Happy Dancing Blog

Some folks simply aren't built for winter outdoors and that's perfectly fine. Others can't fathom being cooped up indoors for months and that's fine too. What counts is discovering a way to make winter feel healthy and fulfilling rather than merely survivable.

Winter sometimes comes and goes within the blink of an eye, which is unusual for an area that usually spends months covered in snow with freezing temperatures. It is so interesting to go outside and see how nature has taken to this weather-wackiness, and wonder what is to come. 

Each year, I eagerly anticipate the days growing shorter, the hush that falls over the land as the trees lose their leaves, the animals going quiet, and the first frosty white flakes falling from the sky. Winter is by far my favorite season.

As winter settles in, many of us find ourselves spending more time indoors. Shorter days and colder temperatures can make it harder to get outside, but that doesn’t mean we have to lose our connection to nature. In fact, even small doses of nature, brought indoors or found close to home offer meaningful benefits for our minds. Studies continue to show that interacting with nature, even in small ways, supports emotional resilience  throughout the winter months. Research shows

This interview with The Forager Chef is a preview of his keynote, "The Grocery Store Outside."

Welcome to winter! It’s the middle of January, and we are in the Upper Midwest. Temperatures are hovering around freezing and most days we don’t see much sunshine. When we ask “What should we do?” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Probably not “go outside”!

It's the perfect moment to pause and reconsider our constant companionship with screens. Those endless notifications and quick scrolls can quietly steal away from the warmth of real conversations and shared laughs, leaving us feeling more scattered than serene. Intentionally setting aside our devices, creating digital distance, can help us rediscover the simple joy of being fully present.

2018 was designated the Year of the Bird by the National Audubon Society, so Birds of a Feather seemed like a natural theme for this year’s Eco Camp. With August now upon us, we have just one camp left. Our first three camps were a huge success and so much fun was had by all! There are favorite activities that we do every year with each group.

Three of our four 2017 Freshwater Friends Eco Camps are in the books. Our campers have ventured on field trips, eaten straight from the garden, and learned a bit about our environment.