On Sunday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center is offering a free Armchair Traveler presentation on Kenya and Tanzania in the great room. Haley Smith will be our guest speaker for the afternoon; she will speak about her semester abroad in the East African countries of Kenya and Tanzania. She spent three months in the Wildlife Management Studies program with the School for Field Studies learning about everything from native language and culture to human-wildlife conflict and ways to mitigate it. Haley will share some of her favorite photographs and most memorable experiences from the field with us.

Haley holds a BS in biology and a BA in environmental studies from Washington and Lee University, as well as a Certificate of International Immersion. Her research experiences include invasive species removal and soil biochemistry work in Yellowstone National Park; water resources and environmental health research in southern Kenya; evaluating a Farm-to-School program in Rockbridge County, Va.; and assessing invertebrate by-catch in the small fishing village of Apam, Ghana.

Haley’s interests include travel and cross-cultural experiences, wildlife conservation, community health and development, and sustainable agriculture. A native of Asheville, Haley has returned to her hometown and is currently serving an AmeriCorps term with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.

Be sure not to miss out on this great presentation! It is Super bowl Sunday but don’t let that allow you to miss out on this wonderful program. Refreshments will be served prior to the program to allow ample time for everyone to get home before game time. FENCE is located at 3381 Hunting Country Rd. in Tryon.

For more information on upcoming programs visit fence.org or give us a call at 828-859-9021. Thank you to the Kirby Endowment at the Polk County Community Foundation for making this event possible.

– Submitted by Amy Schmitte