by Heidi Ricks, FamilyMeans Dementia Program Coordinator
FamilyMeans and Belwin Conservancy have brought nature to people living with dementia since early 2021. Lynette Anderson, Belwin Interpretive Naturalist, and Heidi Ricks, the FamilyMeans Dementia Program Coordinator, collaborate on nature programming that brings people living with dementia into the outdoors. Participants share stories and memories of past experiences in nature, engage in hands-on learning, and connect across generations together on the beautiful lands of Belwin Conservancy.
The connection between FamilyMeans and Belwin started on the computer, not in the forest as you may expect. During the time of pandemic isolation, Heidi was looking for dynamic ways that people living with early-stage dementia could connect with nature. A phone call sparked a conversation with Lynette, and virtual nature walks and talks emerged. Heidi filmed Lynette walking and talking through the Belwin woods, across frozen ponds and into the prairie — explaining the plants, nests, pawprints, and beaver lodges along the way. Lynette came online to share in real time and answer questions from our group. Nature in a new mode.
The next step was to bring a group from the FamilyMeans Community Connection program to Belwin to enjoy the ponds, walk the accessible trails, view bison and watch the turtles in real life. Community Connection is a FamilyMeans group that gives people living with early-stage dementia ways to engage in their communities, provides social connection, and helps to break stigmas of what people with dementia can do. People who have just received a dementia diagnosis, or are in the early stages, tend to isolate themselves and stop doing things they have enjoyed in the past. We have witnessed how nature can calm, excite, and connect them again with memories and new experiences.
Since then, July has become Nature Memories month! There are three weekly sessions of programming for people with early-stage dementia, combining nature investigation, artistic creation and social time. The Nature Memories Open House takes place at the end of July. People living with any level of dementia from the community — along with their families and friends — come for nature walks, art activities, music, and connection to nature. This free open house event has grown over four years, and we welcome more community members to participate. We hope that guests return to Belwin for other nature events. And we want to spread the word that FamilyMeans Caregiving & Aging is a local resource that provides support for people with dementia and their families.
Nature Memories Community Connection July session requires registration, so please contact Heidi Ricks at 651-789-4017 with any questions. The 2026 Nature Memories Open House is free and does not require registration, July 29, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Look for more information at belwin.org/events or familymeans.org
