History

The Nature Connection humbly enters its 40th year since its founding.  To pay tribute to the years of perseverance and commitment to supporting the human spirit through the power of nature, we’ve decided to include a History page on our website.  We devoted this section of the site to respectfully document the story of how The Nature Connection came to be, the people that willed it into existence and those who help to keep it thriving today.

 

History of the Organization

A black and white photograph of Sarah holding a lamb in her arms.

Beginnings:

When founder, Sarah Seabury Reynolds Ward, conceptualized the organization she was working as a nature educator in the 1970’s.  During this time, she collaborated with fellow teachers to develop The School for Centered Learning, seeking to turn the classroom into direct engagement with the natural world.  Anyone who knows Sarah would attest to her fierce love for the natural world and her desire to share the healing power of the wild with others.  The school allowed Sarah to fulfill her passion to heal others through nature, though she was also acutely aware that nature was not accessible to certain populations.  To make nature more accessible for those living in closed-cared facilities became her mission. Thus, The Nature Connection, then known as Animals as Intermediaries was born.

Sarah’s daughter, Rebecca, lovingly documents the early years of the organization’s life, in her book “Bring Me the Ocean.”  The form of this collection of stories echoes the way programs have been delivered since the start: beginning with the season. Each section of the book, commencing in fall and continuing on from winter, spring, to its end in summer, consists of true accounts of people transformed by their encounters with nature regardless of their abilities, circumstance or socioeconomic status. 

The Journey Continues:

Sarah and her team have drawn affectionate support from friends and community members alike who have related to and been inspired by their mission to bring nature’s healing and teachings to all.  Once an ambitious dream, our mission, to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities through the therapeutic use of nature is being actualized across Middlesex County, providing the community with over 15,000 connections to nature since its beginnings.

Some important dates in the life of The Nature Connection:

1995 – Bring Me the Ocean is Published

The founder’s daughter, Rebecca’s book is published this year.  Bring Me the Ocean is a collection of stories that chronicles the work of the organization and the people whose lives were transformed as a result.  Each story beautifully articulates the healing capacity of nature and the message continues to permeate our work today.

2008 – The year we changed our name
 Between 1983 and 2008, The Nature Connection was previously known as Animals As Intermediaries.  We still regard animals in this way and they are just as important to our work now as then –   Though in 2008, we felt it was equally important to recognize the essential role plants and natural materials play in healing, as well.

2019 – A -10-year Cummings Foundation Sustaining Grant

A $200,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation was a huge achievement for the organization this year.  One major goal was to double the number of program sites – the grant has helped to accomplish this and more.

The Story Endures:

 The Nature Connection believes in the restorative power of nature.  We also believe in the transformative power of stories.  The current staff are embarking on a journey that they hope you’ll go on with them – imagined up by Board member, Nancy Stillman, they’re calling it 40 stories for 40 years.  Each week, starting late-March they’ll be releasing a story – and each story will be a piece of The Nature Connection’s legacy – one of growth and healing.  The stories will be from past and current staff members, board members, interns, volunteers, donors, supporters, participants, old and new friends, and a special one from Sarah, the founder herself.  The hope is that these stories will act as a bridge from the past to the present.  A bridge to connect thread to thread so we can see how our lives are woven together.  We want to make sure that even the smallest acts of kindness and courage are remembered, no matter how far in the past they may be.

40 Stories for 40 Years