Nature Nerds! Ringtails, Rx Fire, and Ask-An-Entomologist

Join us for an outdoor evening of presentations about local ecology!

Ringtails!

The cutest animal in California that you'll probably never see? Come learn what a ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is. Get insights into their ecology and their behavior. You'll learn more about the current research that is happening on them... and yes, there will be cute ringtail photos.

Kristyn Schulte is a California Naturalist and adjunct professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Sacramento City College. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Sacramento State with a BS in Biology - Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation (2018), and with a MS in Biology - Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation (2023) studying the molecular ecology of ringtails.

When not working with these beautiful and charismatic mammals, she’s busy raising two of her own, Asa and Alice, with her husband Robert. She enjoys spending time with her pets, tending to her native plant and edible gardens, and birdwatching.

Find her on IG @kristyntwobabies and her website is

Rx Fire

The western US has benefited from naturally occurring wildfire for millennia. Only recently did humans begin to interfere with the process of natural fires, out of fear and lack of understanding.  Despite the ecological benefits of low-intensity fire, there are political barriers to implementation. Learn more about some of the less obvious downstream effects of healthy fire on other natural systems, the detriments of "fire alternatives, and more about how fire is a natural part of our landscape. 

Brenden Armstrong is a Professional Cultural Fire Manager and owner of Armstrong Fire Safety in Grass Valley. He is certified through the National Park Service as a Fireline Resource Advisor, specializing in natural and cultural resource preservation in wildfire environments. Brenden is a descendant of the Yakama Nation in modern-day Washington State and has an uncompromising focus on restoration and support of natural ecological processes through the unapologetic use of natural fire.

www.moregoodfire.com

Ask Your Friendly Local Entomologist

We are honored to have Ralph join us again for another Nature Nerds. This presentation will be driven by audience curiosity and Ralph's encyclopedic understanding of entomology. Come prepared with your best insect questions and get ready to hear some unexpected facts about the world all around us.

Ralph Washington, Jr. has been a devoted student of insects since his early childhood. Insects have taught him that the smallest creatures can often help answer the biggest questions. One of his favorite lessons is the reminder that although life can often be hard, at least he isn’t a termite getting paralyzed by a toxic fart. You can learn more about his work at ralphwashingtonjr.com.

ABOUT TICKET PRICES:

$27 tickets are for you if you own your home, can travel internationally for fun, have savings and investments. This price directly offsets lower prices for folks that could use support.

$18 tickets are for you if you can meet your basic needs.

$7 tickets are if you're a single parent, you use EBT, cannot afford to take time off without financial burden, are an unpaid community organizer.

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