Resilient communities use urban forestry to prepare for extreme heat events. Trees and vegetation can reduce heat by shading buildings, pavement, and other surfaces to prevent solar radiation from reaching surfaces that absorb heat, then transmit it to buildings and surrounding air. This is the fourth event in the 2021-22 North Bay Forward "Building Resilience" monthly speaker series, a year-long conversation to increase community collaboration on resilience to climate change. Watch recorded event here: Building Resilience: Greening, Heat & Urban Trees, January 12, 2022

Resilient societies connect people and support their most vulnerable populations with behavioral and health services. At this event, we focus on what programs are currently available and where gaps in support may exist for our most vulnerable populations. This is the third event in the 2021-22 North Bay Forward "Building Resilience" monthly speaker series, a year-long conversation to increase community collaboration on resilience to climate change. Watch recorded event here: Building Resilience: Disaster Support for Vulnerable Populations, December 8, 2021

The role of the fungi kingdom in our world cannot be overstated. Its members decompose, communicate and transfer data, feed us as well as many other earthly creatures, and perform duties perhaps undiscovered. In this hour, Melina will teach us about the key characteristics to look for that distinguish one mushroom species from another. She will show us how to capture those characteristics through photography and upload them to an iNaturalist project where the community will ID them and the project will give scientists an overview of species around you. Everyone is then encouraged to go out into the world, take photos, upload them to iNat and add to the growing worldwide data bank. Watch recorded event here: Local Nature: Mushrooming Basics & Blitz, November 30, 2021

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. 

With today’s “new abnormal” of drought, heat domes and an extended fire season, our local wildlife and winged migrants are scrambling to adapt. In this program you’ll learn how to create sanctuary in your neighborhoods for reptiles and amphibians, insect pollinators, bats and birds. Many of these animals have seen their natural ranges, migratory routes, seasonal patterns and ability to reproduce come under serious climate threat. We’ll use current climate-change information to design effective backyard wildlife shelters and finish by doing simple DIY projects together with common household materials, and sharing easy and exciting citizen science projects. Watch recorded event here: Local Nature: Create Climate Sanctuary for Backyard Wildlife, November 16, 2021

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. 

Local food systems are more resilient to the kinds of climate disasters that affect transportation and can reduce energy costs, transportation and CO2 emissions. At this event, we focus on how local food initiatives are building community resilience. This is the second event in the 2021-22 North Bay Forward "Building Resilience" monthly speaker series, a year-long conversation to increase community collaboration on resilience to climate change. Watch recorded event here: Building Resilience: Local Food Systems & Disasters November 10, 2021

Nature-deficit disorder is a non-medical diagnosis first publicly described in 2008 by the author Richard Louv. It is now part of our everyday vocabulary. We have raised our awareness, but the problem remains. Children are plugged in: not to the natural world in which they live, but to electronic devices, with potentially dangerous consequences. Suzanne DeCoursey, the Center’s education manager, will give us an overview of the importance of the outdoors, including the research and impact on our children. She will also highlight ways adults can help bring relief to this very real problem. Watch recorded event here: Learn With a Naturalist: Expand a Child's World, November 7, 2021