Thought summer reading was just for kids? Not this summer!
We’ve put together a list of our staff’s favorite nature reads to inspire your curiosity, sense of adventure, and connection to the outdoors all summer long. Happy reading!
A Natural History of the Senses
Author: Diane Ackerman
“Spending time outside encourages me to use my senses and fully expand their capabilities as much as I possibly can. This offering from Dr. Ackerman helps me to open my awareness and understanding. (In fact, I recommend all of her books!)” —Jen Anderson
How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature
Author: Scott D. Sampson
“One of the things I love most about summer is the unstructured time available for kids to learn, play, explore, and grow. But sometimes as a parent, it can be a bit daunting to fill all of those hours meaningfully. This book, written by a paleontologist you might recognize from Dinosaur Train on PBS KIDS, gives parents and caregivers practical tips on how to foster a lifelong love of nature in their children while disconnecting from the digital world. We invite you to try these tips out on your next family visit to Shaver’s Creek . . . and also to keep an eye on our summer camp sign-ups next year when you need a little extra help from our educators!” —Anna George
The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet
Author: Leah Thomas
“This foundational book is a broad look at how the planet is harmed by the same systems that oppress marginalized people and communities. These insights will open your eyes to the ways that environmental action can (and must) go hand-in-hand with social justice to create a better world for all of us.” —Dom Feola
Tough Broad
Author: Caroline Paul
“For this book, author Caroline Paul spent time getting to know everyday adventurous women who are loving and finding outdoor hobbies later in life. Her charismatic writing offers an uplifting and inspiring perspective on aging and womanhood, with adventures ranging from boogie-boarding to wing-walking to bird-watching.” —Alexa Sarussi
The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, & Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History
Author: Thor Hanson
“A well-written nonfiction book about seeds and the many facets that you’ve probably never considered. Prepare to be enraptured as you discover how seeds defend themselves, travel to new places, and shape history.” —Mike Toolan
An Immense World
Author: Ed Yong
“This nonfiction book explores the vast diversity of sensory perception among different species, revealing the “hidden worlds” of scent, light, heat, and electromagnetism that are invisible to humans but part of everyday life for other creatures. There is a section about how pit vipers, like Franklin, sense heat to navigate the world, and another on how many birds, like Violet the kestrel, can see into the UV spectrum of light. As the book puts it, ‘Every kind of animal, including humans, is enclosed within its own unique sensory bubble, perceiving but a tiny sliver of our immense world.'” —Mary Krupa