Here are brief summaries of previous events of interest to the Panorama Green Team.

PAST EVENTS – 2024

• Sustainability Walking Tours Wednesday, September 4
  On Wednesday, September 4 the Green Team hosted walking tours showcasing sustainable aspects of the Panorama campus, including trees, solar panels, EV charging stations, a recycling center, sustainable aspects of the Auditorium, and more. A video in the Auditorium featured locations which are too far away to include in the walking tour, including the Barn, Encore, the Pea Patch and the Pollinator Garden. Green Team volunteers led the tours, and experts were available at selected locations to describe the sustainable features and answer questions. The distance is approximately 1.5 miles, and total time for the tour is about 1.5 or 2 hours. Green Team members were at the Pavilion at the start and end of the tours, to visit with tour participants and answer questions. Small groups began the tour at the Pavilion at 9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m. Handouts included a map and additional information about the locations. These tours are open to residents, future residents and staff members.
• Farms Forever Dinner Saturday, August 17
  The Farms Forever Dinner and fundraiser was held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, benefiting the Community Farm Land Trust. The event, at the Little Creek Casino Resort, featured local beer, wine, farm-fresh food, a live auction, music, and a presentation about the importance of farmland preservation from keynote speaker Dani Madrone from the American Farmland Trust.
• Capitol Land Trust Field Trip Friday, September 6
  The Green Team sponsored a field trip to a unique Capitol Land Trust property – the Inspiring Kids Preserve (IKP). This beautiful property along the east shore of Henderson Inlet is a short drive from Panorama. The Land Trust vision is for this preserve to become a destination for environmental education for local schools. Edie Harding, a member of the CLT board, led us on a walking tour to see restoration work, learn about plans for education programs, and enjoy the natural features of the preserve.
• Nisqually Land Trust Trip Sunday, August 11
  We visited a Nisqually Land Trust (NLT) property along the Nisqually River upstream from Yelm. We were joined by Executive Director of NLT, Jeanette Dorner, who presented an excellent program at Panorama last January.
  Our visit was to the Lackamas Flats protected area. walking a trail through mature forest to a wide gravel bar along the river, stopping at a cedar grove to see a recent demonstration of traditional harvesting of cedar bark.  We viewed the river and discussed natural processes such as the river’s migration within its floodplain. Learn more about the Nisqually Land Trust.
• Field Trip to The Evergreen State College Organic Farm Wednesday, August 7
  The Evergreen State College Organic Farm serves as a “living laboratory” to educate students in the production and management of a certified organic small farm in the Pacific Northwest. They raise laying hens and meat birds, grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs and plant starts. Students learn soil science, entomology, and botany as well as marketing, sales, and customer service, and they learn the power of working together towards a common goal and experience the value of team-building and clear communication.
  Learn more about The Evergreen State College Organic Farm.
• Monday, July 8, Field Trip to Bayshore Preserve
  The Green Team organized a field trip to the Bayshore Preserve, located on Oakland Bay near the town of Shelton. Capitol Land Trust has conserved this 78-acre waterfront property, part of which was formerly a golf course. The Land Trust acquired the property a decade ago, and has been working ever since to restore a salmon-bearing stream on the preserve, remove invasive plants, and plant native vegetation. Each autumn, the preserve welcomes visitors to view a chum salmon run up Johns Creek. The Green Team has a special connection to this preserve. Green Team members have participated in stewardship efforts there, removing scotch broom and other invasive weeds from the area. We were met at the preserve by a member of the Capitol Land Trust board, Edit Harding, who led our walk around the property. The walk was about 1.5 miles on gentle trails as we enjoyed this special place and learned about both its history and its future. Learn more about the preserve at
  capitollandtrust.org/conserved-lands/conservation-areas/oakland-bay-goldsborough-creek-watershed/bayshore-preserve/
• Tuesday, May 14, 1:30 p.m. Into the Weeds documentary sponsored by the Green Team   Panorama Auditorium Theater In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate — the active ingredient in weed-killer Roundup — as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”  Despite being assured the herbicide was safe to use, Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a former groundskeeper from California, developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, claiming that Ranger Pro, another of the company’s glyphosate-based herbicides, was a substantial contributing factor in causing his cancer.  The documentary follows Johnson’s fight for justice against the agrochemical giant while examining how Roundup is used around the world and the potential repercussions of its use. The film also informs us of other important facts. A discussion followed the film.
  References: 
  IMDB description of film
  Can Roundup cause cancer? Study from University of Washington
• Thursday, April 25, 1:30 p.m. Gratitude Revealed – Movie sponsored by the Green Team   Panorama Auditorium Theater. This documentary explores how to live a more meaningful life full of gratitude through intimate conversations with everyday people, thought leaders, and personalities. This film, featuring beautiful nature cinematography, was created by acclaimed filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg, director of Fantastic Fungi.
• Monday, April 22, 12 noon Earth Day Event – The Panorama Green Team sponsored tables in the Gallery at seventeen51 restaurant during “Dine and Donate” week, when Panorama matched our donations to the Capitol Land Trust, up to $500.
  

