The San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College has a terrific fall lined out for community education. Call or come on up and register  at 378-3220

The Great Bear Rainforest

Before the big cities of San Francisco, Portland, Seattle came about the land and nature collectively was called the Great Bear Rainforest.

This lecture, multi-media, and experimental course will cover the science, ecology, culture and life of the Great Bear Rainforest stretching from Alaska to California.

This ecosystem defined by the rainfall, trees, animals and people that called it home has a rich and diverse place. Discover the Spirit Bear, the connection between the Salmon, trees and N15 isotope, the Haida, and the amazing tree canopies.

The class is Sept. 29 to Nov. 3 from 9 – 11 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Ancient Cultures

The popular series continues picking up where we left off last term. With the ever-present theme “migration.” We’ll take a virtual journey along the Silk Road, the Amber Road, the 1421 theory when Chinese came to America, the Polynesians the Lapita, and the Vikings. Lectures are multi-media, full of science and anthropology and lots of stories to discuss.

The class is Sept. 25 to Nov. 13 at the San Juan Center from 9:45-11:45 a.m. on Fridays

Part 1: Passive Solar Design

Description Part One: Passive Solar Design including the principles of thermal mass; how to collect and store heat in various materials like water, rock, earth.

Learn to read sun charts, calculate solar potential for use as photovoltaic and thermal systems. Greenhouse as a part of your design to provide space heat, cooling moderation, and to grow food and heat water.

Learn about designing air core floors, natural convection and the venturi effect and the integration of solar cooking on Saturday, Oct. 24 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Part 2: Rainwater Collection

Rainwater collection, self-watering gardens, eco-roofs and living machines. Water can be collected from any surface, learn how to build efficient DIY systems to grow food, store in heat ponds, for solar thermal under pond systems, aquaponics as a component of greywater, and blackwater to composting.

The class is Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Morning Medical Qigong

10 forms of the ZangFu system of Ancient Chinese Medicine that correspond to the 12 meridians (energy lines) in the body. Each form builds Essential Qi. The class is Sept. 25 to Dec. 4, from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. on Fridays.