Trailside Transformation: Finding Creativity in Nature to Inspire Changemakers

Take a deep breath and close your eyes.

Imagine you’re nestled underneath towering pines, cedars, or maybe on the edge of a flowering meadow.

You can feel the breeze tickle across your face and take in the whoosh. You open your eyes and scan the beautiful horizon to eventually look down at a blank canvas in front of you.

How does that make you feel?

What inspires you?

This is the spark. The transformation that occurs when creativity meets the natural world. In these spaces, the mind quiets, the senses awaken, and we open ourselves to exploration and creating boldly.

I discovered this at a young age, painting in my front yard capturing a formidable maple tree with my feet planted softly in the grass. This memory lives with me, rediscovered over a decade later in wilder and wider places beyond the backyard. I sought out peaks, summits, rivers, and canyons - bringing paint tubes and palette knives along for the journey.

Experiences of awe in nature can expand our sense of time, increase generosity, and promote well-being (Anderson et al., 2018). Powerful outcomes that align closely with my time in the outdoors, paintbrush in hand. Noticing golden aspen leaves fluttering in the wind as my fan brush fluttered along the canvas reignited something in me, this time on a much grander scale. I wanted to share this awesome experience with others. There was so much untapped joy discovered along those trailside painting sessions - joy that could change perspective and spark courage in all of us beyond the canvas.

Abstract Adventures bloomed from this. Partnering with a local community organization to kick things off, our hike & paint experiences launched near Denver in the summer of 2023. Since then, we’ve welcomed participants of all backgrounds, skill levels, and walks of life. Again and again, I’ve witnessed a beautiful kind of transformation: people reconnecting to their creativity, to each other, and to the Earth.

Find a friend in nature and your creativity

The healing power of nature is well documented

It’s even been shown that intentional, immersive experiences in nature - specifically walking and grounding - provide an even stronger range of mental, physical, and social health benefits (Mygind et al. , 2019). From reduced stress and anxiety to improved cognitive function and emotional regulation, nature is an intangible medicine. Many cultures understand nature not just as a backdrop, but as a living partner in our wellbeing.

Whether we’re strolling through a neighborhood park or trekking to a remote ridge, our relationship with the natural world strengthens when we take the time to notice. We can learn from the intrinsic experiences offered and take those lessons with us every day.

When we pair this intrinsic connection with creativity, the impact becomes even stronger. Art and creativity also have their own bounty of evidence for better wellbeing: creative expression supports our mental health, increases self-efficacy, and offers a way to process emotions beyond words (Jean-Berluche, 2024). Enjoying the freedom of painting under the pines can combine and multiply these benefits to spark insight and reflection that we might not be able to discover otherwise.

Letting go and creating without expectations is key

Following creative flow is something that can be applied throughout our lives, and breaking down barriers on the canvas can give us the courage to think boldly and outside the box in our daily lives. Mindful outdoor spaces where we can express ourselves (whether with painting or other mediums), empower us to tap into fun and meaningful connections with ourselves, others, and the environment surrounding us in an entirely new way.

So, what does this have to do with climate action?

Creativity in nature helps folks appreciate their ecosystems and environment from a unique perspective. They take time to notice the light filtering through the branches, hear the knocking of a nearby woodpecker, and truly immerse themselves in the magic of the Earth in an entirely new way.

Richardson et al. (2021) found that nature connectedness (especially when noticing nature) can contribute to pro-environmental behaviors and higher levels of wellbeing. This sense of connectedness encourages people to think more deeply about sustainability and the long-term health of the ecosystems they enjoy. This particularly can benefit the long-term wellbeing of those working on Loss and Damage, also providing an immersive tool for community and stakeholder engagement.

Last fall, we hosted a San Diego hike & paint where one participant shared how they have lived there for 20 years, but hadn’t reflected on the beauty of their environment in awhile. This seaside painting experience reinvigorated their appreciation for a place they’ve long called home. That is powerful in the long run; tying people to their places can inspire them to learn more about those places, their systems, and what impacts them - including climate change. Nature simply exists, but when we take the time to truly connect with its wonder our commitment to protecting it only deepens.

But awe and appreciation must also sit alongside awareness. Beauty doesn’t erase the very real impacts of loss and damage that communities face as the climate crisis intensifies. During our hike & paint at Palomar Mountain, participants’ phones buzzed with a new wildfire alert shortly after hitting the trail. Thankfully we weren’t anywhere near the path of danger, but this is the reality of the climate crisis and the loss it can impart without warning. As we gazed out at the summit, it was impossible to notice the beauty of the Peninsular and Laguna Mountains without also acknowledging the heavy haze that nestled into valleys from several other wildfires, some blazing hundreds of miles away.

In moments like these, creativity becomes more than just an expression; it can be a tool to tap into unconventional ideas in the face of challenges. Creating in nature doesn’t just inspire connection to place and pro-environmental behaviors, it also might be a key to help unlock bold thinking. The kind of innovative energy that could reinvent ideas in the climate space and for those tackling loss and damage. Joy and resilience can coexist, and solutions don’t only live in documents and strategies. They can also be uncovered through the inspiration of trailside breakthroughs or in the reflection of watercolor sunsets.

Ideas for Exploration

You don’t need to be an avid artist or hiking pro to tap into this. Try it out for yourself:

• Walk and notice: Take a stroll or settle in a natural spot near you. Notice how the light and shadows bounce across the clouds and sunlight sparkles between the branches. Slow down, way more than you think you need to, and just sit with these observations.

• Amplify this with a notebook and pen (or maybe even some watercolor pencils): Color walks have risen in popularity recently. Start your journey with a color in mind and notice when you see it. Find your way to a peaceful spot and capture the objects and environment in your notebook. Let the observations flow, whatever that may look like.

• Lose the “masterpiece” expectation: We empower and encourage folks that join our hike & paints to let go of expectations. They are given the tools and guidance to tap into their inner artist, and we just provide the structure for their creative flow. Once it’s tapped into, the rest of the creation is in their hands.

• Introductory hike & paint: Start simple. Grab a primary paint kit from your local art supply store, a paintbrush or two, and a water container along with an old magazine to mix colors on. Pack it up along with your favorite outdoor staples and visit a park, trail, or square that inspires you (remember to leave no trace). Let yourself experience the joy of painting outdoors!

Ideas for Impact

Many are working to build a future where all people, ecosystems, and living beings can thrive together on our shared planet. The Loss & Damage Collaboration (LD&C) is the world’s only global network fully dedicated to turning Loss and Damage finance into a transformative tool that can create this kind of future. If you're inspired to join their impact, here are a few ways to start:

• Learn more about Loss and Damage and what it is

• Subscribe to the L&DC newsletter and follow them on social to stay informed on the latest updates

• If you’re a climate champion working for a better future, consider becoming an L&DC member

• And lastly, remember to support creatives in your community that are bringing climate conversations and storytelling to the forefront

To those unsung heros working in climate, justice, and Loss and Damage (or any field where burnout feels inevitable) this is a reminder that joy is not separate from your work. While it doesn’t always feel like a top priority when the weight of your tireless efforts have serious implications, joy and creativity can also be a part of the work. Creating in nature is a joyful avenue that gives us pause, reminding us of nature’s wonder and our own. From that place we can rest, reflect and return renewed with more clarity, more courage, and more hope for our collective future.

Visit a trail. Pick up a brush. Reimagine what’s possible.

‍Learn more about Abstract Adventures hike & paint experiences here.