PAST EVENTS – 2023

• Wednesday, April 19, 1:30 p.m. Nature and Nurture Hand in Hand – Special Event co-sponsored by the Green Team and Pea Patch Garden Club. Master Gardener Pat Bergford, co-owner of Bergford Family Farm & Gardens, talked about gardening, both natives and beloved garden favorites and the stewardship of both, in order to make a healthy environment for humans, insects, other species and the planet. Bergford Family Farm & Gardens is a local Olympia treasure, five acres of beauty and inspiration. Photos from a June 2022 trip to the Gardens are at
  panoramagreenteam.org/articles/bergford-gardens-tour/ .
• Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. to noon. Earth Day Clean-up service event at Wonderwood Park in Lacey.
  Imagine: Earth Day has been celebrated for over half a century! We joined in by participating in a community service project on Earth Day 2023. Lacey Parks hosted a stewardship event from 10:00AM until around noon at Wonderwood Park, 5304 32nd Ave SE.  Participants were mostly pulling English Ivy at the park, which has a lovely tract of woods as well as ballfields, picnic tables, and trails.
• Thursday, May 4, 10 a.m. to noon. Spring Shredding Day. Drive-Up site at the main entrance to the Aquatic and Fitness Center; Walk-Up site in the Quinault Auditorium.
• Wednesday, May 17, 1:30 p.m. – A New Death Care Alternative with Recompose, presented by Learning in Retirement Lecture Series, in the Panorama Auditorium Theater. In February, a group from Panorama had the opportunity to visit and tour Recompose, a fully licensed funeral home in Seattle specializing in human composting. For every person who chooses Recompose over conventional burial or cremation, one metric ton of carbon dioxide is prevented from entering the atmosphere. In addition, human composting requires 1/8 the energy of conventional burial or cremation. This presentation taught us more about this process and how it is used to regenerate the earth that supports our whole lives.
• Wednesday, May 24, 1:30 p.m. – Electric Vehicles 101: A Class Everyone Passes, presented by Learning in Retirement Lecture Series, in the Panorama Auditorium Theater. We are now in a rapid evolution from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EV). Panorama resident Wayne Olsen is not a car salesman, but he may sound like it. He is a new EV owner himself and he outlined information you should know before purchasing or leasing an EV, plus some tips about things he didn’t know until after he bought his.
• Tuesday, July 18, 1:30 p.m. – Documentary presents The Ants & The Grasshopper in the Panorama Auditorium Theatre –Anita Chitaya has a gift; she can help bring abundant food from dead soil, she can make men fight for gender equality, and she can end child hunger in her village. Traveling from Malawi to California to the White House, she meets climate skeptics and despairing farmers. Now, to save her home from extreme weather, she faces her greatest challenge: persuading Americans that climate change is real.
• Tuesday, July 25 – The Green Team presented Sustainability Walking Tours, starting at 9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, and 11  a.m., starting and ending at the Pavilion. There were over 60 participants including current residents, future residents and Panorama staff members. Learn more about the tours.
• Saturday, August 19 , 4-8 p.m. – The Community Farm Land Trust had a “Farms Forever” Dinner and Fundraiser at the Riverbend Ranch in south Thurston County.  This Farm-to-Table dinner featured the richness of our local farms with an exquisite dinner prepared by Chef Mike Holbein of Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar in downtown Olympia. Guest speaker was Mitch Lewis of Summit Farms and author of “Your Personal Everest”, and music was provided by local band Briarfinch. The dinner was a fundraiser to support the Community Farm Land Trust’s mission to preserve local farmland and to support local farmers. Cost was $125 per person. If you were unable to attend the dinner, you can still support the Community Farm Land Trust through their web site www.communityfarmlandtrust.org
• Tuesday, August 22 – The Green Team sponsord a visit to Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB) urban farm.
  Participants toured the three-acre urban farm, learning about GRuB’s mission and programs to grow healthy food, people, and community! GRuB  directly engages approximately 1500 Thurston County residents of all ages in relationships-based programming around growing and preparing good food. Visit goodgrub.org to learn more. GRuB (Garden-Raised Bounty) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working at the intersection of food, education and health systems to grow healthy food, people, and communities.  GRuB has several urban community gardens and programs where marginalized young people, low income families and veterans can discover the value and personal empowerment of growing and preparing healthy food.   Similar to last year’s tour to Oyster Bay Farm, this year’s tour to GRuB’s westside Olympia farm includes land purchased and permanently leased to GRuB by our local Community Farm Land Trust.  Panorama residents Pat Labine and Russ Fox are founders and board members of the Community Farm Land Trust.
• Saturday, September 9, 5-8 p.m. – GRuB Annual Harvest Soirée. This included an online auction from September 1 – 8 with adventure stays, experiences, local art, and gift certificates from local businesses! The Soirée Farm Dinner was prepared by local Guest Chef Rick Mullins, co-owner and lead chef at Octapas Cafe. The meal featured fresh produce grown and harvested on the GRuB farm by  youth program participants. The event featured live music, a silent auction, a photo booth, and a dessert dash.

