Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Vancouver Natural History Society
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1907-
History
In 1907, several Vancouver and district residents founded the Vancouver Naturalists' Field Club to study the Lower Mainland's natural history. The first field trip was made to Kitsilano beach on 18 August. The club existed for only a few seasons. In 1918, members of the botanical section of the BC Mountaineering Club, led by Professor John Davidson (former Provincial Botanist), founded the Vancouver Natural History Society (VNHS). Davidson organized popular evening botany classes for members of the society. The VNHS also developed a field trip program to sites of botanical interest, such as Crescent Beach. Summer camps were established at Garibaldi, Botanie Valley (near Spence's Bridge), Skagit Valley, and several other locations. To make the Lower Mainland greener, local naturalists, including the Natural History Society members, successfully campaigned for local arbour days. Yet, the activities of society have not focused only on botany. Field trips organized and led by Jack Armstrong, Bill Mathews and Charley Ney popularized geology in society. Members have also studied geology, entomology, ornithology, microscopy, and photography. More recently, interest in the maritime environment has expanded. During recent decades, society has witnessed continued growth, as many members of the environmental movement have joined to study our natural heritage.