The Ripple Effect Course: Unlocking Our Power to Protect Nature

Wednesdays, April 22, April 29, May 6, May 13, May 20, 4 – 6 PM

Registration Requirements: Preregistration required.

Recommended Audience: This program is designed for adult nature lovers who want to protect nature.

Program Description: You love nature and are already doing what you can to protect it with things like recycling, planting native species, and purchasing sustainable products. But you may wonder how much of a difference one person can really make. Through five in-person sessions and self-guided online resources like podcasts, videos, and articles, we’ll pool collective knowledge, grow our optimism, and explore which actions have the greatest potential to protect nature.

Cincinnati Nature Center promotes Conservation Civics, a relationship-based approach to protect our environment and conserve our natural resources. Using this approach, we’ll discuss how to have conversations about conservation that foster understanding rather than polarization. By the end of the program, you’ll create goals tailored to your unique skills and interests. Join us as we learn together, grow our impact, and make a real difference for the natural world. The journey begins on Earth Day 2026!

Praise for The Ripple Effect course:

“I have acquired new skills in which to find common ground with others who do not share my views on the environment. I am also more informed about national and local environmental organizations who have the knowledge and expertise to help me “move the needle forward.”

“I entered this course with the intent to expand my knowledge of environmental issues and where I might help make a difference. I wanted to find my niche. I leave this course feeling more empowered. I feel more confident in my ability to speak on behalf of the environment to others without being preachy. I have more tools. This course has exceeded my expectations!”

“I learned a lot more about how change can happen through my own interactions and actions.”

“It gave me more tools and confidence to continue trying to make connections and changes in my community and to know that I do have a voice that matters. I also was reminded that we all need to work together as a whole to solve problems and I am not alone. It was very empowering!”

About the Instructor: Connie O’Connor, Director of Applied Learning at Cincinnati Nature Center, has been helping people understand, celebrate, and protect nature for over 30 years. Her hallmark Ripple Effect course, five years in the making, offers an interactive learning experience that inspires connection, optimism, and action for nature.

What to Expect: There will be about an hour of reading or watching course materials at home each week, followed by five two-hour sessions in person at Rowe Woods.

You will need access to a computer or tablet to take this course.
This program is completely indoors and runs rain or shine.
Accessibility:  We do our best to make our programs accessible to everyone when possible. If you have an accessibility question or need, please feel free to reach out to our front desk staff at (513) 831-1711.
Where to Meet: Registered participants will meet in the Pine Room inside the Visitor Center at our Rowe Woods location. (4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, OH 45150)

Cost: $125 member; $135 nonmember.