04/22/2026
I have been privileged to spend a lot of time outdoors in beautiful natural lands for much of my life. As a child, we vacationed in the northwoods of Wisconsin annually. I remember a heaviness in my chest the last night of our vacation each year as I went around and ‘said goodbye’ to the woods & lake, the loons & the eagles, the smells of conifers & the northern air.
As a young adult, I moved on to a small parcel of wooded land on Wildcat Creek surrounded by tallgrass prairie. Unfamiliar with the prairie, I was not sure what to think of it at first. Over time & after countless hours of walks & talks, silence & stillness the prairie, ponds & creek became a place I turned to for unconditional welcome, care, and grounding.
Besides the tangible resources that our earth provides us, the mystery of the natural world can quite literally transform us.

I am inspired to continue growing in giving back to that which gives so generously to me — and to continue dedicating my life to protecting and sharing it.
May you experience the gifts of the natural world today on Earth Day, and every day.
~ Rebecca Katzenmeier
Founder, Prairiewood Preserve
