Author – Spokane County Library District

Space Exploration You Can Do, Inspired by Amazing Images from the Webb Telescope

Posted in Explore and Discover on August 17, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Caitlin Wheeler On July 12, 2022, NASA released its first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, and they are both breathtaking and groundbreaking in their ability to detect infrared light at a high resolution. The telescope operates with two cameras: NIRCam (near infrared camera), which looks at the shortest infrared wavelengths, and MIRI […]

6 Hikes for Stunning Spring Sightings in Spokane Valley & Surrounding Areas

Posted in Explore and Discover on March 28, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Caitlin Wheeler I love cherry trees. Specifically, I love them for the two or three days in spring just past their brightest bloom, when you can stand underneath one, tug on a branch, and find yourself absolutely showered in the falling blossoms. In the spring of 2020, there wasn’t much recreation I could do […]

4 Hikes in the West Plains to Experience Natural History & Wildlife

Posted in Explore and Discover on September 30, 2021 at 7:00 am

That crepuscular hours of sunrise and sunset are great times to see deer, rabbits, owls, bats, and many other trail companions. And to top off those perfect conditions, fall is a great time to catch migratory birds you might not see the rest of the year. If you’d like to seize the crisp weather and evening sightings, check out these easy to reach […]

Tags: walking, west plains

North Spokane County Trails for Easy Treks & Adventures in Nature

Posted in Explore and Discover on July 21, 2021 at 6:00 am

Today’s post features trails on the north side of Spokane that are within 30 minutes of one or more county libraries. You can set aside a half hour or a whole day to explore one of these spots. And remember to bring plenty of water in order to beat the heat! […]

Pleasant Day Hikes & Easy Walking Adventures in South Spokane County

Posted in Explore and Discover on May 12, 2021 at 6:00 am

BY CAITLIN WHEELER In 2018, I started working at the Otis Orchards Library just as I was also desperately trying to fit exercise into a routine laden with reading books, making art, and crafting. My drive to Otis Orchards took me over the Harvard Road Bridge, where a Centennial Trailhead happened to sit just three […]

The many ways and whys of journaling

Posted in Explore and Discover on February 11, 2021 at 6:00 am

BY CAITLIN WHEELER When choosing to journal, you may find that there is one looming question that’s liable to trip you up before you’ve even begun: Why am I journaling? Not knowing why you’re journaling may confuse your writing. Your answer to “why” will likely affect your content, your frequency, your audience, and perhaps most […]

Exploring memoir writing with children

Posted in Parents and Teachers on December 10, 2020 at 6:00 am

BY CAITLIN WHEELER MEMOIR, A MOMENT IN A LIFE Unlike biography, which is the story of a life, memoir is a story within a life—a moment or a thread of moments that shed light on a larger truth. Everyone has stories like these: little moments in our lives that illustrate something bigger about how we […]

The importance of diaries, memoirs, and autobiographies for our empathy and history

Posted in Explore and Discover, Uncategorized on August 26, 2020 at 6:00 am

BY CAITLIN WHEELER I had wanted to be a diarist as a child, but having grown up on Dear America and Royal Diaries, I felt like my 90s school bus experiences weren’t interesting enough. I have since realized that my attitude about my journal writing continued into adulthood, and yet I’ve also considered sharing with […]

LGBTQ Memoirs for 2020 Pride Month

Posted in Explore and Discover on June 19, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Caitlin Wheeler Right now, many of us are spending most of our time at home, continuing to social distance under Phase 2 of Washington state’s Safe Start plan. It can be isolating, this feeling of being stuck and apart from those you love for an indeterminate amount of time. As a balm, I offer […]

Native American Heritage Month: A look at books by indigenous authors

Posted in Explore and Discover on November 6, 2019 at 6:00 am

BY CAITLIN WHEELER November is Native American Heritage Month and a great time to learn more about some of the many indigenous groups of North America. Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian provides an introduction to indigenous peoples’ portrayals in media after colonialization in Americans, the interactive online exhibit that looks […]

Author: Caitlin Wheeler