About us
We will be walking and immersing ourselves in nature—observing the birds, trees, plants, animals, and landscapes around us—while also learning to foster deeper, healthier connections to ourselves, others, wildlife, and the earth.
Spending time in nature leads to greater human satisfaction, happiness, and health. By slowing down and paying close attention to the living world, we deepen our awareness, ground ourselves in the present moment, and grow our compassion and justice centered behaviors to care for our planet and all its inhabitants.
Our walks are open to spontaneous conversation, gentle nature practices, reflective questions, and readings, as well as opportunities to identify and enjoy the behavior of birds, plants, trees, and animals.
These nature-centered gatherings invite us to grow our ability to transform ourselves and our world as an intentional mindfulness practice. This is enhanced by an emphasis on our connections to the humans who gather with us and the other species we encounter along the way. With strong connections to the living community around us, we can save ourselves and all life.
This group was founded by Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, renowned avian conservationist and author of Birding for Life. Though she is leaving the state, the Centering Nature Leadership Team hopes to carry forward Rev. Dr. LoraKim’s vision to build a just and compassionate community together, made up of those who respond to this form of mindfulness practice.
Nature walks are co-led by the Centering Nature Leadership Team from First Unitarian Church of Des Moines and is funded by the REACH program (Radical Engagement And Creative Happenings) through the church.
Everyone is welcome to join this community rooted in care for life.
Upcoming events
1
Prairie Nature Walk at Jester Park
jester park nature center, 12130 nw 128th st, granger, IA, US“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world”. —John Muir
Our theme for our July nature walk is “interconnectedness,” a reminder of how every prairie plant, insect, bird, human and other living being is bound together in both seen and unseen ways.
The compass plants will be in bloom, along with so many others! Join us to see what’s blooming as we gather together in community with nature.
We’ll meet at the Jester Park Nature Center parking lot. The Jester Park Nature Center is located at 12130 NW 128th St, Granger, IA 50109.
From the parking lot, we’ll walk on the trail near the nature center for about a mile (trail marker #3). If there’s interest afterwards, we invite you to visit the Elk and Bison enclosures just down the road.
During the walk, we will have time for conversation, reflection, and quiet. We’ll identify prairie plants and bird species and connect more fully to the native and ancient land in which we live. There will be plenty of opportunities to learn about plants and birds and to practice the spiritual aspects of nature, which is a wonderful mindfulness practice.
This nature walk is co-led by the Centering Nature Leadership Team from First Unitarian Church of Des Moines and is funded by the REACH program (Radical Engagement And Creative Happenings) through the church.
Please let us know if you plan to attend! RSVP here on MeetUp or email us at centeringnature@ucdsm.org.
Bring comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and water and nourishment as needed. Please do not attend if you’re feeling unwell.
4 attendees
Past events
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