Edson Fichter’s Nature Talk series is back for its sixth year.
Sponsored by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and Friends of Edson Fichter Nature Area (EFNA), Nature Talks are every Wednesday in September from 6 - 7 p.m. Each night will feature a new outdoor expert who will give a presentation to educate the public about wildlife, habitats and history in the area.
Jennifer Jackson, regional communications manager for the southeast region for IDFG, says the event has grown every year since it began in 2021.
“Having these special events like this just provides yet another way to connect to an already special area,” Jackson said. “If we’re teaching people and engaging them to care more about science and more about nature as we do these programs, then that’s exactly what we want to see.”
New events this year include a sketching class with a biological illustrator on Sept. 9 and a presentation from paleontologist Robert Gay on Sept. 23, who represents both Idaho State University and the Idaho Museum of Natural History.
Jackson says Nature Talks are a great event for people of all ages.
“They love the diversity of topics,” Jackson said. “I hear people say they’re always learning something new, something that they didn’t know before, even if it is a topic they’ve heard about before. I also hear folks saying they love the outdoor aspect of it. You’re not in a classroom, you’re not sitting in a hard chair, you’re not looking at a PowerPoint on a screen. There’s something special about being at the nature area and being outside.”
All Nature Talks throughout the month are free to attend and will be held at the outdoor amphitheater.
Outside of Nature Talks, Edson Fichter also offers biking and walking trails, a fishing pond, a pond for people to train their dogs in and more.
“If you haven’t been here before, you should come to see what it’s all about,” Jackson said. “You also might see some friends and people you haven’t connected with for a while in the audience. Maybe you’ll also discover a new place to add to your list of places to visit, places to take your grandkids or places to come and visit when you just need to step away from your busy life.”
For more information on Nature Talks, visit IDFG’s website and to learn more about the nature area, visit Friends of EFNA’s website.