Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings and are encouraged to join the Sault Naturalists.

PROGRAMS

December 2019 to June 2020

Go to Soo Nats Wiki for directions to the meeting sites and for program updates or changes.  

Tuesday, December 10 ,2019, NOTE 6:30 pm @ Bayliss Library, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 

Holiday Meeting and Social - Our holiday meeting is a social event and members are invited to present their own thoughts on nature by bring in a few of their favourite pictures on a computer stick, recite favourite readings/ poetry ... or other arts inspired by nature.  The presentations will be followed by cookies and some of our members favourite holiday treats.  Come out and enjoy the holiday season.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 7:00 pm @ Bayliss Library, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 

Islands and Wetlands of the Straits Area - Elliot Nelson-

Tuesday, February 11, 2019, 5:00 pm Doors Open, 6:00 pm Dinner @ Annual General Meeting and Dinner, Sault College,  

Waking with Thoreau - An inspiring evening of visuals, readings and songs.

Jeff Hinich is a local author, naturalist, musician and Thoreau enthusiast who has participated in the Thoreau Society Annual Gathering for many years. Jeff will explore the life and works of the author of Walden; or, Life in the Woods first published in 1854. Henry David Thoreau was much more than an author. He was a surveyor, pencil maker, abolitionist, naturalist, and transcendentalist who was an early proponent of environmentalism.

Tuesday, March 10, 2019, 7:00 pm @ Bayliss Library, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 

Seney Refuge Story -Sara Siekierski, Refuge Manager - Seney National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 for the protection and production of migratory birds and other wildlife. Today the refuge is comprised of a rich mosaic of marshes, swamps, bogs, grasslands, and forests. Nearly two-thirds of the Refuge is classified as wetland. Sara will tell the Seney Story.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 7:00 pm @ Bayliss Library, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 

Our Moosewatch Adventure on Isle Royale - Barb and Will Scott - In August 2019, Barb and Will volunteered for the longest-running predator-prey study in the world: Moosewatch, which has been conducted by researchers from Michigan Technological University (MTU) on Isle Royale since 1958.  During the summer, three groups of volunteers hike the island and search as much area as possible for moose bones, which are then collected and packed out for examination by MTU.  These bones can provide information as to the cause of death, age at time of death, year of death, and the condition of the moose at the time of death.  This information in turn helps us to better know the relationship between the wolves and moose of Isle Royale, especially now that more wolves are being relocated to Isle Royale.  Barb and Will will talk about their experience adding to the world’s largest collection of moose bones while backpacking and camping off trail.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 7:00 pm @ Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 

Bumble Bees - Elisa Muto – is a Natural Environment Professor at Sault College who teaches entomology. Bumble bees are some of the first pollinators emerging in the spring and are important for the pollination of many plants. Bumble bees are declining steadily in Canada for a variety of reasons. Elisa will speak about the current bumble bee decline and show some methods to ID common bumble bees.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020, 7:00 pm @ Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 

State of the St Mary’s River - Lisa Direckx, RAP (Remedial Action Plan) Coordinator - The St. Marys River Bi-National Public Advisory Council (BPAC) was created in 1988.  It is a stakeholder’s group, and members include citizens, property owners, tribes, elected officials, health units, municipal staff, and university staff from both Canada and the United States. BPAC informs the agencies about public views and opinions regarding the clean-up of the St. Mary’s River AOC and advocates for projects that achieve the restoration goals.  BPAC is dedicated to ensuring that the river water quality and the ecosystem are improved and protected for all users of the river. Lisa will bring us up to date on BPAC activity. 

Go to Next Program for additional information, posters, etc. 

Click on Where We Meet for directions to the meeting sites. 

Click on Submit Your Ideas for Future Programs if you would like to suggest other programs or speakers. 

For a copy of this program schedule, click on Printable Version at the bottom of this page.