A universal theme that emerged from this year’s Building Resilience series is that resilience in all its forms depends on connection and collaboration. We end the 2021-22 series with an outdoor feast designed to help you relax and develop connections that will make our future more resilient. We will serve you a hearty vegetarian lunch in SSU's beautiful Butterfly Garden. We will help you find attendees with common interests and introduce you to the exceptional leaders who served as panelists throughout the year. Make time for your own personal resilience, enjoy a hot meal, and contribute to community resilience.

Take advantage of the healing powers of nature while exploring diverse ecosystems on Sonoma Mountain. SSU Naturalists will lead you on a tour of this university education and research site, and give you insights into the ways we can work together to restore regional landscapes. Activities will be subject to change based on the most recent guidance about COVID safety. 

Less than one third of herpetologists around the world are women and yet two of them are hard at work right here in the North Bay. Join us to learn from them about the important role of these animals in the health of our ecosystem. We will work with them as we go in search of the reptiles and amphibians that live on the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve in southern Mendocino County.  With experience in public education, research, animal care and academia, they will share their knowledge and passion for these fascinating vertebrates. 

Help control this destructive forest pathogen! Now in its 15th year, this statewide citizen science project is vital to managing Sudden Oak Death, which is widespread in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. We are particularly concerned about the possibility of the more virulent EU1 strain of the pathogen infecting tanoaks at Galbreath Preserve. Join us to contribute to science and help the preserve, while getting your own bay laurel or tanoak trees tested at no cost.

A wonderful way to turn children’s attention and appreciation towards the natural world is through story books. Join us to discover how to engage children with nature story and writing at the Osborn Preserve! We will also use our senses to explore nature in a short “intentional walk."

Take advantage of the healing powers of nature while exploring diverse ecosystems on Sonoma Mountain. SSU Naturalists will lead you on a tour of this university education and research site, and give you insights into the ways we can work together to restore regional landscapes. Activities will be subject to change based on the most recent guidance about COVID safety. 

We are in a climate crisis. “Embers of Awakening: From Firestorms to Climate Health” is a gripping exploration of how fire is changing the way we live. The film reveals personal stories of damage and recovery in Sonoma County and ways that we need to change the way we live to create a path towards a healthy world. After the film showing, join us for small group reflective discussions and Q&A with the filmmakers from Listening for a Change about our personal experiences, hopes and goals. We will hear briefly about what SSU is doing to make a difference, and the new SSU Sustainability Pledge that helps you identify meaningful personal actions you can take for a vibrant future in our county and on our planet. 

Take advantage of the healing powers of nature while exploring diverse ecosystems on Sonoma Mountain. SSU Naturalists will lead you on a tour of this university education and research site, and give you insights into the ways we can work together to restore regional landscapes. Activities will be subject to change based on the most recent guidance about COVID safety.