The Power of Nature Inside

At The Nature Connection, we often say we “bring the outside in.” But what does that really mean?

It means a circle of elders in a memory care unit, gently holding acorns and maple leaves as the smell of pine fills the room. It means a young person in a therapeutic school running their fingers along the rough bark of a birch log. It means the soft weight of a rabbit in someone’s lap, or the unexpected stillness that comes when a snake coils gently around an arm.

It means nature—real, tangible, sensory nature—brought into spaces where people might not be able to go outside, or where a walk in the woods isn’t possible.

In New England, the seasons come with extremes. Winter brings snow and freezing temperatures. Summer can bring heat waves and high humidity. For many of the people we serve—elders, people with disabilities, individuals in care facilities—those conditions can make outdoor access unsafe or impossible. So we go to them.

We carry the forest into rooms, wheelchairs, activity spaces, and school gyms. We bring water, soil, feathers, stones, and seasonal treasures. We make it possible to smell the rain on leaves, hear the rustle of dried grasses, and notice the small beauty of snail shells and moss. Our trained staff and volunteers create experiences that are immersive, calming, and attuned to the needs of each individual.

But “bringing the outside in” also means more than just physical objects. It’s about bringing the qualities of nature—slowness, curiosity, wonder—into places that are often structured around routines and limitations. It’s about creating space for someone to notice, to explore, to connect.
Nature is not just a setting—it’s a relationship. And when people are given the opportunity to interact with natural elements, even indoors, something powerful happens. They reconnect. With themselves. With memories. With the present moment.

We’ve been doing this for 40 years. Quietly, consistently, through every season. Whether it's a rainy Tuesday in January or a sunny morning in June, we show up—with our baskets, our stories, our animals—and we invite people to experience the world in a new (or long-forgotten) way.
Nature doesn’t have to be far away. Sometimes, it just needs an open door.

To learn more about The Nature Connection or support our work in bringing nature to those who need it most, visit www.nature-connection.org. Our nature center in West Concord, MA is open Saturdays from 12:00 to 4:00—we’d love to show you how we bring the outside in.