BIG News! We’re now NatureConnect Central Oregon

A letter from our Executive Director…

We’re excited to share that our organization is now called NatureConnect Central Oregon! Over the past decade, we’ve grown and changed, and our new name better reflects the essence of who we are and what we do. It represents the many ways people connect with nature and highlights our collaborative work with other organizations. We aimed for a name and logo that are inclusive, engaging, and fun, and we think we’ve achieved that.

While we loved the Children’s Forest name, it brought a lot of confusion with it.  Understandably, many thought it referred to a specific place or program. In reality, we’re a network of groups working to promote equity and inclusion in the outdoors. Our new name, NatureConnect represents a broader and more inclusive idea of connecting with nature, which we hope will resonate with more people.

We worked with a local graphic designer, Phillip Mitchell to design the logo.  The imagery of the butterfly almost landing on the hand is something that brings instant joy to so many, kids and adults included.  I love that butterflies can be found everywhere – in backyards, parks, and up in the mountains, and yet they still feel so magical.  We also knew that we wanted to include the human element in the logo, and I love that the hand reaching out captures a sense of wonder, but also feels caring.  Our mission is so centered on connecting with the land, knowing that these connections lead to care and stewardship.  Finally, butterflies also symbolize change, aligning with our belief in nature’s transformational power.

The rebranding process took almost a year and was quite challenging, but we’re thrilled to reach this milestone. You can now find us online at natureconnectco.org, and our email addresses will end in @natureconnectco.org (though old emails will still work). We hope you can join us to celebrate at Discover Nature Festival – now called NatureConnect Fest – on Saturday, September 28th at Alpenglow Park!

-Katie Chipko, Executive Director