Join the Pajarito Environmental Education Center for two upcoming book clubs. These groups will meet virtually via Zoom. One will focus on simple living and the other will focus on the benefits of connecting with nature. Photo Courtesy PEEC

Explore simple living or the health benefits that come from connecting with nature in two upcoming book clubs from PEEC.

 PEEC NEWS

Join the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) for two upcoming virtual book clubs. The first, “A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World,” will begin on Sunday, May 3 and focus on simple living. The second, “The Eight Master Lessons of Nature,” will start on Thursday, May 7 and look at building meaningful connections to the natural world.

Both book clubs are free to participate in, but attendees must register on PEEC’s website and purchase an e-book or physical copy of the book. Space is limited in both discussion groups, so register soon!

“A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World” is a six-week discussion course developed by the Northwest Earth Institute that explores ways to live more deliberately and sustainably. This class will meet via Zoom on Sundays from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. starting on May 3 and culminating on June 14.

Each week, participants will read articles from the book and meet virtually to discuss the content, brainstorm solutions and relate the information to their personal lives, their community and broader scopes. PEEC volunteer Sue Barns will lead “A Different Way”.

During the six weeks, participants will:

• Explore the many personal and global issues we face that a simple lifestyle can help to address.
• Determine which of your values leads you to an interest in simple living, and how simple living will help you live more in line with your values.
• Consider what you might like to do individually and as a group to create beneficial change in our world.

The second book club, which will center on “The Eight Master Lessons of Nature” by Gary Ferguson, will be held over ten weeks via Zoom. Participants will meet weekly on Thursdays from 12 – 1 p.m. via Zoom. The book club will begin on May 7 and end on July 9. PEEC volunteer Sue Watts will lead this group.

“The Eight Master Lessons of Nature” dives into insights about the benefits that connecting with nature brings to our physical, mental and spiritual health. Lessons about mystery, loss, how animals make us smarter and how the planet’s elders make us better at life are unforgettable and transformative. Participants will read one of the eight “lessons” from the book each week and discuss the content virtually.

In addition to these book clubs, PEEC is offering a variety of online programming. The organization is updating their online “Take It Outside” posts every weekday. This week’s theme is the forests of Northern New Mexico. PEEC is also hosting live-streamed astronomy talks, yoga classes and more. See the schedule for upcoming live-streams and register for them at peecnature.org/events.

For more information about this and other Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email publicity@peecnature.org or call (505) 662-0460.