Walking on the Wilder Side

SSU Main Campus
8:00 am – 10:00 am

Admission Fees: none

Registration Links:
Register for this event

On this gentle walk and writing adventure at the SSU Butterfly & Native Plant Gardens, along Copeland Creek, and around campus, we’ll revisit some of the scenes and stories from the book, Home Turf, A Bestiary of Sonoma State. Join us on a search for the dawn redwood, hunt for owls and owl pellets, and peak at the orioles’ nest. We’ll celebrate the wildlife, both fauna and flora, present on our suburban campus, while we learn to see how nature and human-built environments interact and even thrive, culminating in focused time to reflect and write about our experience and observations. Come learn how to articulate the wonder of nature on the written page!

Leaders

Lakin Khan, writer, educator and former Lecturer in the English Department at Sonoma State University

Logistics

We will meet at the Butterfly Garden on the Sonoma State University main campus. The SSU Butterfly Garden is located on the northeast side of campus, along the Copeland Creek Trail. We recommend parking in lot G (click here then select "Sonoma State" to purchase a Daily Parking Permit in advance), or traveling by bicycle or public transportation. 

Canes and walking poles are welcome on this gentle walk. Please let us know in advance if accessibility is a concern.

Restrooms is available on site. Heavy rain may cancel, but please prepare for light rain. Smoking and tobacco products are not permitted on the SSU campus.

COVID-19 Safety

Do not attend if you test positive for COVID-19 or if you have any symptoms that may be indicative of COVID-19, even if you are vaccinated. All SSU updated guidelines can be found here.

What to Bring

Please bring sun and light rain protection, a full water bottle, and a notebook or journal with something to write with. Shoes appropriate for walking around gardens and dirt paths, and long pants for possibly sitting on the ground are recommended.

There is a restroom and potable water available at various places across campus. 

How to Sign Up

See registration link below. Each person should register separately. This event is recommended for ages 15 and up, and is free of charge.

About the Center

Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry empowers university students to work with community members on the environmental challenges of the North Bay. Our mission is to create an engaged and environmentally ready society, one where all people have the skills to find solutions to the challenges facing our earth. SSU Preserves are open to everyone engaged in education or research. Reservations are required.