You have, I am sure, heard of the now-renowned TED talks: “TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.” They are quite wonderful – as an idea and as each individual talk or conference itself.
You have also no doubt heard of the idea of Nature Deficit Disorder, the concept of we humans developing a multitude of behavioral disorders and developmental delays or inadequacies as a result of too little or no interaction or relationship with nature and the great outdoors.
I was therefore delighted when an email from the Chico Creek Nature Center came across my desk announcing the launch of their hope-to-be-twice-yearly-month-long series of NEd Talks: Nature Education talks, aimed specifically at inspiring Nature Education.
We are lucky in the North State to have a great many organizations and groups who work hard to get us educated about, inspired by and engaged in and protective of the great outdoors of Northern California: Sierra Club chapters, Audubon chapters, Nature Conservancy, California Native Plant Society chapters, garden clubs, Forest Service, National and State Park welcome centers, Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, Sacramento River Discovery Center in Red Buff, Gateway Science Museum and Chico Creek Nature Center in Chico, and many, many more across our region. (I try to list all relevant upcoming events open to the public in the In a North State Garden on-line calendar of gardening event.)
Each of these nature educators serve North State residents with dedication and creativity.
In the form of a question and answer session with Director of Education, Jeremy Miller, here’s a run down on the upcoming NEd Talks at the Chico Creek Nature Center:
The mission of the Chico Creek Nature Center is to enhance the quality of all life by promoting understanding, awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of our environment through environmental education in Bidwell Park. It is the philosophy of the Chico Creek Nature Center that through increased knowledge and understanding, individuals will learn to protect and preserve our natural resources and, especially, Bidwell Park. As stewards of our environment, we can promote a high quality of all life now and for the future.
Jennifer Jewell: How do you define Nature Education?
Jeremy Miller, Chico Creek Nature Center: “The term ?nature education” casts a pretty broad umbrella. To us, it not only includes the birds and the trees, but also the enjoyment of outdoor spaces, tales of backpacking and kayaking, misadventures in Brazil, and the strange things that grow out of one’s compost bin. Experts in Nature Education abound in Chico, and are not limited to university professors and park rangers. Almost everyone has a story to share.” Photo: Jeremy Miller, Director of Education for Chico Creek Nature Center, in the middle of the center’s lovely new learning lab.
Jennifer Jewell: What are the NEd Talks?
Jeremy Miller, Chico Creek Nature Center: “The upcoming NEd Talks (short for “Nature Education”) series at the Chico Creek Nature Center is the sharing of these stories, and will take place every Tuesday night in November. Modeled after the popular TED Talks, on each of these evenings three speakers will each present 12 – 15 minute lectures about their experience with nature, ranging from otter research to privet-pulling. The speakers represent a broad cross-section of the Chico community, ranging from adventuresome parents to graduate students, all of whom have a story to share that is meant to engage, inspire, and educate about our natural world and its intersection with our human community. ”
This will not be your ivory tower lecture series, as the titles of the presentations suggest, including: “Dark Chocolate, a 4-Year-Old, and 13 Miles in the Backcountry” and “Is This the Right Place? Tales of Low Budget Brazilian Ecotourism.”
Jennifer Jewell: When are they, and how do we attend?
Jeremy Miller, Chico Creek Nature Center: “Cost to attend NEd Talks is $8 at the door or $25 for the entire series (Members 50% off). Coffee, tea, and light refreshments conclude each evening, along with time to mingle and talk with presenters. More information can be found at bidwellpark.org or by calling the Chico Creek Nature Center at 891-4671.” Photo: Outdoor gathering area and Alice B. Hecker Native Plant Garden tended by the Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society at the Chico Creek Nature Center.
Nov 06
1) John Hendrickson: “Look Who’?s Coming To Dinner–Winter Raptors in Chico”
2) Jeremy Miller: “It Came From the Compost Bin”
3) Jenny Johnston: “Dark Chocolate, a 4-Year-Old, and 13 Miles in the Backcountry.”
Nov 13
1) Shane Romain: “The Magic and Mystery of Migration”
2) Dan Efseaff: “Yaking About River Ecology and Restoration”
3) Jon Aull: “Is This the Right Place? Tales of Low Budget Brazilian Ecotourism.”
Nov 20
1) Dawn Garcia: “Owl Y’?all Doing Today?”
2) John Burge: “When Your Life is in Ruins–Tales of Butte County Archaeology”
3) Susan Mason: “A Day in the Life of a Privet Puller.”
Nov 27
1) Roger Lederer: “The Best Birdwatcher is Another Bird”
2) Kurt Geiger: “River Otters are REALLY COOL”
3) Maija Glasier-Lawson: “Archaeological Explorers and the Outdoor Classroom.”
Chico Creek Nature Center
1968 East 8th Street
Chico, CA 95928
Phone: 530-891-4671
Fax: 530-891-0837
Email: info@bidwellpark.org
Directions
From Hwy 99 take the Hwy 32 Chester Exit
Head northeast on CA-32 East toward Chester/E 9th St. for one or two blocks toward Fir St.
Take a left onto Fir St.
Fir St. turns into E 8th St. There will be a sign for the Bidwell Park Info Center (Nature Center).
The Chico Creek Nature Center will be .75 miles on the left
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In a North State Garden is a weekly Northstate Public Radio and web-based program celebrating the art, craft and science of home gardening in Northern California. It is made possible in part by the Gateway Science Museum – Exploring the Natural History of the North State and on the campus of CSU, Chico. In a North State Garden is conceived, written, photographed and hosted by Jennifer Jewell – all rights reserved jewellgarden.com. In a North State Garden airs on Northstate Public Radio Saturday mornings at 7:34 AM Pacific time and Sunday morning at 8:34 AM Pacific time. Podcasts of past shows are available here.
