Something Wild: Nature Programming and Libraries

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This workshop explores how libraries and community organizations can foster meaningful connections with nature through accessible, locally driven programs. From guided walks and birdwatching to gatherings for plant enthusiasts, participants will learn how outdoor experiences can support wellness, build community, and inspire curiosity about the natural world. Whether you're in an urban, suburban, or rural setting, this session offers adaptable ideas to help you bring nature-based engagement to your own community.

Set against the scenic backdrop of Sharon Woods Park, this event will include hands-on outdoor activities designed to inspire and reconnect participants with the natural world.

Erik Brueggemann - Erik is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist and almost an OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer. He is the chair of the Pleasant Ridge Community Council Parks Committee and runs monthly volunteer events around the neighborhood and in nearby Cincinnati Parks focused on gardening with native plants and woodland restoration. He works at the Pleasant Ridge Branch of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library.

Erik partners with Cincinnati Park Advisory Councils and Community Councils to co-host CHPL's Nature in Our Neighborhood. Each month the program meets at one of the Cincinnati Parks near the Pleasant Ridge Branch and focuses on a unique quality of nature while also discussing plants, insects, animals, and anything else they come across!

Lea Shull – Lea has worked in customer service at the Downtown Main Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library for over 25 years and, like many others, found her passion for bringing the library outdoors in 2020. She founded the CHPL Bird Nerds in 2022. Lea uses her love of nature, science & local history to connect her library community to the abundance of nature in Cincinnati’s urban core and to emphasize the importance of preserving Cincinnati’s green spaces.

Lea hosts Mindful Birdwatching at Cincinnati’s Civic Garden Center. What is Mindful Birdwatching? It’s birdwatching quietly, intentionally, and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you. She introduces participants to a meditative approach to enjoying birds & nature while underscoring the growing research supporting the health benefits of spending time outdoors.

Katie Burnside – Katie joined the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Library staff in 2013, beginning at the Norwood Branch and transferring to the Clifton Branch in 2021. Prior to the library, Katie worked on several farms, where she developed her love for the outdoors and the special relationships forged while being with others in nature. She draws on this experience and enthusiasm for nature to develop and support community-based programming at the library.

Katie co-hosts a monthly Plant Club, a group that brings together plant enthusiasts from all backgrounds to explore the world of plants while connecting with each other. She has also worked with library staff and the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Cincinnati to develop a weekly program "Wellbeing Walks” in Burnet Woods.

Food:

Light breakfast and coffee will be provided
Lunch will be on your own

Parking:

Free parking is available on-site

Cost:

Early Bird Registration (until August 31st)

$30 for Supporting Members
$45 for Geographic Members
$65 for Individual Members

Registration (after August 31st)

$45 for Supporting Members
$60 for Geographic Members
$80 for Individual Members

To register for an event, you will be asked to log in. If you are not yet a member of SWON, you can create a free account. If you have any questions, contact info@swonlibraries.org.

Something Wild: Nature Programming and Libraries

Thursday Sep 25 2025, 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sharon Centre Auditorium
11450 Lebanon Rd,
Sharonville, Ohio
United States
45241

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