First Friday: Meet Your Neighbors

Friday, September 4, 2026
11:00 a.m. – Noon

$8 Adults; $6 Nature Center members
$6 Children 9 – 15
Reservations appreciated, walk-ins welcome.

Join Twan Leenders get up close and personal with nature in your backyard.

Nature is all around us—no matter where your backyard happens to be. Biologist Twan Leenders has lived and explored in some pretty exotic places, and in this program he invites you to join him on a journey through the many “backyards” he has encountered along the way, all seen through the lens of his camera.

From tropical birds, frogs, snakes, and spectacular plants to the fascinating wildlife found right here at home, each photograph reveals a story of natural wonder. Come take a closer look at the wild world around us—and discover that you don’t have to travel far to find something extraordinary.

About the speaker: Twan is a biologist from the Netherlands with a doctoral degree in animal ecology and a lifelong commitment to conservation management. After moving to Western New York in 2012, Twan worked at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown and now serves as Director of Conservation for Everwild Land Trust (the future of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy). In this role, he applies his expertise to our region, working to identify and protect our most critical natural areas and species while developing collaborative, landscape-level conservation efforts. He is also an avid photographer and published author and loves putting his photography to work in support of his professional interests.