Enjoy the outdoors from home
Virtual programs bring open spaces indoors.
San Jose artist and naturalist Edward Rooks captured this view of Coyote Valley on canvas last year. Rooks was set to share his environmental awakening through art in a Nov. 1 virtual program hosted by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. The authority is presenting a series of virtual nature programs throughout November.
As the days grow shorter and the weather gets chillier, Santa Clara County residents might grow warier of venturing outdoors for a respite in nature. The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is bringing the outside indoors for a series of free virtual nature programs throughout November.
The authority was set to kick off the month Nov. 1 with a program by artist and naturalist Edward Rooks, who has captured views of Coyote Valley and other local open spaces on canvas.
Next up on Nov. 13, 6-6:45 p.m., is “Let’s Go Mothing!,” a program in collaboration with Merav from Saved by Nature, a San Jose-based environmental education nonprofit.
Merav will help identify nocturnal insects that live in the Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve and demonstrate how to collect information for iNaturalist, an app by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society that allows users to document, share and discuss their observations of the natural world.
The next morning, Nov. 14, residents can take “A Curious Look at Plants and Our Changing Landscape” with Phoenix of Phoenix’s Curiosity Cabinet, which offers classes in STEAM subjects for kids and adults. This family-friendly program, set for 10-11 a.m., will explore the uses of local plants and the valley’s changing landscape.
To close out the weekend on Nov. 15, 10-11 a.m., Open Space Authority educational aide Kat will discuss the local fall harvest of seeds and fruits, as well as the methods native plants use to disperse seeds.
On Nov. 20, the Open Space Authority will screen footage of local wildlife that were ready for their closeups. The authority has cameras at various open space preserves to provide a glimpse into what species are found in the area and provide information about them and their habitat. They’ll screen some of the best on-camera moments from 7-7:45 p.m.
For more information and to register for programs, visit https://news. openspaceauthor it y.org/ en/virtual-programs-2020.