Submitted by San Juan Island Library.

The San Juan Island Library District and San Juan Island National Historical Park are pleased to announce the return of their popular collaborative “Nature’s Mysteries” series. These series of interactive programs have been a well-attended educational initiative since 2020. In the past year, they have proven so popular that a second series, “Hidden Histories” has been added that deals with major international historical moments and how they impacted the San Juan Islands. Park staff have delivered over 15 programs, dealing with topics as diverse as The Secret Life of Trees and Echoes of the Opium War, allowing interested patrons to gain specialized knowledge about topics related to park history, culture, ecosystems, and wildlife.

The first “Nature’s Mysteries” program of 2022 “Exploring Dirt, Soil, and What Makes it so Important” will be on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:00 PM on Zoom. Tune in to hear Park Ranger Jeff Hodge dish some dirt and answer questions such as “What is dirt? Is it the same as soil? How does dirt or soil work, and what role does it play in the circle of life?” For those interested in our local soils, their status’, and why understanding dirt holds the master key to life on planet earth, please email Sarah at sbenson@sjlib.org to register for the event.

The Nature’s Mysteries series will run for the next four months on a monthly basis with recordings available online on the library website after it airs. The full lineup of the series will include:

June 15: Exploring Dirt, Soil, and What Makes It So Important

July 13: Caring for Your National Park: How the Park Service Manages Natural Resources

August 10: Anatomy of a Prairie: What Is a Prairie, How Do They Work, and Why Do They Matter?

September 14: Climate and Climate Change from A-Z

For more information, you can reach Sarah at sbenson@sjlib.org or visit www.sjlib.org.