Respite by the River

Thursday, July 19, 2007 beginning at 6:00pm

Nature Poets

This month's Respite by the River features local nature poets. Three MFA students from CSU Fresno, Liz Scheid, Carol Claassen and Marcus Chinn, will canoe the river, then write poetry to share at the July Respite. Stephen Barile, an MFA alumnus who teaches English at CSU Fresno and Fresno City College, will also share his experience in a canoe on the San Joaquin.

Be sure to bring your picnic dinner to enjoy on the River Center lawn, while listening to live dinner music. You can even order a picnic dinner from Bentleys Fresh Market online and pick it up on your way to the River Center. Book signings and desserts provided by Bentleys will be available after the readings at around 8:00 pm.

If you can't make it this month, don't worry. On Thursday, August 16, Aris Janigian will read from his novel Bloodvine, and the sequel, due out in 2008.

Sunday, August 19

Mark your calendars! Our next Pancake Breakfast at the River Center will be on Sunday, August 19. The grill heats up at 8:00 am and the last pancakes will be flipped around 10:30 am. Meals are $5 per person and include pancakes, sausage and juice. Proceeds benefit River Parkway Trust education programs.

 

While you're out at the River Center, be sure to check out the birdhouses and look for the baby blackbirds nesting in the rafters of the administration building.

 

New Art Exhibit at the River Center

Future of Sequoias: Photography of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Now through October 12, 2007

A thought-provoking photographic exhibition by Jeff Jones, photographer specializing in grand scenic photography, and Bill Tweed, author and retired Chief Interpreter for Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

 

The River Center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

 

River Center Photos in this section are by Brian Connery.

River Camp

We still have a few River Camp sessions with space remaining. There is no better way for a San Joaquin Valley kid to spend time in the summer than swimming, canoeing, exploring wildlife habitat, and making new friends at the river. Our experienced staff of camp counselors, lifeguards, visiting scientists, and artists keep activities lively, safe, and fun!

Ages 1^st through 8^th grade

$200 ($185 for Trust members)

Please call 433-3190 ext. 3# for more information about available sessions. You can download a registration form here.

Nature of Art

There is still space available in the August 6-10 session of the Nature of Art summer camp. Two days at the River Center, one day by the river's edge and one overnight at the River Center, will include nature studies, art projects, canoeing, bird walks, time with live rehabilitating birds of prey, campfire stories and more. Campers will learn from both a naturalist and an artist, whose fields of expertise combine science and art to make this experience educational and fun. This new program is offered in conjunction with the Fresno Metropolitan Museum and is supported in part by a grant from the Community Enrichment Program administered by the Fresno Arts Council.

Ages 7-10

$185 ($175 for Trust members)