Nature Walk at Gray's Lake Park in Des Moines

Our theme for this month's nature walk is “paying attention.” As we walk together in nature, we’ll open ourselves to the beauty, wonder, and interconnectedness all around us.

We draw inspiration from Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day:
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?

Join us at 9:00 a.m. at Gray's Lake Park (2101 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50315). We'll meet in the parking lot near the public restrooms by the playground and beach area on the north side of the lake, just off John R. Grubb Lane.

Located near downtown Des Moines, Gray's Lake Park surrounds a 167-acre lake with a two-mile paved trail — and we're hoping for wonderful birding on our walk.

During the walk, we will have time for conversation, reflection, and quiet. We’ll identify plants, trees, and bird species, and connect more deeply with the native land we call home. Expect both 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 RSVP here. Bring comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and water and nourishment as needed. Please do not attend if you’re feeling unwell.