Community Connections

Throughout the whole weekend, we will have 4 "Community Connections" exhibits/events.  At any time during the weekend, everyone is encouraged to visit these areas and engage/contribute to each one. The four events include:

Memorabilia from 50 Years of Natural History at UCSC.

The Norris Center will set up an exhibit with photos, artwork, field journal pages, exhibits, specimens, videos (maybe), and other memorabilia from our archives. We encourage everyone attending to bring any memorabilia you would like to display as part of this exhibit.  Feel free to bring photos, artwork, old field journals, etc. to add to the exhibit.  This exhibit will be indoors in a large meeting hall at Jones Gulch.  We will ask everyone to wear masks in this space.

Book Swap

Bring a book(s), take a book. At the book-swap table, you can drop off used volumes about natural history and/or social justice that you’re ready to give away, and also find titles to take home. Field guides, fiction, nonfiction, poetry—all genres are welcome. (Books in decent condition, please, not falling apart or all marked up.) Bookmarks will be available on which you can write capsule reviews for your offerings. Donate as many books as you like! We just ask that when you depart, you take away any of your offerings that haven’t been snapped up! This exhibit will be indoors in a large meeting hall at Jones Gulch.  We will ask everyone to wear masks in this space.

Grief and Gratitude Haven

We are living through times of great social and planetary loss and change. Alongside joyful communion, the weekend’s celebration may also draw out more contemplative moods, perhaps especially in those who have a solitary or introverted streak. Throughout the weekend, there will be a designated space where anyone can go at any time to be alone or with others in relaxed and respectful silence, away from lively social activity. Posterboard and markers will be available for sharing sources of gratitude, grief, and other currents of thought and feeling in writing and sketches.

Gear Swap

Bring your usable natural history-related gear to donate to others!  At the gear swap table, you can drop off your used gear and also feel free to pick up and take home anything that would be useful to you.  Natural history related gear (binoculars, handlens, plant dissection kits, etc..), camping gear (tents, stoves, etc..), and other related gear are welcome.  PLEASE bring only gear in decent condition and please try to only take a few items so that others may also find something they can use. We ask that when you depart, you take away any of your offerings that haven't been taken by others. This exhibit will be indoors in a large meeting hall at Jones Gulch.  We will ask everyone to wear masks in this space.