The Dorothy Hoard Memorial Butterfly Count is Saturday, July 25. Participants should photograph the butterflies they see at home, on a hike or while exploring their neighborhoods and send them to PEEC to participate in this annual community science project this year. Photo by Bob Walker

PEEC News:

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) has a variety of virtual events coming up this week for all ages to enjoy.

The Los Alamos Nature Center is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are many ways to engage with PEEC online.

This week, craft a gong at PEEC’s weekly virtual Summer Family Evening, explore dwarf planets in this week’s astronomy talk, take a yoga class, join a new online book club and more.

Most events will take place via the streaming platform Zoom and registration is required for all programs in order to receive the meeting link and password. Visit peecnature.org/events to sign up now!

PEEC’s schedule of events for the week:

Wednesday, July 22:

• Join PEEC for a virtual Summer Family Evening, sponsored by Del Norte Credit Union at 6 p.m. At this week’s events, participants will make a gong with staff from the Los Alamos County library using a disposable roasting pan and at-home art supplies. Find the full materials list on the event webpage on PEEC’s website. Do you need a disposable roasting pan for this activity? Stop by Mesa Public Library or the White Rock Branch Library 10 a.m. to noon to pick one up.

Friday, July 24:

• This week’s astronomy talk will be all about dwarf planets. Join Paul Arendt at 7 p.m. to learn how Pluto, and several other major objects in our Solar System, have come to be categorized as dwarf planets.

Saturday, July 25:

• The annual Dorothy Hoard Memorial Butterfly Count is still happening this year! Instead of counting as a group as per usual, participants are encouraged to document the butterflies they see at home, on a hike or in their neighborhoods. Registered participants will receive instructions to send photos of their observations to PEEC to have their observations counted in this community science opportunity.

Sunday, July 26:

• Join PEEC’s Christa Tyson for her weekly vinyasa flow yoga class at 10 a.m. This class costs $5 for PEEC members, $7 for non-members and is free for PEEC volunteers.
• Finally, on Sunday evening, PEEC will begin its new online book club! Participants will read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Gathering Moss. Local software engineer Ed Santiago rereads this book annually and will lead the discussion. The book can be purchased through PEEC’s online gift shop for curbside pickup for a 10 percent discount for book club members. The club meets 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26 and Sunday, Aug. 2.

Be sure also to check out PEEC’s Take It Outside summer nature challenge. Participants can enjoy weekly blog posts and outdoor challenges about different topics. If they report back to PEEC on their experience, they can earn stickers! This week’s theme is weather and climate. Participants can learn about monsoon season, craft a weather station, play in the rain and more.

For more information about this and other PEEC programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email publicity@peecnature.org or call 505.662.0460.

About PEEC

PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts a number of interest groups from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit www.peecnature.org.

PEEC Visitor Services Manager Christa Tyson leads a vinyasa flow yoga class 10 a.m. Sundays. Courtesy/PEEC