We’re inviting you to host a reading, either for a class or general public, in early March to introduce young adults to environmental stewardship through the lens of A Sand County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold. Through a grant from the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the Arkansas Audubon Society (AAS) will support community public readings on the weekend of March 7 & 8, 2026. AAS is partnering with the Arkansas Environmental Education Association and other groups like the Arkansas Master Naturalists and Sierra Club and Central Arkansas Library Association to hold readings in all sorts of places at that time to introduce people to Aldo Leopold. The Foundation encourages reading other authors as well, along with excerpts from Leopold.
Aldo Leopold was one of the founders of the modern-day environmental movement. He introduced the idea of the “land ethic,” calling for an ethical, caring relationship between people and nature. It expands the definition of “community” to include not only humans, but all of Earth as well–animals, plants, waters, and soils–“the land.” He set out this ethic in the essays in A Sand County Almanac, but the book is more than that. It’s also beautiful writing about nature and ecology. For more information, see this link to the Foundation’s Learning Hub: https://www.aldoleopold.org/teach-and-learn/learning-hub.
If you will commit to holding a reading, with your class, school club, or community group, we can make available a packet by the end of November containing suggestions specific excerpts of A Sand County Almanac, suggestions for additional readings and/or activities (like a nature walk), and discussion questions. Books will follow.
AEEA is planning a session on Leopold, his land ethic, and A Sand County Almanac at the AEEA annual conference on March 6 & 7, 2026.
If you’re interested in holding a reading with students, please contact us.
Here’s the program from a previous event in Madison, Wisconsin. https://arboretum.wisc.edu/learn/adult-education/madison-reads-leopold/