Nature Walk at Voas Nature Area

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” - Albert Camus

Our theme for this month's nature walk is “resilience”—a quality that carries us through the cold winter months! As we walk together, we’ll slow down and look for symbols of resilience and the promise of renewal in the natural world.

We’ll meet for our walk at 9:00 a.m. at Voas Nature Area, 19340 Lexington Rd, Minburn, IA 50167. We’ll meet near the gravel parking area.

Voas Nature Area is a 700-acre park with a diverse habitat including oak & hickory forest, native prairie, and wetlands. Go here for a trail map.

Carpooling: Those who wish to carpool can meet at 8:00 a.m. in the Farm Bureau parking lot, 5400 University Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266. After entering the Farm Bureau drive, take an immediate right to the parking area next to the lake. Please email us at centeringnature@ucdsm.org if you plan to carpool.

During the walk, we will have time for conversation, reflection, and quiet. We’ll identify prairie plants, trees, 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.

To attend, please make reservations here. Bring comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and water and nourishment as needed. Please do not attend if you are ill.