PAST EVENTS 2022

• Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 1:30 p.m., Panorama Auditorium Theater – The Green Team  sponsored a presentation by a representative of The Capitol Land Trust. Learn more about the Capitol Land Trust at capitollandtrust.org.
• Friday, April 22, 2022, 9:30 a.m. –  2:30 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day at  Bayshore Preserve.  This was a day of restoration and fun at the Capitol Land Trust (CLT) Bayshore Preserve, near Shelton.
• Sunday, April 24, 2022, 1-3  p.m., via Zoom –  Indigenous voices from Turtle Island on the Changing Earth. Editors Dahr Jamail and Stan Rushworth featured indigenous presenters from their book, “We Are the Middle of Forever”, presented by Learning Right Relations. To learn more, visit https://learningrightrelations.org/events
• Thursday, May 5, 2022, 10 a.m. – noon, Spring Shredding Day.  Bring your sensitive personal documents for shredding. For details, see the May Panorama News. If you have questions, contact Curt Rosler.
• Wednesday, May 12, 2022, 1 – 2 p.m. Activity Fair (Zoom).  You’re invited to visit the Green Team breakout room at the online Activity Fair from 1 to 2 p.m. on May 12, to learn about Green Team goals, activities and events. There will be a brief slide show followed by Questions & Answers.
• Thursday, May 26, 2022, Bullitt Center Tour –  The Green Team and Lifestyle Enrichment cosponsored a tour of the Bullitt Center in the Central Area of Seattle. After the tour, there was a no-host lunch at the Bahama Breeze restaurant at the edge of Tukwila’s Southcenter Shopping Center. When the Bullitt Center opened in 2015, it was known as the greenest commercial building in the world and was certified as a “Living Building” by the International Living Future Institute. Learn more about the Bullitt Center at https://bullittcenter.org/, or read about the May 2018 Panorama tour of the Bullitt Center at  panoramagreenteam.org/articles/bullitt-center-tour/
• Saturday, June 4, 2022, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Green Team Tour of Bergford Family Farm & Gardens. Green Team members enjoyed visiting this 5-acre farm and garden tour in Olympia, developed by Pat and Scott Bergford. This land features a large variety of fruit trees, farm animals (including a peacock and unusual chickens), breathtaking, unusual flowering and exotic plants, a large romantic pond complete with water lilies and koi fish, and much more! There are garden rooms featuring different specialty plants, created to consider the needs of the plants, the sun, shade and the whims of the gardener.
• Friday, July 8,  2022, 9 a.m. – noon  Green Team tour of Oyster Bay Farm
  This 40-acre farm has been in agricultural production since the late 1800’s!  Located on beautiful Burns Cove northwest of Olympia, this diversified fruit, produce and livestock farm provides high quality pasture-based eggs and meat.  And with more than 15 acres of forest and 300 feet of waterfront, it’s also home to dozens of wildlife species demonstrating the compatibility of wildlife habitat with commercial agriculture.  $3 bus fee. Signup email was sent to Green Team members on June 23. Respond to that email message or phone 5990 to sign up. For additional information about Oyster Bay Farm including photos, see  our Oyster Bay Farm article,
  or
  https://www.facebook.com/oysterbayfarm/
  or
  https://www.communityfarmlandtrust.org/oyster-bay-farm.html

