Where Ethics Meet Earth

"Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." —Mary Oliver  

For author and naturalist John Muir Laws, attention is love. When constant headlines, advertisements, and social media posts leave us in a digital daze, the simple practice of nature journaling can help us reclaim our attention and refocus on the incredible world around us. The first step in being a good steward of the land is simply paying attention to it.

As Aldo himself could attest, observing the plants, animals, and landscapes that make up our natural communities not only delights and transforms the watcher, but also has the power to change our relationship with the earth for the better. The best part is anyone can do it anywhere—no artistic experience or natural knowledge required. And the rewards are bountiful, from improved observational skills and mental health to a more profound connection with the natural world. Will you pick up a pencil, reclaim your attention, and get back to loving the land?

Join passionate educator, naturalist, and nature journaler John Muir Laws for an exciting discussion on how to start your own nature journal, phenology, and the neuroscience behind journaling—plus, live demonstrations!

Laws is the award-winning author and illustrator of several books including The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling and The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds.

You’ve read A Sand County Almanac a million times. You can practically recite “Good Oak” and “Thinking Like a Mountain” from memory. Perhaps you have even made your pilgrimage to the original Leopold Shack. But what would it have felt like to be one of the Leopold children arriving at that worn-down chicken coop for the first time?

In her book “Aldo Leopold’s Shack: Nina’s Story,” Author Nancy Nye Hunt answers this question in rich detail. Chalk-full of Leopold family stories and little-known facts drawn straight from the source, Hunt’s book paints the Shack story from the perspective of her friend and mentor Nina Leopold—the eldest daughter of Aldo and Estella Leopold, who spent her formative years planting pines, restoring prairie, and fixing up the Shack alongside her family.  

What started as a retreat from city life became so much more, transforming Nina and her family into astute observers, environmental advocates, and lifelong lovers of the land. Join us for the final Land Ethic Live! show of the year for a special presentation and conversation with author Nancy Nye Hunt and Nina Leopold’s daughter, Trish Stevenson. The two will share the fascinating research process behind the book, stories about the exceptional women of the Leopold family, and the lessons that Nina’s story can teach us about loving the earth in challenging times.  

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Join us for the November Land Ethic Live! event featuring renowned environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author Paul Hawken in a moderated conversation about his latest work, Carbon: The Book of Life. In this visionary book, Hawken reframes carbon not as a villain of the climate crisis but as the essential element of all life—offering a bold, life-centered perspective on how we relate to the natural world. With his signature blend of scientific insight and poetic clarity, Hawken invites us to see carbon not just as a molecule, but as a teacher—one that holds deep lessons about reciprocity, regeneration, and the interdependence of all living things.

In this live conversation, we’ll explore how carbon connects us—through soil, atmosphere, food, water, and story—and what this means for ethics, ecology, and climate action in the 21st century. Together, we’ll unpack how a shift in worldview—from extraction to kinship—can inspire new pathways for healing our planet and ourselves. Whether you’re a conservationist, educator, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this program offers a rare opportunity to hear from one of the most thoughtful voices in environmental leadership today.

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Dr. Winifred Frick, Chief Scientist at Bat Conservation International (BCI), will share the ecological importance of bats, the urgent need for their conservation, and the power of storytelling to drive environmental action. In this talk, Dr. Frick will highlight the vital roles bats play in ecosystems across the globe providing critical services to nature and people alike. Yet, despite their value, bats remain among the least understood and most threatened mammals, facing mounting pressures from habitat loss, climate change, and disease.

Through science, collaboration, and community engagement, Bat Conservation International works to shift perceptions of bats from fear to fascination, while advancing solutions that protect biodiversity and promote sustainable development. This work connects to the mission of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, emphasizing how fostering a sense of awe and appreciation for the natural world deepens our connection and responsibility to conserve it. This alignment underscores the importance of emotional engagement in environmental work—not just scientific understanding. A central theme of the talk will include how bats inspire action.

Dr. Frick is a central character in the forthcoming independent film, The Invisible Mammal, a documentary that brings bats—and the women scientists working to protect them—out of the shadows and into the public eye. By showcasing bats as charismatic, ecologically essential, and threatened with extinction, the film creates a moving narrative that builds empathy and motivates stewardship. Ultimately, Dr. Frick will make the case that protecting bats is not just a scientific imperative but also a cultural one. By connecting science with story, and conservation with community, we can share the value of bats and inspire collective action to safeguard the natural systems on which we all depend.

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