Pepperwood is a non-profit organization, and our mission is to inspire conservation through science. Located in the heart of Sonoma County— a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot— Pepperwood manages a 3,200-acre biological preserve and the Dwight Center for Conservation Science. An important refuge for more than 900 species of native plants and wildlife, the preserve serves as a living laboratory hosting researchers from around the world. The Dwight Center has become a hub for ecological education and a conservation think tank.

For more than a decade Pepperwood has worked to connect children, youth, and adults with nature. The purpose of the Inspiring Connections with Nature Initiative is to connect people to nature and inspire a lifelong conservation ethic through exploration, observation, science, and artistic expression. It will build upon current programming that includes our Students Conducting Environmental Inquiry (SCENIQ) program for elementary school children, TeenNat for youth ages 8-18, summer youth institutes, family-oriented outdoor experiences, and a host of community education classes and retreats. New and expanded activities through 2025 will include: partnerships with visual arts organizations to host art installations and gallery shows at Pepperwood; a new performing arts series on the preserve; new opportunities for filmmakers, photographers, and other visual artists to engage with the land; new outreach to local Latinx audiences; and potential partnerships with digital media experts to virtually amplify our programming.

This timely initiative will encourage children, youth, and adults of diverse backgrounds to actively engage with the outdoors, learn about the natural world, and be inspired to protect nature and live sustainably.