• LOTT virtual Community Forum August 15, 2022 5:30 p.m. The LOTT Clean Water Alliance has completed a major research effort about potential risks from residual chemicals that may remain in reclaimed water, and what happens to those chemicals when reclaimed water is used to replenish groundwater. LOTT held a virtual Community Forum on Monday, August 15, at 5:30 pm to explain the study, share study findings, and answer questions. Note: L-O-T-T stands for LOTT’s four partner jurisdictions – the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Thurston County. LOTT is a non-profit corporation that functions like a public agency.
• Saturday, Sept. 17 1:30 to 4 p.m.  EV Show and Tell  The second annual Panorama Electric Vehicle Show and Tell took place at the Northeast parking lot near the Panorama Auditorium. Electric cars of all kinds were on display; owners were available to answer questions. Panorama residents who have electric bikes, trikes, or motorcycles were encouraged to bring them.
• Artfully Recycled Show Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5
  11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Quinault Auditorium
  
  This show demonstrated what imaginative Panorama residents and staff have created from trash and recycled materials.
  

PAST EVENTS – 2021

• July 31, 2021, 1:30-4 p.m. Panorama Electric Vehicle Show & Tell – Featuring  electric vehicles owned by Panorama residents.
• September 8, 2021, 6:30-8 p.m. Sierra Club South Sound Meeting: Why Do We Need to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions? – Wayne Olsen, Climate Reality Project – Thurston County; Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT)

PAST EVENTS – 2020

• September 8 (Tuesday), 1:30 p.m. Democratic Study Group – Climate Change: Urgent? What Can We Do About It?
  Speaker: Wayne Olsen, Captain, USN (ret.)
• September 16 (Wednesday), 7 p.m. Webinar – Charging into the Future: Get charged up about electric vehicles. Produced by the Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT)
• September 26 (Saturday), 2 p.m. – Zoom Panel Discussion – Climate Youth Lead The Way
• November 6 to 28, 2020 – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail was open for public viewing
    For the past several years, the Green Team has worked with Panorama management to organize bus tours to the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail. This is a unique and wonderful opportunity to view a spawning run of native Chum salmon. The trail has a cadre of volunteers who serve as docents at the trail. In most years, a large number of school groups use the trail on weekdays by reservation. The trail has been opened for public viewing only on weekends. The Covid year of 2020 brought changes. Schools are not running bus trips. Neither is Panorama. However, the trail was still available for public enjoyment during November 2020. Kennedy Creek is a regional treasure. Every November, thousands of wild Chum salmon return to the creek to spawn and die. Viewing conditions are usually excellent, unless heavy rainfall muddies the creek. Signs along the trail explain the life history of these remarkable creatures, and docents are present to answer your questions. Several Panorama residents volunteer as Kennedy Creek docents. Ginger Sarver, Warren Dawes, and Cleve Pinnix all volunteered during November 2020. Check our website in fall 2021 for plans about a November 2021 trip.

PAST EVENTS – 2019

• February 12 (Tuesday), 7 a.m. Capitol Land Trust breakfast.
• February 12 (Tuesday), 1:30 p.m. “Climate Action in Thurston County: How Local Efforts Can Succeed” – Tom Crawford, Chair of the Thurston County Climate Action Team, was the featured speaker at the Democratic Study Group meeting.
• September 18 (Wednesday), 1:30 p.m. Panorama Auditorium – Film Before the Flood. Learn more at www.beforetheflood.com

PAST EVENTS – 2017

• March 12, 2017 – “Before the Flood” – Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary about climate change. Location: Koval Center for the Performing Arts, 600 Sleater Kinney Rd. NE, Olympia.
• March 21, 2017 – Panorama Auditorium – Capitol Land Trust Presentation – Capitol Land Trust’s Executive Director, Amanda Reed, discussed how the Trust has been successful with its work, how the Land Trust works with farmers, ranchers, and foresters to keep them on the land while improving salmon habitat, where the Capitol Land Trust is heading into the future, and how community institutions like Panorama can support this vital conservation work.
• April 15, 2017 – Peace Choir’s Earth Day concert. Panorama Auditorium.
• April 22, 2017 (Saturday – Earth Day), – March for Science, starting at the Capitol steps at 11 a.m. March to Heritage Park for a rally with speakers and tables from local organizations.
• April 23, 2017 – A walk in nature at Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. Several guides were there to help interpret what we see.
• May 23, 2017 – Movie – SEED: The Untold Story. Panorama Auditorium. – Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared, and biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds. This film follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy.
  Learn more at http://www.seedthemovie.com
• March 25, 2017 – Climate Action Convention – Olympia Community Center, 222 W. Columbia St. NW. Speakers, workshops and breakout sessions. For details see http://www.olyclimateconvention.com/.
• September 20, 2017 (Wednesday), 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Drive Less, Go More Forum. Representatives from Independent Living Services, Lifestyle Enrichment, Resident Transit, Green Team, Amtrak, Intercity Transit and Rebels by Bus presented the alternative transportation resources for Panorama residents.
• November 17, 2017 (Friday), 10 a.m. Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail Field Trip – The Green Team sponsored a field trip to view the chum salmon spawning run at the Kennedy Creek site, just 10 miles northwest of Olympia. This lovely trail is an easy half-mile walk to viewing sites and platforms overlooking a native salmon spawning run. Warren Dawes and Cleve Pinnix, Panorama residents who volunteer for the education program each year, were our guides.

