About this Event
As we continue our NEA Big Read series "On Nature," we invite you to join us IN nature for a reflective walk in Robinson Woods Preserve.
As we walk together, nature writer Brandon Keim will share conversation and reflections from both Daniel Mason's North Woods and his own nature writing, which ranges from the (New York Times) to (psyche). Perhaps we'll ponder wildflowers and the daydreams of honeybees.
You do not need to have read North Woods to attend. Water bottles and comfortable shoes are recommended.
Monday, May 18, at 5:30 PM, approximately 75 minutes, and 3+ miles. Free to the public. Please register in advance.
PARKING, TRANSPORTATION & WAYFINDING
We will meet at the entrance to Robinson Woods Preserve. There is a small parking lot and overflow parking available on Lawson Street. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in carpooling.
The group will gather by the stone pillars at the entrance to the path. Learn more here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brandon Keim is a freelance journalist specializing in science, nature, and animals. His latest book, Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than-Human World, is about animal personhood — knowing them as thinking, feeling beings — and our relationships to wild animals and to nature.
His first book, The Eye of the Sandpiper, was published in 2017. He's written three issue-length treatments for National Geographic: Inside Animal Minds, Secrets of Animal Communication, and The Genius of Dogs. His work has appeared in publications including the New York Times, The Atlantic, WIRED, and Nautilus, where he is presently a contributing editor.
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
This series is a partnership of Momentum Conservation and Mechanics' Hall, with this walk supported by Cape Elizabeth Land Trust.
Momentum Conservation is a field-building organization that encourages bold systems change, leans into new ways of thinking, and centers relationships. Our core strategies are to strengthen through grantmaking, support through capacity building, and connect through convening, and we work with organizations and individuals committed to making lasting change. Momentum is based in Portland and operates in a state-wide capacity.
The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust permanently conserves and stewards cherished lands – from shorelands to marshes, from farmlands to woodlands – for ecological benefit and for the enjoyment and education of all people.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Mechanics' Hall was selected to be part of the NEA Big Read. From October 2025 to July 2026. We will work with community partners to present a wide range of public programs inspired by Daniel Mason’s novel North Woods.
Events are centered on the theme "On Nature" and will focus on nature, resilience, and human connection. These activities highlight how Maine’s history of conservation and public land stewardship shows how our physical environment can foster hope, courage, and a sense of belonging, encouraging meaningful dialogue about nature’s role in strengthening community bonds.
NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit
El proyecto NEA Big Read es una iniciativa del National Endowment for the Arts (el Fondo Nacional para las Artes de Estados Unidos) en cooperación con Arts Midwest.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Robinson Woods Preserve, 1088 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth, United States
USD 0.00
