Are you curious about how the brain works? Did you know our brain’s main purpose is to keep us alive? Would you like to know how caring for your brain can help build community resilience? If these questions peak your interest, please join us to learn how NEAR-P* Science can help you, your families, and our community flourish. The course will give you practical tips on caring for yourself while diving into the broader mission, vision and goals. Trauma-Informed Care and the local Self-Healing Communities Collective (SHCC) movement (SHCC is also known as Self-Healing Communities of Michiana https://www.selfhealingmichiana.org). All materials will be provided.

Step into the sunshine and let your creativity wander! The Joy of Nature Journaling is a relaxed, playful course for anyone eager to explore the outdoors with curiosity and a sense of fun. No experience needed—just an open mind and a love for the natural world. Learn quick sketching skills, simple nature photography, collage, and gentle guided writing. Your naturalist instructor shares fun facts and easy techniques as you slow down, notice small wonders, and create joyful pages that celebrate the beauty around you. *Runs April 1 - May 6 in the Brown Barn at St. Patrick’s County Park. A journal and a pencil will be provided. Please bring a $5 copy fee to the first class.

If you are curious to learn about birds and don't know where to start, this series is for you! We will begin with basics of bird id while looking at birds as we visit the trails at the various St. Joseph County Parks located throughout St. Joseph County. Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. If you don't have binoculars, no worries! We have optics available. April 14 St. Parick's County Park: Harvest Room April 21 Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park: Astor Room April 28 Bendix Woods County Park: Runnels Shelter May 12 Spicer Lake Nature Preserve: Nature Center May 19 South Bend-Elkhart Bird Sanctuary: 59395 Clover Road May 26 Beverley D. Crone Restoration Site

The so-called Conflict Thesis, made popular by Andrew Dickson White and John WIlliam Draper in the 19th century, claims that science and religion are, at best, in conflict, and, at worst, at warfare with each other. This talk will look at the historical roots of this purported tension, beginning with the Galileo affair and ending with Intelligent Design. We will examine Stephen Jay Gould's Non Overlapping Magisteria (NOMA), Richard Dawkins' belief that many Christians are essentially idiots, and wrestle with the idea of beauty and the seemingly numinous qualities of nature. This session will meet Wednesday, April,m22.