On today’s Wild For Change podcast, we explore forest bathing with our guest, Jackie Kuang, Business Director at the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. I was recently introduced to forest bathing by a friend, and I found it to be a deeply impactful and authentic way to connect with nature and myself. Given how fast-paced our society is, we have forgotten how to slow down and reconnect with ourselves and with nature. When we slow down and reconnect with nature, we begin to remember who we are: a vital piece of nature. Through this remembering, we also realize that we are connected to all of nature and develop not only a sense of care for ourselves but also for all the other beings we share this planet with. It’s like a recalibration that gives us a deeper understanding of life.

I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did.

Website: http://www.wildforchange.com

Twitter: @WildForChange

Facebook: /wildforchange

Instagram: wildforchange

This past summer, I finally marked off a destination from my bucket list: the California Redwoods State and National Parks. Entering the parks was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had. I felt like I was going back to prehistoric times. Some of the Redwoods have been on Earth for thousands of years and knowing this while hiking among these giants felt inconceivable, yet at the same time, I felt so honored to be in their presence.

While visiting Jedidiah Redwood State and National Park, I met a volunteer at the Grove of the Titans who stands outside rain or shine to greet visitors. Once a month, he will undertake a 4-5 hour commute to volunteer for an entire week in Redwoods State and National Park. There is something to be said about this level of commitment to a forest. The Redwoods have a rich ecological history and have stood witness to man’s evolution. This is a very special place, which is why my guest today is Deborah Zierten, Senior Manager of Education and Interpretation of Save the Redwoods League.

In this podcast, we will learn how Save the Redwoods League supports the Redwood forest and explore the unique history of the Redwoods, their complex ecosystem, and how they help protect us from climate change. We will also discuss the current threats the Redwoods face and how we can help ensure their future.

Website: http://www.wildforchange.com

Twitter: @WildForChange

Facebook: /wildforchange

Instagram: wildforchange

On a new Wild For Change podcast, we will learn about the importance of outdoor nature-based learning with our guest, Teresa Weed, who is the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator from Illinois Early Childhood Outdoors.

We can learn so much from spending time in nature.

Being in nature encourages exploration and inspiration, sparks a sense of wonder and connection, and provides a space for reflection and a broader perspective on life. As we grow into adults, however, it seems that sense of wonder and exploration slips away from our lives. But, imagine being a child. Exploration, wonder and curiosity are already part of a child’s makeup. Letting a child be themselves in nature and learning outdoors can provide endless lessons and tools they can use throughout their lifetime.

Links to learn more:

Join the movement!

To access the national movement for outdoor preschool licensing, or to find collaborators in your region, check out Natural Start Alliance.

To get connected in Illinois, reach out to Illinois Early Childhood Outdoors IECO, or the Northern Illinois Nature Play Association NINPA.

Professional Development, etc.
For consultation to support outdoor early learning programs in Illinois contact Teresa Weed directly at forestplayschool@gmail.com.

Research Libraries:

Green Schoolyards America is a free online resource library and virtual community of practice designed to help schools and districts move their classes and programs outside across the country and around the world

Children and Nature Network curates the world’s largest collection of peer-reviewed literature about nature’s benefits for children.

Website: http://www.wildforchange.com

Twitter: @WildForChange

Facebook: /wildforchange

Instagram: wildforchange

WasteNot Composting

On this Wild For Change’s podcast, we’re speaking with Liam Donnelly, CEO of WasteNot, a zero-emissions composting collection service in the Chicagoland area. Composting is a crucial means of reducing food waste in our landfills, yet only 4.1% of food waste in the U.S. is composted annually. In this podcast, we will learn about WasteNot’s mission and how their service works. We will also investigate the fate of food in landfills versus compost bins, as well as the sustainability of composting for both our own needs and the planet.

To learn more about WasteNot’s composting services, go to https://www.wastenotcompost.com.

Website: http://www.wildforchange.com

Twitter: @WildForChange

Facebook: /wildforchange

Instagram: wildforchange

On a new Wild For Change podcast, we spoke with Kay McKeen, the Executive Director of SCARCE, an acronym which stands for School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education.

