Stories

Restoring Attention in an Age of Artificial Intelligence Nature and Mental Health → Nature and Neurodivergence I’ve written before about how Nature saved me. But lately, I’ve been wondering — can it also restructure  the way neurodivergent minds like mine work? As someone newly diagnosed with ADHD, I’ve come to see that Nature isn’t just my sanctuary — it’s my therapy. Last month, October is known as the ADHD Awareness Month, I find myself reflecting on what it really means t

The Wound Is Where the Light Enters “I said: what about my eyes? He said: Keep them on the road. I said: What about my passion? He said: Keep it burning. I said: What about my heart? He said: Tell me what you hold inside it? I said: Pain and sorrow. He said: Stay with it. The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”— Rumi Rumi's poem again recently, standing beneath the forest canopy, and it felt like the forest whispered it back to me. Working with the land—clearing,

As September draws to a close, we’ve heard stories and raised awareness for Deaf Awareness Month  and Suicide Prevention Month —themes that are never abstract for me, but deeply personal. Years ago, when exhaustion and suicidal thoughts pressed in, the forest became my sanctuary and led me to a renewed purpose for life- which was to become a guide.  Nature as Therapist—and Diversity Teaches Us Resilience In my own journey of trying to heal, the forest held me when I couldn’t

🍂 ReRooting in Rhythm — Fall at The Wild Cypress 🌿 After a long and meaningful pause, we’re writing with full hearts and renewed clarity. This past season, we took time to listen deeply —to our land, our bodies, and to the wisdom we received from Indigenous elders and communities across the country. We unplugged. We traveled. We grieved. We dreamed. We returned. And in the stillness of our Wildflowers Homestead, we remembered why we do this work. Now, we’re back—with roots

Why are nature retreats so powerful for your mental health? Because they offer what everyday life often can’t: a pause. A place to...

🌿 I’m thrilled to share that my story is featured in the newly released book, All Humans Outside: Stories of Belonging in Nature—an inspiring collection of voices from diverse communities redefining what it means to belong  outdoors. 🧏🏽‍♀️🌎✨ Published by MountaineersBooks, this anthology highlights real experiences of people who connect with nature in deeply personal and transformative ways. As a Deaf nature guide and storyteller, I’m honored to represent the Deaf and Dis

Hello, dear friends and supporters, The past few years has been an incredible adventure, filled with twists, turns, and profound growth. During those years, I lived the life of a tireless nomad, always on the move. But beneath the adventure, I felt a deeper longing: the desire to put down roots. Grind culture had me running on empty. Hustle culture? A slow poison to my nervous system. The endless news cycles, political noise, and doom scrolling left me feeling exhausted. So,

Dear Nature Enthusiasts, Friends, and Family of Healing Souls, Here's a heartwarming recap of our recent Solstice Nature Retreat! The...

Having Honest Conversations about Settler Colonialism, Healing, and the Wellness Industry I am a settler: What is Settler Colonialism?...

In celebration of Disability Awareness Month, we share a series of stories that portray what true access intimacy is and the lesson that...

Among the chaos of the modern world and feelings of self-doubt, Nature and indigenous teachings remind us that we all are connected by a...

There is an illusion that there are separate worlds: the Deaf and Hearing Worlds, the Civilized and Natural Worlds. While technology...

Written by Madison Traviss Illustrated by Sien Tran Translated in American Sign Language by Summer Crider New trails, new people, new...

Co-authored by Summer Crider, Hayley Broadway, and Jessica Ennis, with participation of DeafBlind co-navigators Kim Powers, Riss Leitzke,...

Written by Summer Crider and Madison Traviss Originally published on the blog of Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) Available in Spanish Two Nature & Forest Therapy guides living the bus life talk about how we can ask the land for permission and integrate reciprocity. We share ideas and examples of how it can be done, whether you are traveling through for work, vacation, and/or living life on the road. [ gif descriptions: A sunrise time-lapse of the Turtle S

More and more of us are becoming educated on the painful history of Thanksgiving and having conversations about cultural appropriation*...

Deaf people face unique challenges with getting full access to communication in their native language, and thus, have fewer opportunities...

Article written by Summer Crider and Meredith Burke StoryWeaving: Co-Navigating with Disabled Bodies: Part 1 In the beginning of my newly...

Summer and the Turtle Shuttle has been featured on Seek The World, an international Deaf news show. Watch Summer in true action whether...

Sharing a message from Basil Braveheart, Lakota Spiritual leader, that "we all are connected"