MIC Lecture Series

May 21 | Wildlife Tracking: Unraveling the Mysteries Around Us by Jonathan Jessop

Join Canyonlands National Park Ranger Jonathan Jessop as he explores the art and science of wildlife tracking. Discover how tracking can deepen your awareness and connection to the natural world, while learning the fundamentals through examples of local species that help guide and inform our understanding.

June 4 | Night Skies and National Parks: Shedding Light on the Dark by Kale Wernsing

Kick off the fifth annual Southeast Utah Astrofest by joining Dark Sky Ranger Kale Wernsing for an exploration of why darkness matters to everyone and everything, from people to plants.

With a focus on both academic research and industry implications, Ranger Kale will explore the role the National Park Service has played in the push for dark sky preservation, and how the Southeast Utah Group is particularly involved in this effort.

June 18 | Founding Fathers: The Creation of Canyonlands National Park by Robert Anderson

Join National Park Service Ranger Robert Anderson as he explores the visionaries behind the creation of Canyonlands National Park. Learn how Charlie Steen, representing the Atomic Energy Commission, helped provide access to the White Rim Sandstone via the White Rim Road, while Bates Wilson championed the idea of protecting the confluence and preserving a vast landscape of canyon country. Discover how Stewart Udall’s political leadership helped push the park’s establishment through Congress, and how their combined efforts shaped the Canyonlands we know today.

June 25 | Our Time in the Parks by Rhodes Smartt

Join Ranger Rhodes Smartt for a journey of introspection through our national parks as we explore the concept of time. What is time, and why does it matter? Through this engaging program, we’ll examine the many ways we experience and understand time, and how these perspectives influence our appreciation, conservation, and management of public lands.

July 9 | Arches and Canyonlands: Tracing the Historical Relation by Blaine Reniger

Join History Moab founder Blaine Reniger as we explore the captivating history of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Discover the historical connections between these parks, from their origins to their official establishment. Drawing on years of dedicated research, Blaine shares the inspiring stories of individuals like Dr. J.W. Williams, Alex Ringhoffer, Bates Wilson, and Stewart Udall—visionaries who played crucial roles in the creation of these parks, despite the many obstacles they faced.

July 16 | Geology of the La Sal Mountains by Christopher Benson

More information coming soon.

July 23 | Bears Ears Digital Cultural Heritage Initiative by Ben Bellorado and Eric Heller

More information coming soon.

August 13 | Desert Nights by Rhodes Smartt

Southeastern Utah is home to some of the darkest skies in the country, where incredible nocturnal life thrives under the stars. Join Ranger Rhodes as we explore what makes the night skies of Canyonlands and Arches so special, the growing threats from urbanization and population growth, and what we can do—both locally and at home—to help protect these dark skies for future generations.

August 20 | Soundscapes by Robert Anderson

From rustling cottonwoods to the distant call of a canyon wren, the natural world is alive with sound—and those sounds matter. Join National Park Service Ranger Robby Anderson for a fascinating exploration of how sound influences our experience of public lands. Learn how the National Park Service is working to preserve natural soundscapes and why they are vital to the health of both ecosystems and visitors.

August 27 | Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time by Brad Ryan

In this inspiring talk, veterinarian and author Brad Ryan shares the extraordinary, history-making journey behind his memoir, Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time. What began as a simple trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after nearly a decade of estrangement became a seven-and-a-half-year adventure to visit all 63 U.S. national parks with his grandmother, Joy Ryan—better known as Grandma Joy.

Through powerful storytelling, Brad explores how America’s public lands can serve as a catalyst for healing, helping individuals navigate mental health struggles, repair fractured family relationships, and rediscover a sense of purpose and belonging. Their journey challenges conventional ideas about aging and adventure, highlighting the vitality, wisdom, and resilience of older adults.

At a time of growing loneliness and division, this talk is a call to reconnect—with nature, with one another, and across generations.

September 17 | Invasive Plants by Isabelle Jones

More information coming soon.

October 29 | SEUG Community Artist in the Parks by Chrissy Noel Kinslow

More information coming soon.

*Select programs in the Moab Information Center Lecture Series are part of the Four Corners Lecture Series.

The Four Corners Lecture Series is produced by several local organizations who sponsor speakers each year. The series features presentations on the archeology, current Native American cultures, history, and natural resources of the Four Corners area. Guest lecturers will share their knowledge, interpretations, and experiences in the Four Corners Region.

View April through June dates here.

View July through October dates here.

For the most up-to-date information, please check the Four Corners Lecture Series Facebook page.