It is an award-winning environmental education non-profit that supports teachers, children, and the community in creating a brighter future for our planet and ourselves through engaging and accessible initiatives, workshops, events, in-person classes, e-learning, and volunteer opportunities. Though SCARCE is based in the Chicagoland area, its outreach programs go beyond state lines and extends into other countries. SCARCE’s work also includes collaborating with legislators to initiate laws that protect both people and the planet and helping businesses and organizations adopt green initiatives.

SCARCE provides simple yet effective resources for the community to help one another and the planet. To learn more about becoming more green at home, work, or in a school system, inquire about SCARCE’s resources, or get involved, go to www.scarce.org.

Website: http://www.wildforchange.com

Twitter: @WildForChange

Facebook: /wildforchange

Instagram: wildforchange

For those of you who are wondering what you can do right now to help nature, the answer lies in your own backyard, literally.

Our guest today is Dr. Doug Tallamy. He is an entomologist, ecologist, conservationist, and co-founder of Homegrown National Park. We’ll be discussing his book, Nature’s Best Hope, A New Approach to Conservation That Starts In Your Yard. I consider Nature’s Best Hope to be the way shower of how we collectively have the power to bring about a healthier planet for all.

We don’t have to wait for our leaders and conservationists to find solutions to get cleaner air and water, sequester carbon, and restore ecosystems and wildlife populations. We all have a part to play in reviving the planet, and we don’t have the luxury of time to wait for just a few people to take on the heavy load of fixing the problem we currently find ourselves in.

After all, as Marshall McLuhan stated, “There are no passengers on spaceship Earth, we are all crew.”

Dr. Tallamy explains that the key to a healthier future on Earth is restoring the long-lost ecosystems of the land we live on, and it all begins by planting native plants in our yards and gardens.

In this podcast, we dive into why native plants are crucial in restoring our ecosystems and wildlife populations, the importance of insects, and what this means for us and all life forms on Earth. The future of our planet is our responsibility, and it begins with restoring our relationship with nature.

Website: http://www.wildforchange.com

Twitter: @WildForChange

Facebook: /wildforchange

Instagram: wildforchange

On a new Wild For Change podcast, our guests are three remarkable women from the Hinsdale Humane Society in Illinois:

Lauren Osborne; Director of Operations

Erin Palumbo; Director of Development

Carla Wudi; Foster Program Manager

Hinsdale Humane Society is a private, nonprofit organization providing care and adoption services for displaced animals. It is a lifeline in the heart of the community for countless animals who need homes.

In 2023, 6.5 million animals arrived at shelters across the United States. Thankfully, we have animal shelters, like the Hinsdale Humane Society, to provide love and support for animals. However, collectively, we can play a pivotal role in reducing the number of animals entering the shelters.

In this podcast, we will explore why animals end up at the shelter, the shelter’s unique foster program, and the importance of microchipping and spaying or neutering our pets. We'll also hear about the incredible team at the shelter and the heartwarming story of Noah, a pit bull rescue who found his forever home through the heroic efforts of the Hinsdale Humane Society.

Website: http://www.wildforchange.com

Twitter: @WildForChange

Facebook: /wildforchange

Instagram: wildforchange

The Wild For Change podcast welcomes back Nicole Schmitt, Executive Director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance to discuss Alaska’s Wildlife Management.

In January, the Alaska Board of Game deliberated on a proposal, named Proposal 75, given by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, suggesting aerial gunning of black and brown bears and wolves via helicopters in central and southwest Alaska. In this podcast, we will discuss why this type of predator management is chosen, its effects on bears, wolves, and other wildlife, the role of AWA in this proposal, and the research that demonstrates this management strategy has failed previously.

Below are two petitions to help protect bears and wolves from being hunted:

Petition 1 is specifically to stop aerial slaughter of bears and wolves in central and southwest regions of Alaska by Zac Mills, Founder of The Wildlife Collective: Stop the Aerial Slaughter of Bears and Wolves By the Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Petition 2 was created by Nicole Rojas, Founder of Wild For Change to support a U.S. Federal bill called the ProTECT Act, H.R. 7840 that would ban trophy hunting of endangered or threatened species within the United States and ban the import of any such trophy into the United States: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Need Our Protection More Than Ever.

To learn more about Proposal 75, go to Alaska Wildlife Alliance.

Website: http://www.wildforchange.com

Twitter: @WildForChange

Facebook: /wildforchange

Instagram: wildforchange