PAST EVENTS – 2016

• January 26, 2016 movie “Forks Over Knives” – This 96-minute feature film examines the profound claim that most of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. http://www.forksoverknives.com/the-film
• Jan. 31, 2016 – “This Changes Everything” film, followed by a discussion on needed local climate actions. Location: North Thurston High School Auditorium.
• Feb. 22, 2016  – “Merchants of Doubt” film in Panorama Auditorium.  Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the curtain on a secretive group of highly charismatic, silver-tongued pundits-for-hire who present themselves in the media as scientific authorities – yet have the contrary aim of spreading maximum confusion about well-studied public threats ranging from toxic chemicals to pharmaceuticals to climate change. Their actions have profound implications for our planet. Learn more about the film at the Internet Movie Data Base.
• October 25. 2016, 9:30 a.m. to noon – Bring your own mug to Pan Hall and receive a free cookie or piece of fruit. The goal is to reduce use of single-use paper coffee cups.
• October 24, 2016, 1:30 p.m. – Film, The Clean Bin Project
  1:30 p.m., Panorama Auditorium
• October 14, 2015 – People’s Climate Movement National Day of Action in Seattle.  Information: http://peoplesclimate.org/action/seattle-city-hall/
  https://www.facebook.com/events/1470067483301320/
• Monday, October 12, 2015 1:30-3:30 p.m., Panorama Auditorium – The Green Team presents the film Salt of the Earth. For the last 40 years, the photographer Sebastião Salgado has been travelling through the continents, in the footsteps of an ever-changing humanity. He has witnessed some of the major events of our recent history; international conflicts, starvation and exodus. He is now embarking on the discovery of pristine territories, of wild fauna and flora, and of grandiose landscapes as part of a huge photographic project which is a tribute to the planet’s beauty.
• Wednesday, September 16, 2015 1:30-3:30 p.m., Panorama Auditorium – Drive Less. Go More! Discover new ways to get around – Learn about a variety of transportation options. Includes presentations by Intercity Transit, Panorama, and All Aboard Washington. See the Drive Less. Go More! flyer for details.
• Tuesday, May 26, 2015 1:30 p.m., Panorama Auditorium – Learning in Retirement Series presented The Other Bees with Sally Vogel. Our lives are intertwined with many small creatures, including bees. Come learn about some of the 4000 species of bee that aren’t honeybees and about their fascinating lives. Sally will also tell us how we can participate in a citizen science project just by sitting down and watching flowers.
• Monday, May 4, 2015 1:30 p.m., Auditorium – Film called HOME – With gorgeous aerial photography by acclaimed aerial photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, and produced by Luc Besson, HOME is both a visual love song to our planet and a plea to protect it.

• Saturday, May 2,  2015 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fitness Center parking lot – Shredding Day. Sponsored by Panorama and the Green Team.

• Sunday, April 26, 2015 4 p.m., Chalet basement – Green Team members and friends who are interested in learning about veganism are invited to attend a vegan meal. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by sending an email message to panoramagreenteam.org or phone Sally at 5211 for more information. Bring your own place settings including dishes and napkins. Donation of $3 to $5 is suggested, but not required, to defray costs of the meal. Learn more about our generous friends who will be preparing the meal for us.

• Wednesday, March 18, 2015 1:30 p.m. – Armchair Traveler presentation – Wisdom From Fukushima: Coming Back To Life After All Was Lost – On March 11, 2011, the “triple disasters” of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear radiation devastated Fukushima and two other provinces of Northeast Japan. Join Carolyn Treadway as she shares her November 2014 Learning Journey to Japan to honor the survivors and learn from them about how — after all was lost — they are now creating sustainable, resilient community.