В Американ-Каньоне пройдет вечер вина и природы с презентацией роли овец в управлении парками

The American Canyon Community and Parks Foundation will spotlight sheep on Thursday during the third installment of its free quarterly “Wine and Wild” series. “Wine and Wild: Sheep” will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Wetlands Edge Trail, 2 Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon. The event is free to attend. The upcoming “Wine and Wild” will also feature two special guests: Napa Valley Vintners and the American Canyon Soroptimists. Guests are encouraged to arrive before 5:30 p.m. for the wine social and a special wool art craft activity led by the American Canyon Soroptimists. The Napa Valley Vintners will be on-site to pour a selection of Napa Valley wines. Andrea Long, community program director for American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation, said that each “Wine and Wild” event gives community members a chance to connect with neighbors and learn more about the environment around them. “It’s a fun social outing. People can come out, enjoy a glass of wine, socialize with neighbors and learn something as well,” said Long. The upcoming “Wine and Wild” will focus on sheep, with guest presenter Cori Carlson of Nature Protein Pasture discussing the important role sheep grazing plays in managing American Canyon’s open spaces. Long said guests will learn how sheep grazing helps create resilient ecosystems and manage parks, open spaces and natural areas. When determining which animal to spotlight for “Wine and Wild,” Long said organizers consider a combination of factors, including audience feedback, topics discussed on social media and within the community, and opportunities to partner with organizations, such as groups with ambassador animals. “Wine and Wild” is a revamp of a program that the American Canyon Community and Parks Foundation ran pre-pandemic, in partnership with the Napa County Resource Conservation District, called “AC Wild.” “We would run an education seminar quarterly at the (American Canyon) library, and then during Covid, everything fizzled out,” said Long. “After Covid, we found that there was still a need for adult environmental education. We decided to sprinkle a bit of fun, which is where the wine comes in.” Long said attendance at each “Wine and Wild” event varies depending on the location and speaker, particularly if a guest has an established following. However, attendance has remained steady since the series was revamped. The series rotates among different locations and venues. Thursday will mark the first time “Wine and Wild” is held at Wetlands Edge Trail. “How we maintain our open spaces, in this day and age and with the risk of fires, is a really important topic,” Long said. She added that sheep grazing is both environmentally beneficial and cost-effective, making it a valuable topic for the community to learn more about. Guests of all ages are welcome to attend. Those 21 and over will be given a wristband to receive wine.