Description
Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma's Journey
Book Talk & Hike
With Author Tiffany Yap & Illustrator Meital Smith
Lafferty Ranch, Petaluma
Saturday, July 20
9am -12pm
scroll down for registration link!
For two young mountain lion brothers born in central California, where cityscape meets the wilderness, life isn’t easy. Soon after their mother leaves them to fend for themselves, a dominant male puma attacks, sending them running. The brother who dashes across a treacherous highway is hit by a truck and killed. The brother who hides up a tree survives. And so the journey begins . . .
Join us for a short hike and engaging book talk centered on Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma's Journey, a graphic novel by author Tiffany Yap and illustrator Meital Smith. This outing is perfect for anyone who loves a nature-oriented, enteraining and educational graphic novel, including kids ages 7 and up! We'll meet and hike up to a spot under a large, sheltering oak tree, where you'll have a chance to talk to the author and illustrator about A Puma's Journey and ask them any question you like! We'll also be joined by Larry Modell, a LandPaths docent at Lafferty who manages the wildlife cameras on the preserve, and has some great tales about the animal behavior he's spotted through the camera, including mountain lions!
Learn more about Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma's Journey here.
Find a copy of the book Copperfield's Books or at the Sonoma County Library! They have plenty of copies at the Petaluma Library branch!
About the Author: Tiffany Yap is a conservation scientist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a doctorate in environmental science and engineering and has published studies in Science, EcoHealth, and other scientific journals. Her work has been featured in major news outlets, including the New York Times, LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and NPR.
About the Illustrator: Meital Smith is an illustrator and artist from Seattle, Washington. She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in Design in 2021 and is currently pursuing an MAT at the Rhode Island School of Design. Meital's work has appeared in The Lily, and in 2021, she self-published her graphic novella Yesh Lanu Machaneh, which documents her community's experiences at her beloved summer camp, Camp Miriam.
About Lafferty Ranch: This 270-acre property is the only publicly owned land on the west side of Sonoma Mountain. Under contract with the City of Petaluma, LandPaths has been leading hikes on the land to introduce groups to its history and natural features since the summer of 2022. The hiking terrain ranges from broad, gentle meadows to steep challenging hillsides. We’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Petaluma Valley, stretching southwards to Mt. Tamalpais and Mt. Diablo, all the way to San Francisco. The trail passes through groves of venerable oak and bay trees along the Adobe Creek, with a total elevation gain of 500’. You'll enjoy panoramic vistas, and a babbling, perennial stream. The hike will be above the creek up to a vista point at the mid-point meadow.
Registration in advance is required. Lafferty Ranch is only open to the public during special guided outings with LandPaths and the City of Petaluma.
Directions: Upon registration you will receive an email with the exact location, driving directions, and parking information.
Details:
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Space is limited so register as soon as you can.
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The hike will be led by LandPaths' staff.
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You will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon arrival
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No restrooms available. This is a rustic property. Please plan accordingly.
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You will receive a confirmation email upon registration. If you do not recieve an email then you are not registered for the outing.
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Upon registration you will receive an email with the exact location, driving directions, and parking information.
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Please note that there are no dogs or smoking/vaping allowed at Lafferty Ranch.
What to bring:
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Your own water bottle, bring enough water for you and your family. It might be warm in July so be sure to bring plenty of water. Plus, any food or snacks you need for the day.
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A light camping chair or blanket to sit on during the talk with the author and illustrator.
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We recommend wearing LONG pants (to protect against ticks) and comfortable sturdy hiking shoes that can get dirty.
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Lots of layers: hat and whatever else you will need to be comfortable being out in the colder weather.
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A copy of Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma's Journey (either your own copy or from the library)
Staff:
Our staff is certified in the minimum of CPR and First Aid, and they have training and years of experience working in outdoor spaces. All staff has had their backgrounds checked through fingerprinting.
Additional details:
Accessibility:
If you have accessibility questions, please call or email us with any questions or concerns you may have.
Same-day cancellations:
Please call 707-544-7284 (then press 1) after 7 am the morning of the day if you wish to confirm. If you don't hear a cancellation notice in the highlighted voicemail, the day hasn't been canceled.
Please call 707-544-7284 (then press 1) after 7 am the morning of the day if you wish to confirm. If you don't hear a cancellation notice in the highlighted voicemail, the day hasn't been canceled.
How to sign up:
Do you need help registering?
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call Roxy at 707-544-7284 ext 103 or
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email her at roxy@landpaths.org
This event is possible thanks to the City of Petaluma
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