Sedona Wolf Week was created back in 2016 to educate the public about wolves. This year’s wolf week is entirely virtual. The hope is that this online format – in years past, Sedona Wolf Week has been held at the Poco Diablo Resort – will extend the reach of the organization. “We’re going global,” says Betsy Klein, co-founder of Plan B to Save Wolves and Sedona Wolf Week. “It’s turned into, I think, a leading event in creating and helping to create advocates. And the reason why I say that is because when people are educated and feel empowered with information, they can go back and then advocate in their own hometowns, cities.”
Many of the events, with a few exceptions, are free. Programming includes film screenings, presentations, a roundtable discussion, interviews with experts, a special kid’s program and workshops. Sedona Wolf Week will be live streaming some of the events via a special Facebook page. If you can’t watch the events in real time, some will be prerecorded.
Highlights include a round table discussion of women devoted to wildlife conservation. Called “Wildlife Warriors – Women Advocating for Wildlife,” hear from KC York from Trap Free Montana, Quinn Read with the Center for Biological Diversity, Talasi Brooks with Western Watersheds, Lain Kahlstrom with Animal Wellness Action, Karin Vardaman of The Working Circle and Sandy Bahr with Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter. Attendees also can enjoy a rare Happy Hour with Doug Smith, Rick McIntyre (a former Wolf Interpreter at Yellowstone National Park), Carter Niemeyer (a one-time wolf recovery coordinator in Idaho) – Betsy tells us this event was only able to happen virtually since all three experts live all over the country.
Ultimately, Wolf Week seeks to raise awareness of not just wolves, but the entire environment. “It’s important to know that it’s about wolves, but it’s actually more about protecting more about what is ours. Our environment. Our ecosystem. Our public lands. Wolves are just a part of that whole system,” says Betsy. “They are essential, and they need to be protected.” − Teresa K. Traverse
SEDONA CALENDAR: Events, activities, shows, happenings
