January 2024 IPWA Reading Group Update by Cynthia Girand
"When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
– Aldo Leopold (A Sand County Almanac, 1949)
On January 25th 2024, the IPWA reading group met for the first time in Boulder, Colorado and shared our thoughts and insights on Aldo Leopold’s book "A Sand County Almanac".
We could relate to Leopold’s desire for a direct experience of the land—carefully observing the plants and animals, their relationships with each other through the seasons, and having a sense of the intrinsic value of the land. We shared stories of our own wilderness experiences, both near (our backyards) and far (Indian Peaks Wilderness and beyond), and reflected on what the wilderness of past generations may have been like.
Leopold poetically describes interdependence among life forms, mourns the loss of species, and reflects on the impact of humans on the land.
Ultimately, he calls us to ponder our place in the wilderness and adopt a land ethic that goes beyond economics, achievement, and self-interest. This ethic reflects an intertwining of care for humanity as well as all other parts of the Earth.
To learn more about Aldo Leopold and his work, visit: https://www.aldoleopold.org/about/aldo-leopold
You're invited to participate in the IPWA Reading Group! We'll delve into the topics of wilderness, preservation, and conservation through reading, contemplation, and discussion.
This group meets in-person in Boulder, Colorado every other month. The group is open to all (IPWA volunteers, supporters, and the public). We'll gain a deeper understanding of wilderness through fiction and non-fiction selections, including works by renowned authors such as Aldo Leopold, Wallace Stegner, Terry Tempest Williams, Timothy Egan, Edward Abbey, E.O. Wilson, and others.
Please consider joining us for an upcoming Reading Group gathering in Boulder, CO!
March 21, 2024 - The Big Burn by Timothy Egan, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Rayback Collective - RSVP here
May 16, 2024 - Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Rayback Collective - RSVP here
July 18, 2024 - On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moor, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Rayback Collective - RSVP here
These books are widely available at local libraries, bookstores (such as our local favorite, Boulder Bookstore), and online retailers.