First Tuesday: Nature Close to Home with Thor Hanson
When: Tuesday, May 6 at 7pm
Where: Twisp River Tap House (Get Directions)
Carpool: Self-organized carpools will meet at the Methow Conservancy in Winthrop at 6:30pm and the Mazama Community Club in Mazama at 6:15pm. Pair up with others to carpool to the Twisp River Tap House!
Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door
We know nature is good for us: studies show that spending time outdoors can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and accelerate healing. And yet, it's easy to forget to slow down and pay attention to the natural world around us. In his book, Close to Home, conservation biologist Thor Hanson retrains our eyes to reveal the hidden phenomena all around us. Any backyard can yield exciting new discoveries, and anyone’s observations can contribute to biodiversity research and conservation efforts.
In an era of global environmental challenges, Hanson argues that hyper-local, hands-on efforts to connect with nature have never been more important. In this talk, he'll discuss myriad, simple ways to improve habitats and increase biodiversity on virtually any patch of ground. He'll also introduce us to communities across the globe that are banding together to fight climate change and environmental degradation.
Doors will open at 5pm, presentation at 7pm. The Tap House will be offering drinks and delicious food on a night when they are typically closed. Support a local business by purchasing a drink, a snack, or dinner! This event is free and open to the public. Reach out to Bridger with any questions about the event.
Thor Hanson is a conservation biologist, Guggenheim fellow, and author of award-winning books including Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid, Buzz, Feathers, and The Triumph of Seeds. His research and conservation activities have taken him around the globe to study Central American trees and songbirds, nest predation in Tanzania, and the grisly feeding habits of African vultures. He served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda, where he helped establish the mountain gorilla tourism program in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Hanson has also helped manage a brown bear tourism project for the U.S. Forest Service in Alaska. He co-hosted the PBS Nature series American Spring Live and has appeared as a guest on many programs, including Biology Support on WIRED, and NPR’s Fresh Air, On Point, and Science Friday. His popular articles and essays have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, and The Los Angeles Times. He lives with his wife and son on an island in Washington State.