We believe that responsibility toward the natural world is ultimately grounded in an intimate experience of nature. In all our programs we try to heighten the capacity for creative, yet precise understanding and observation that allows participants to see the living qualities and interconnectedness of nature. Our audience is varied, representing all ages, nationalities, educational backgrounds, and income levels: teachers, farmers, academics, policy makers, college-age students, high school students, children, and the general public. To see a calendar of current and upcoming events, click here.

Summer Intensive Courses
These weeklong interdisciplinary courses in June and July integrate exercises in critical and imaginative thinking, nature observation, and artistic activities. These courses have attracted adults from numerous professions (scientists, teachers, university professors, artists, social workers, ecologists) and college students. For more information about the program, click here.

Bringing Science to Life A professional development program for science teachers
For information on our Science Teachers' Course, click here.

Mathematics Alive: A Professional Development Program for Elementary and Middle School Teachers The first weekend workshop will be from October 8 to 10. For more information, click here.

Ongoing Courses
These are weekly or biweekly semester-long courses for the local public. Topics have included Goethe's phenomenology, animal form and behavior, and projective geometry. See Calendar of Events.

Physicist Johannes Kühl introduces the audience to the dynamics of water

Public Lectures
In the fall and spring of each year we offer public talks on a variety of subjects related to a new understanding of nature. Our own staff and invited lecturers discuss such topics as: "Exploring Human Perception," "What Can Water Teach Us," "The Wisdom of the Animal World," "Playing with Fire: Beyond Global Warming," and "How Ecological Can Farming Be?" See Calendar of Events for upcoming talks.

Nature Walks
Adults and children participate in our nature walks, which include wetland flora and ecology, birds, wildlife tracking, and spring wildflowers. See Calendar of Events.

Nature Preserve Stewardship
The Nature Institute is steward of a 27-acre nature preserve that includes a wetland - a local treasure in need of protection. With student help, we have built low-impact trails and a boardwalk, and now offer guided nature walks for children and adults. We carry out biological and ecological studies in the preserve.

To find out more about the nature preserve, click here.

Off-site Talks and Workshops
Craig Holdrege, Henrike Holdrege, and Steve Talbott are guest lecturers and teachers throughout the year at colleges, universities, conferences, seminars and workshops. Institute staff is invited to participate in teacher training and teacher development workshops across the U.S.

See Calendar of Events for upcoming talks, click here.