Skagit Land Trust has launched an online speaker series that helps us to connect with the community during fall, winter, and spring.
We have paused this series for the summer, but we will resume in the fall. We will post upcoming speaker series events here once they are confirmed.
PAST EVENTS
"History of Environmental Change in Skagit County" with historian Theresa L. Trebon
February 13th from 6pm - 7:30pm, on Zoom.
We are thrilled to introduce our first speaker, historian and Skagit Land Trust volunteer Theresa Trebon. Theresa will talk about the History of Environmental Change in our area, a fascinating and relevant topic for the SLT community!
About the Speaker:
Theresa Trebon is a historian who has worked to preserve and interpret Pacific Northwest History for over thirty years. She is the author of First Views-An Early History of Skagit County, among other books. Her work may be found in collections at Ebey’s Landing NHR, the Nordic Heritage Museum, the Anacortes Museum, Collection for Pacific Northwest Studies, and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, where she served as their first archivist from 2007-2022.
"Dam It: Beavers in Washington State" with Shawn Behling, Wetland Wildlife Species Specialist for Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
April 22nd, from 6pm - 7:30pm, on Zoom. Watch the recording on Skagit Land Trust's YouTube channel.
Beavers are fascinating yet controversial creatures, largely because they thrive in the same environments that humans tend to favor. How can we strike a balance that benefits both species? What obstacles do beavers and landowners encounter in Washington, and what advantages does beaver activity offer to the landscape? Join Shawn for a conversation exploring the history, biology, and management of beavers in our region.
About the Speaker:
Shawn Behling's work focuses on beavers, but includes waterfowl and wetlands across the state as well. She has earned degrees in plant ecophysiology from Seattle University, University of Maryland, and University of Washington, and while in her PhD program, she began working with beavers through Beavers Northwest. She has the best job of anyone you know and when she’s not in a beaver pond, she’s riding her mountain bike or traipsing through the woods with her dog Flapjack.
"Hiking Close to Home" with Jack Hartt, co-author of the Hiking Close to Home guidebook
May 14th, from 6pm - 7:30pm, on Zoom. View Jack's slides or watch the presentation recording on Skagit Land Trust's YouTube channel.
Whidbey, Fidalgo and Guemes Island offer great places to explore with bluffs and beaches, forests and fields, wetlands, wildflower walks and lovely lakes. This online presentation will introduce a bunch of Jack's favorite hikes in our area. We will also discuss hikes that community members can take on Skagit Land Trust properties!
About the Speaker:
Jack Hartt was born and raised near the shores of the Salish Sea in Seattle. After earning a degree in forest science with a speciality in park management, Jack worked for Washington State Parks for over 40 years before retiring in 2017. Recently, with Sound Water Stewards member Maribeth Crandell, Jack co-authored Hiking Close to Home, a guidebook to hikes and trails of Whidbey, Fidalgo & Guemes Islands. Jack loves beaches, sunsets and sunrises, warm weather, flying, photography, hiking, sauntering, kayaking, biking, laughing, basketball, writing, playing with his kids and grandkids, eating blackberry pie, and finding rainbows.