When Idaho rancher Jay Wilde returned to his family ranch after 30 years, he found Birch Creek, the once perennial stream that flowed through the ranch, flowing intermittently and dry by mid-summer. He discovered that the absence of beavers in the watershed was contributing to the demise of the stream. Join Wilde as he shares […]

Before the Civil War, Western states and territories became a battleground over the westward expansion of slavery and the status of free and enslaved Black people. Professor Stacey Smith, a historian at Oregon State University, will explore the enslavement of Black people in the West and African American resistance to slavery, as well as how […]

Deserts have long offered rich inspiration for the written word. Join the winner and finalists from the 2021 Waterston Desert Writing Prize for an evening of readings and literary discussion exploring this complex landscape. In addition, 2021 Waterston Guest Judge Elizabeth Woody (Navajo, Warm Springs, Wasco, Yakama) will do a reading. A writer, poet and […]

The Grand Canyon is arguably one of the jewels of America’s natural wonders, yet it remains wild, mysterious and— even as a national park—under threat. Join writer Kevin Fedarko, author of The New York Times bestseller The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon, […]