A new series of evening programs focusing on owls, backyard habitats, fire, storytelling and other topics will begin May 9 at the Foothills Learning Center, 3188 Sunset Peak Road. The free programs are offered from 7-8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays this summer.

May 9 -- Owls with Greg Kaltenecker. Join Greg Kaltenecker, director of the Idaho Bird Observatory and a member of the research faculty of BSU’s Department of Biology, as he tells us about this fascinating raptor.

May 23 -- Creating Backyard Habitats. Paul and Susie Headlee, volunteer Habitat Stewards for the National Wildlife Federation, will tell you how to make your own backyard a better habitat for animals.

June 13 -- Urban/wildlife interface. Learn how we can be better neighbors and stewards of the wild animals that share the valley and the foothills with us. Our speaker is from Animals in Distress, a local non-profit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and successful release of injured, displaced and orphaned wildlife.

June 27 -- Edible and Useful Plants of the Boise Foothills. Naturalist/author Ray Vizgirdas takes us on a walk in the Boise foothills to observe, identify, and learn about wild edible, medicinal, and useful plants. Ray Vizgirdas is the author of the Guide to Plants of Yellowstone And Grand Teton National Parks and Wild Plants Of The Sierra Nevada.

July 11 -- Jon Stravers and his Native American flutes. Imagine the sounds of a Native American flute wafting through the sagebrush, echoing off the hills on a beautiful summer evening. Stravers will introduce us to the healing and unifying powers of the arts, especially music, dance, and ecology.

July 25 -- Storytelling with Vincent Kituku. Join Vincent Kituku for an evening of storytelling here in our outdoor amphitheatre. Kituku is a motivational speaker who especially loves telling stories to children.

Aug. 8 -- Fire and the Foothills. Kelly Cardoza, fire prevention specialist with the Boise National Forest, will show photos of the devastating 8th Street fires of 1996 and discuss the role we can all play in prevention and preparation.

Aug. 22 -- Cool Boise. Learn more about global warming and the City’s Cool Boise campaign, and discover what you can do to make a difference.

Located in the Hulls Gulch Reserve, the Foothills Learning Center is operated by the Boise Parks & Recreation Department. To get there, take 8th street 1/3 mile past the end of the pavement just east of the trailhead parking area. For information, call 514-3755 or see www.cityofboise.org/parks/foothills.

Media contacts:
Jennie Rylee, Environmental Education, 514-3755
Amy Stahl, Community Relations, 384-4060, ext. 304 or 869-0637 cell

# # #