heART connections
Welcome to HeART Connections at Yakona, where creativity and nature seamlessly intertwine to inspire and transform. Our program invites you to explore the intersection of art and the natural world through a range of creative workshops, guided field trips, and engaging events. Embark on a journey of artistic expression, connection, and personal discovery, all set in the heart of our native coastal fog belt forest.
HeART Connections in our Community
At Yakona, we partner with local artists to offer unique classes that blend creativity with the natural world. These workshops invite participants to explore nature’s beauty and wisdom through artistic expression. Whether it's nature illustration, photography, plant wisdom, or other artistic mediums, our classes provide opportunities for individuals of all ages and skill levels to foster a deep connection to both the environment and the creative process, allowing all to co-create with nature in meaningful ways.
Our events are made possible thanks to the generous support of the H. A. Templeton Foundation and other dedicated funders who share our commitment to education, arts, and humanities. As a result, all classes at Yakona are offered completely free of charge, ensuring that financial barriers do not limit anyone's ability to experience the transformative power of art. We are thrilled to foster a space where local talent and community members can come together to learn, create, and be inspired.
See our Events page for upcoming offerings.
HeART Connections in Education
Yakona’s Creating Connections program offers K-12 and postsecondary students the opportunity to learn through STEAM-based activities in nature. In collaboration with school districts, community colleges, and local organizations, we connect curricular objectives to the Sitka spruce mixed forest ecosystem. This program not only aims to restore native forests but also educates students about climate change. By integrating science, math, reading, history, and the arts, we provide educators with the training and resources to implement place-based curricula. We emphasize engaging with traditionally marginalized communities, ensuring that all participants are empowered in their education.
In collaboration with the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, the program ties visual arts to environmental science, honing student observation skills and nature documentation through nature journals. Together, we offer multiple teacher trainings, in-class presentations by Yakona and OCCA, and field trips to Yakona and OCCA. At the heart of these activities is the creation of nature journals, which students use before, during, and after their field trips to Yakona, enriching their connection to both nature and learning.
