Connecting People to Nature

These programs instill an appreciation for our environment in residents and visitors and provide a venue for conversations on important environmental issues.

Birding Workshops

Each summer and winter, we offer a series of birding walks with local birding expert Poo Wright-Pulliam. In winter, participants snowshoe at the Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve, and other prominent birding locations in the Wood River Valley to investigate local winter birds. In summer, we host a series of 4 – 6 walks which include an introduction to our local summer birds and basics of birding prior to going into the field to check out and listen to some of our favorite local birds.

Winter Tracking Workshops

Each winter, we offer a series of tracking workshops centering on the winter world. Long-time Wood River Valley resident and tracking extraordinaire, Ann Christensen, leads these workshops. Ann begins each workshop with a short tracking introduction at the ERC office where she introduces participants to our local winter animals, their life histories, and winter adaptations while laying out some basics about tracks. Participants then head outside on a snowshoe tracking adventure through the fields and woods north of town. Ann, who studied with famous tracker and author James Halfpenny, has been introducing valley residents to the secret stories left in the snow for decades.

Gallery Walks

Two to three times per year, in conjunction with the SVGA Gallery Walks, the ERC hosts art exhibitions that highlight our local environment, which makes our valley a special place to live.

In summer 2019, we were grateful to host an exhibit for artist Poo Wright-Pullium. Poo spent a year as the artist in residence at City of Rocks. Her exhibit displayed pieces that she painted during this time. Poo is an expert birder as well, and many of her works highlighted the birds she saw alongside the amazing rock formations.

Film Festival

The ERC will host Jackson Hole WILD on Tour on Thursday, November 8, 2018. This special night will showcase Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival favorites and award winners. Films will bring you on a journey to discover fascinating wildlife worldwide and in our own backyard. Films will highlight encouraging stories of stewardship, threats to wildlife, and what you can do to make a difference. For more information click here.

Street Party for the Planet

The ERC closes off Washington Avenue in Ketchum between Fourth and Fifth streets to host an annual celebration of our work and our local environment. Enjoy bites by local restaurants while dancing or playing family-friendly lawn games.