On the Docket: ‘Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World’ with Richard Louv at Islandwood Thursday August 13

Kevin Dwyer | Posted on August 10, 2026 |

Internationally acclaimed author and journalist Richard Louv, whose work has transformed the way millions of people think about the relationship between humans and the natural world, will be the keynote presenter at a special program Thursday August 13, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Islandwood. He will be joined in conversation by Bainbridge Island resident Howard Frumkin, a physician, epidemiologist, environmental health leader, and Professor Emeritus of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Public Health.

Louv’s landmark bestseller, Last Child in the Woods, introduced the term “nature-deficit disorder” and helped spark a worldwide movement to reconnect children and families with nature.

His newest book, Noticing: Intimate Encounters With Nature, continues that exploration, inviting readers to cultivate a deeper sense of wonder and belonging through the simple practice of paying closer attention to the living world.

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Louv is co-founder and former chair of the Children & Nature Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting children, families, and communities with nature. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages and have influenced educators, pediatricians, policymakers, conservation organizations, and readers around the world.

His many honors include the Audubon Medal, the National Audubon Society’s highest honor, recognizing extraordinary contributions to conservation and environmental leadership.

Thursday’s event at IslandWood is in partnership with Eagle Harbor Book Company, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and Kitsap Regional Libraries. “Gathering at IslandWood, where meaningful experiences in nature inspire lifelong learning and deeper connections to the natural world,” say event backers, “provides a fitting setting for a conversation about paying closer attention to the living world around us. We’re grateful to partner with our local independent bookstore to place copies of Noticing: Intimate Encounters With Nature directly into readers’ hands and celebrate the release of Richard’s newest book with our community.”

In Noticing: Intimate Encounters With Nature, Louv turns to a quieter question than his previous landmark best seller: What happens when we slow down and truly pay attention to the natural world? Drawing from time spent exploring the mountains near his home, conversations with scientists and naturalists, and his own photography, Louv reflects on the everyday practice of noticing. Whether following animal tracks through fresh snow, experiencing the restorative effects of forests, or simply observing the life just beyond our own doorsteps, he reminds us that a deeper relationship with nature begins by paying attention.

Joined by Frumkin, whose work has long explored the connections between nature and human health, the conversation will consider how cultivating awareness of the natural world can enrich our lives, strengthen our communities, and deepen our understanding of our place within nature.

“Rich is one of the most provocative writers on the human nature connection, why we should value it and deepen it,” says Frumkin. “He blends careful scientific reporting with an almost spiritual dimension in his writing.” For his part, Frumkin is engaged in conducting a nationwide inventory of “the state of nature” in the United States, “the benefits nature provides,” examining it from a number of different perspectives including economics, social behavior and, of course, our health.

“There’s an impressive amount of evidence,” Frumkin says, “that suggests that being outside and in nature is good for us.”

Thursday’s event at Islandwood is a ticketed, book-bundled one, according to organizers.
There are separate Companion Tickets (NO BOOK) sold separately for other members of your household or party who do not wish to purchase the book bundled.
Each ticket includes admission for one person and one hardcover copy of Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
A book signing will follow the presentation in the Islandwood Welcome Center with Richard Louv.
Free parking is available on site. All event spaces, including the Great Hall and signing area, are ADA accessible.
Please note that only service animals are permitted on campus.