I'm a newbie gem collector living in the Vancouver area. Would love some information on local clubs and destinations for prospecting.
Any help would be appreciated.

Blaine,
The nearest club I know of is the Port Moody Rock Club. They are a very active group, with field trips, workshops, even an annual club show. Check out their website.

http://www.portmoodyrockclub.com

Enjoy.
-Rocky.

I am a member of the Hastings rockhound club. We are located across from the PNE. We do fieldtrips and have a workshop. Try the BCLS (British Columbia Lapidary Society) webpage for more info.