Welcome to Virtual Mind Walks! The Mind Walks program, founded by Ray Easton, has been hosted in person for several years in Morro Bay from January to March in collaboration with California State Parks. Since March of 2020, CCSPA and CA State Parks have brought a new type of learning right to your living room: Virtual Mind Walks. COVID has given us the opportunity to expand our topics, audience and speakers as we offer virtual programming opportunities all year long. These free, online presentations feature a variety of subject matter from experts covering topics aimed at stretching the mind of the avid lifelong learner.
This lecture series offers twice monthly educational opportunities devoted to recreational, natural, and cultural history topics as they relate to the Central Coast. The Mind Walks Program is underwritten by the Thomas E. and Mary Kathryn Eltzroth fund and supported by the Central Coast State Parks Association.
See below for upcoming lectures and for links to past recordings.
Upcoming Lectures
July 1, 2022
Honoring World Seabird Day on California’s Central Coast with Dan Robinette of Point Blue Conservation Science
July 3, 2022 is the fifth annual World Seabird Day. July 3, 1844 was the last known sighting of the Great Auk before it went extinct and scientists have chosen this date to raise awareness of the continuing conservation threats to seabird populations throughout the world. This presentation will introduce the many seabird species that are dependent on central California’s coastal and nearshore habitats, discuss the threats they face, and highlight some of the conservation victories giving them hope.
July 15, 2022
Keeping an Eye on Wildlife with Lieutenant Specialist Matthew Shanley
Keep your eyes on wildlife! The more we know about our wildlife, the more vital information we can pass on to experts in the field. Lt. Matthew Shanley will introduce you to a few of your Central California Wildlife Officers and explain how you can call 1-888-334-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258) or send a TIP411 message to a dispatch center when you see improper activities related to California wildlife. See how Wildlife Officers have helped! And learn how Californians have been rewarded! This presentation will review the public’s contribution to protecting wildlife.
August 5, 2022
Pacific Wildlife Care: Who We Are and What We Do with Christine Johnson and Claudia Duckworth of Pacific Wildlife Care
Claudia and Christine will virtually show the different areas of the Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC) facility and provide brief descriptions of the process and progress of an injured or orphaned animal that comes into their care. They will also provide an update on the relocation of PWC’s operations over the next several years from its site in Morro Bay to property owned by the organization near San Luis Obispo.
August 19, 2022
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the San Luis Obispo Coast with Erika Delemarre, MPA Outreach & Education Project Coordinator, and Robin Hazard, State Park Interpreter I
DESCRIPTION AND SIGN-UP LINK COMING SOON
October 21, 2022
Spooner Ranch House History with Amy Hart, State Historian
DESCRIPTION AND SIGN-UP LINK COMING SOON
November 4, 2022
GIS Mapping in State Parks with Jeff Ebner, Environmental Scientist with CA State Parks
DESCRIPTION AND SIGN-UP LINK COMING SOON
December 16, 2022
Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary with Paul Michel of NOAA
DESCRIPTION AND SIGN-UP LINK COMING SOON
MORE 2022 DATES AND TOPICS COMING SOON!
