The Nature Connection

10/06/2026

We are thrilled to have this dynamic duo, with their easy stage presence and witty repartee keeping the room engaged and entertained at Inspire 2026 at Sanctuary Cultural Arts in Maynard on October 22nd at 5:30 PM!

Tom and of Tom Rutledge Presents host trivia nights, fundraisers, auctions corporate events, and school functions. You can find their Trivia Nights at the historic Concord's Colonial Inn on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30pm and in Harvard, upstairs at the Harvard General Store on the last Thursday of every month. Enjoy six rounds of original trivia, made fresh by humans. Always free to play. No signup required.

We are thrilled to let them host the room, so we can focus on you at Inspire! Get your tickets here ➡️ https://givebutter.com/c/annual-fundraiser-inspire-2026

09/30/2026

🎟️ Early Bird pricing ends today! Get your tickets to Inspire 2026 and see Eyes on Owls’ live owl presentation.

As Eyes on Owls founders Marcia and Mark Wilson explain, “Everyone loves owls! Yet, how often do you get to see an owl up close? Perhaps you've glimpsed the shadowy form of a Great Horned Owl in the beam of your headlights as you traveled a back road at night. Have you ever scanned a frozen saltmarsh or hayfield in winter, hoping to find that Arctic hunter, the Snowy Owl?”

This up-close owl encounter will help answer your owl inquiries and curiosities and create those moments of awe that The Nature Connection supports in our daily programs. 🦉

Get your tickets to our annual fundraiser, which is sure to inspire nature lovers, community members, and supporters of The Nature Connection’s past, present, and future. We can’t wait to see you there! 🌿🪶💚

09/23/2026

We are thrilled to announce our amazing chef for Inspire 2026 on Thursday, October 22nd at 5:30 at Sanctuary in Maynard, MA.

Chef Saba Wahid Duffy is an award-winning chef, TV host, educator, and entrepreneur whose culinary journey spans New York City, Dubai, and Boston. A graduate of the French Culinary Institute, she has cooked for high-profile clients, hosted international television programs, and mentored aspiring chefs.

Chef Saba is a celebrated Food Network champion, winning Chopped: Martha's Rules as Grand Champion and later claiming the title on Flavortown Food Fight. She was also a finalist on Ciao House. Known for her bold modern Mediterranean cuisine inspired by her South Asian heritage, she is a leader in sustainable cooking and kitchen electrification.

Today, Chef Saba and her sister, Sara Wahid, bring their shared passion to their vibrant restaurant KUSH in Somerville, where global flavors, family traditions, and culinary excellence come together in every dish.

Join us and see for yourself what everyone is talking about! Early bird pricing extended until September 30th. Get your tickets today! https://givebutter.com/c/annual-fundraiser-inspire-2026

09/17/2026

🦋Join us in exploring the wonders of migration at our next Memory Café.
📆Friday, September 18th
🕰️11:00-12:00
📍The Nature Connection, located at 80 Beharrell St. Concord, MA

During this FREE event for people with dementia and their caregivers, Carol will guide the group through an interactive conversation and hands-on connection with natural materials from this beautifully transitional time of year. Come explore antlers, monarchs, and plants that crawl, spread, and climb! 🐛🌿

No registration required

09/14/2026

Sponsors for Inspire 2026 are continuing to come in and we are so grateful for the support💚

Thank you, Sophie Wadsworth, LLC for supporting The Nature Connection and helping make it possible for us to bring the therapeutic power of nature to those who need it most.

Sophie draws on executive leadership and decades of public speaking, to help entrepreneurial and social sector leaders tell their story to inspire action, raise more capital, and change the world. Her passion and dedication to supporting missions she believes in shows in the ways she continues to support The Nature Connection and other like-minded organizations.

Interested in supporting The Nature Connection while showcasing your business? We’d love to welcome you as a sponsor for our annual fundraiser on October 22 at Sanctuary in Maynard.

Learn more about sponsorship opportunities: https://www.nature-connection.org/news-events

Together, we can create an unforgettable evening and expand access to the many benefits of nature for those who need it most. 🌿

The Nature Connection receives $50,000 grant from The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation to advance youth programming MassNonprofit News | December 16, 2022

09/10/2026

👀 Look closely… you can see this hornworm’s heart beating! ❤️

This tomato hornworm has started to burrow underground, where it will enter its pupal stage before eventually emerging as a five-spotted hawkmoth. As it prepares for this incredible transformation, changes in its body can make its dorsal aorta more visible, creating the pulsing movement you can see in this video.

The dorsal aorta is part of the hornworm’s long, tubular heart, which moves hemolymph (the insect equivalent of blood) through its body.

One tiny caterpillar. 🐛One incredible transformation. 🦋
When you slow down and notice nature, you find so much happening beneath the surface. 🌿

What have you noticed in nature lately? 🔎

09/08/2026

Sponsors for Inspire 2026 are continuing to come in and we are so grateful for the support💚

Thank you, Commodore Builders for supporting The Nature Connection and helping make it possible for us to bring the therapeutic power of nature to those who need it most.

Founded in 2002, Commodore Builders is a veteran-owned, New England-based construction management firm on a mission to make the construction process easy and enjoyable for our clients and partners.

Interested in supporting The Nature Connection while showcasing your business? We’d love to welcome you as a sponsor for our annual fundraiser on October 22 at Sanctuary in Maynard.

Learn more about sponsorship opportunities: https://www.nature-connection.org/news-events

Together, we can create an unforgettable evening and expand access to the many benefits of nature for those who need it most.

09/02/2026

Did somebody say Spin Class? 🚲

At The Nature Connection that might mean something a little different than you’d expect 😉🐑🧶

We recently had the chance to learn an age-old craft: turning wool fibers into yarn using a simple drop spindle. It was great to watch a fluffy handful of wool become a long, strong strand simply through twisting, tension, and a little practice.

No wheel, no machinery, just gravity, a bit of momentum, and your hands. It’s a beautiful example of how people have worked with materials from the natural world to create something useful for thousands of years.

A huge thank you to Satia, for generously donating their time, knowledge, talent, AND all of the materials for this experience. We’re so grateful you shared this skill with us!

We never know where our next connection with nature will come from. Sometimes it’s a walk in the woods. Sometimes it’s foraging for herbs and medicinal plants. And sometimes it’s a handful of wool and a drop spindle.

While we spend most days creating opportunities for other people to experience curiosity, connection, and wonder in the natural world, we need those experiences ourselves! And we love opportunities to learn something new together. 🌿

08/24/2026

Inspire 2026 is proudly hosted and supported by Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center in Maynard!

Sanctuary is more than a music venue, it is a nonprofit cultural arts center dedicated to bringing people together through music, arts, education, and community engagement. We are so grateful for their partnership and commitment to The Nature Connection’s mission!

We are honored to hold our annual fundraiser at this beautiful historic venue, which provides the perfect backdrop for an evening centered around community, connection, and the natural world.

Interested in supporting The Nature Connection while showcasing your business? We’d love to welcome you as a sponsor for Inspire 2026!

Learn more about sponsorship opportunities:
https://www.nature-connection.org/news-events

Together, we can create an unforgettable evening and expand access to the many benefits of nature for those who need it most. 🌿

08/22/2026

Always a wonderful time at Concord Park 🌱🪶