Some reflections on the August 17 Nature in the Arts program at Meadowbrook Nature preserve, from Melissa Washburn, Volunteer Naturalist with Shirley Heinze and Program Manager at Art Barn School of Art, and Cara Schmitt, Education Director at Chesterton Art Center
From Melissa
On Saturday, August 17 I had the pleasure of being a part of Shirley Heinze Land Trust’s fourth year of the Nature in the Arts program at Meadowbrook Nature Preserve. While I volunteer as a naturalist with Shirley Heinze, as Program Manager at Art Barn School of Art in Valparaiso I get to help bring arts programming to SHLT’s fantastic series of outdoor programs. I love it when my passion for the arts and my passion for nature overlap!
The purpose of Nature in the Arts is to connect people to the natural spaces that Shirley Heinze stewards through hands-on art projects. This year’s theme was “Weaving Through Waterways”, and Chesterton Art Center and Art Barn were there interpreting the theme as an assortment of weaving projects for all ages. We provided some educational materials on a few of the freshwater aquatic animals that can be found in the preserve, emphasizing their connections to the entire web of life as well as the importance of clean waterways to their survival.
For visitors who came for the family art activities, it was hard not to pick up a couple of nature facts (wood frogs have markings that look like a mask! Some caddisfly larvae build little tube homes 
out of sticks and rocks!) For those who came because they are already enthusiastic about the outdoors, they may have found some joy in fiber art and looked into learning more through Art Barn or Chesterton Art Center. A better habitat for one creature supports a better habitat for an entire ecosystem, and this, when taken metaphorically, is absolutely true about the arts as well!
Sharing the incredible things happening all around us in the biodiveristy of Northwest Indiana is one of my greatest joys as a naturalist, and a big inspiration for me as an artist. Human/socialconnections are made at this event as well, as people gather with friends, meet new people on hikes, and bond with their kids over making something to take home. Chesterton Art Center’s stand-upweaving loom was a way for visitors to experience materials such as fabric and yarn in a collaborative way—each visitor adding their own piece to the tapestry as it grew throughout the day. Creativity was on display from one young participant, who decided to figure out how to make a salamander rather than the turtle project demonstrated by Art Barn.
It was wonderful to see people of all ages out to enjoy the day – despite some mid-day showers – exploring the preserve and making something with their hands, and it is my hope that this series of events grows in awareness and popularity each year.
From Cara
While the Chesterton Art Center has had the opportunity to be involved in the Shirley Heinze Nature in the Arts program since it began, this was my first personal experience. I was blown away. What an amazing medley of art 
and nature. The Plein Air Painters, the guided hikes, the art making, even the rain… all the elements of the day worked together in harmony to provide a wonderfully memorable experience.
My day at Meadowbrook began with the warm welcome of a friendly frog sitting upon a folding chair. The frog kept a watchful eye as we set up. Eventually, for the safety of the frog, we 
relocated it to a nearby bush using a cardboard loom, which struck me as a literal meeting of nature and art.
The highlight of the day was meeting and observing the participants; lots of families, but also a surprising number of groups of adult friends in search of a pleasant morning. Many people remarked they had never tried weaving before or shared a story of a past weaving project. Fresh off their hikes, they gathered their supplies, took a seat at a local picnic table and spent hours taking in the fresh air, creating and chatting with those around them. The inspiration was tangible. It was lovely to see.
I was told afterwards that this particular event saw the highest attendance rate of any Nature in the Arts event to date. And its no wonder why the program is growing—the benefits of time in nature as well as the creative state are well documented; the Nature in the Arts Series connects those worlds and makes it accessible to the public. I look forward to being a part of more events like this in the future.
From both of us, thank you to Shirley Heinze and everyone who came out for the program for a wonderful day of cultivating creativity, connection, and a sense of wonder and responsibility for our environment.