoods while radiating community spirit.
The Apple Capture Harvest Party, hosted in partnership with the Kimberley Edible Greenhouse and Garden and Healthy Kimberley Food Recovery Depot, offered a joyful gathering to celebrate local food and community. The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour sold out both nights for the first time in five years and saw increased local sponsorship—a testament to growing community support and outreach efforts led by Robyn Skare.
Experimentation and Innovation
We learned a lot from experimenting and trying new things. In the Kimberley Community Garden, Ashley Lortscher led the installation of market garden-style beds, automatic waterers, drip irrigation lines, and vertical growing spaces to boost productivity. She also posted new composting guidelines and started developing the garden into a ‘food forest’. Kim Urbaniak introduced “Field Trip Thursdays” to Camp Odyssey, adding variety and new learning experiences for campers. New cargo trailers improved access to Apple Capture equipment for school groups, and Sparta Humphrey’s Market Socials created space for community groups to connect with attendees—a valuable addition according to feedback.
Innovation is also taking place behind the scenes. With Columbia Basin Trust funding, the branch completed a board governance consultation that produced a new strategy to refine governance and organizational processes. Strategic planning sessions are currently underway to execute this strategy in the year to come.
Challenges and Community Support
Like any year, 2025 brought its share of challenges. Some were out of our control—like gophers in the community garden and weather impacts on Community Garden and Forest School programs—while others are being actively addressed.
We’re thrilled to report a rise in community participation. Last year, volunteers contributed 900 hours! We are deeply grateful for those who shared their time and talents with us and hope to continue this work together in 2026. However, one of our biggest hurdles has been securing enough volunteers for smaller programs and events like the Backyard Farmers Project and Spooner Park Weed Pulls. Outreach and engagement in Cranbrook has been challenging too. In response, Branch Manager Andrea Chapman is developing a Volunteer Open House event (stay tuned for details!) in the hopes of connecting willing community members with crucial volunteer opportunities.
Overall, the challenges we faced in 2025 have encouraged us to adapt, experiment, and remain flexible—lessons that will guide us into the year ahead.
Listening and Looking Ahead
Our path forward is also shaped by listening closely to community feedback shared through surveys and ongoing conversations. These insights revealed meaningful opportunities to improve and better achieve our goals, while the thoughtful suggestions and positive responses from participants, volunteers, and partners left us feeling encouraged and inspired.
Looking ahead to 2026, our goal is to build on the momentum of 2025 and deepen our impact. For instance, we plan to expand Camp Odyssey and Forest Nature School programs to create more opportunities for local youth to learn, play, and connect with nature. The Backyard Farmers and Apple Capture programs are getting a major “glow up” as we adapt these programs to better align with community needs. We’re also incredibly excited to join celebrations of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival’s 50th Anniversary by hosting a bonus World Tour Summit Screening atop Kimberley Alpine Resort on September 19. With planning underway, the office is buzzing with new ideas and newfound energy.
One of our biggest takeaways from 2025 is recognizing the power of collaboration. We plan to continue strengthening partnerships with local businesses and community organizations in order to build a more resilient and connected community. As always, we remain committed to fostering environmental stewardship in this beautiful place we call home. We look forward to another year of learning and growing as stewards of these lands, waters, and communities.
We hope you’ll join us in making 2026 Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook’s most successful year ever!