Tim Palmer

A dynamic and inspiring speaker, Tim has created a series of slide programs based on the topics of his many books and adventures. He is available to speak at conferences, community or college campus programs, and other venues.

Current Slide Programs

Rivers of America

    A vivid personal journey about passion for rivers and their crucial importance to all of life

Luminous Mountains 

    A revealing portrait of the Sierra Nevada in all its moods 

Trees and Forests

    A colorful and informative tour of America's most beloved and threatened forestlands 

Other Slide Programs

Lifelines: A primer about river conservation showing the values of rivers, the problems they face, and the work that people are doing for better stewardship

Pacific High: An adventurous tour of the coastal mountains from Baja to Kodiak Island

California Wild: A stunning survey of wildlands and nature in this incredibly diverse state

Snake River: From source to mouth, a view of this quintessential western river and the issues it faces

The Columbia: A basin-wide view of America's fourth largest river from Canadian headwaters to the Pacific

Rates for programs range on a sliding scale. For more information about fees and availability, please contact Tim directly.

My wife, historian and writer Ann Vileisis,  is also available with superb slide programs based on her books. She is the author of Kitchen Literacy: How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes from and Why We Need to Get It Back (2007) and Discovering the Unknown Landscape: A History of America's Wetlands, which was selected by the American Historical Association as the best book of 1998 by an independent or public historian and was awarded the best book of the year by the American Society for Environmental History.

What people have said about Tim's slide shows:

"Among the hundreds of public presentations I have witnessed over the past fifty years, I would rank Tim Palmer's among the top two or three. Our audience was overwhelmed by his stunning photography, but perhaps even more by the force and eloquence of his environmental message."       

            --Wilbur Zelinsky, Professor Emeritus of Geography,                                         Pennsylvania State University

"A brilliant photographer and prolific writer, Tim Palmer has a special ability in bringing his years of experience to life. To layman and scientist alike, he is an excellent commentator and instills a great appreciation for our natural resources."

              --Arthur C. Benke, Professor of Biological Sciences,                                             University of Alabama

"If one wants to learn about the stewardship of American landscapes, then come listen to Tim Palmer. He brings a conservationist's heart and a scholar's mind to every subject he speaks about."

                --John Freemuth, Professor of Political Science,                                                             Boise State University

"Tim Palmer is a captivating speaker and his presentations and slide shows are a highlight of any conference he participates in."

                    --Mark Angelo, Chair, Fish, Wildlife and                                        Recreation Dept., British Columbia                                         Institute of Technology

"Tim Palmer speaks with eloquence that inspires. His clear, passionate defense of water and land makes responsible action possible."

                                    --Todd Shallat, Professor of History,                                                                 Boise State University

"Tim's words and images bring subjects to life in ways that few speakers can do. He gives a human dimension to complex environmental problems and weaves natural history, geology, sociology, and history into a rich, seamless fabric. My students walk away not only more informed but inspired and yearning to learn more."

                                --Ken Cline, Professor of Environmental                                     Law and Policy, College of the Atlantic

"Palmer's stimulating presentation to my natural resource management class was identified as the highlight of the semester. His talks are equally as penetrating and provocative as his books. Both combine technical information with an analysis of why resource situations are as they are. Excellent as a component of a university class."                                  

                                          --Jack Griffith, Professor of Biology,                                                                 Idaho State University

"Like his books, Tim's presentations reflect his knowledge and passion for his subject. I frequently reference his work for class discussion, and his slide shows are a wonderful illustration of the subject."

                                     --Nancy Duhnkrack, Professor of Law,                                                        Northwestern School of Law

"Tim has it all: great slides, engaging stories, and valuable information for our time. Our audiences love him."

                                            --Jack Shea, Executive Director,                                                                  Teton Science School

"Rarely have I ever seen a presentation as powerful as the one that Tim Palmer delivered as a speaker in our Bracken lecture series. His message was strong and clear, his words remarkably poetic and resonant, and the images simply stunning. As a teacher who emphasizes communication skills, I sincerely say without exaggeration that I was bowled over--as were the students, faculty, and community members in the audience. We're still talking about that lecture, as well as about Tim's visit overall. He's a remarkable communicator with equally remarkable insights to share."

                                                --Eliza Pennypacker, Chair,                                                      Dept. of Landscape Architecture,                                                 Pennsylvania State University