Aldo Leopold, one of the most important conservationists, ecologists, and nature writers of the 20th century, stated his “land ethic” in his seminal book A Sand County Almanac this way: “All ethics so far evolved rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts. . . . The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land. . . . [A] land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it.”
This Circle of Trust® retreat, following the Courage & Renewal® approach founded and developed by Parker Palmer, will take place at the birthplace and childhood homes of Aldo Leopold in Burlington, Iowa. The homes and grounds, nestled on five acres on a beautiful bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, as well as the neighboring bluffs, ravines, and river edges, were the settings of Aldo’s earliest discoveries in nature and profoundly influenced his views on conservation and ecology, the development of his land ethic, and his understanding of how the natural world inspires the human spirit. We will be inspired by gathering in Leopold’s home space as well as by visiting a natural area where Aldo and family tramped in the woods and ravines of their Burlington community. Throughout our time together, we will also learn about and be inspired by Aldo’s childhood, the deeply humanistic education he received from his family growing up, and the origins of the land ethic in this foundational landscape.
But, as Leopold said, “Nothing so important as an ethic is ever ‘written.’ . . . It [evolves] in the minds of a thinking community. . . . The evolution of a land ethic is an intellectual as well as emotional process.” This retreat will form a weekend-long thinking community. We will work together to discern ways to continue evolving the land ethic, both as a society and as individuals. In true Courage & Renewal fashion, we will explore how we can develop our personal integrity through relational trust with our fellow retreatants, and how we can align our soul and role—our authentic self and our actions in society—from the perspective of the land ethic and by trusting wildness.
Although it is not required, we strongly encourage you to read Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There (Oxford University Press, 1949) before the retreat if you have not, or revisit it if you have.
We are grateful for the generous support of the State Historical Society of Iowa, Inc., which has helped to defray some of the cost of this retreat.
Co-facilitating with Courage & Renewal facilitator Thomas Dean is Steve Brower.
Steve grew up in the Leopold neighborhood in Burlington, Iowa, and discovered the same landscapes that Aldo tramped during his boyhood 60 years earlier. As an instructor in landscape architecture at Iowa State University, he brought students to Burlington to visit with Aldo’s siblings Marie and Frederic and to learn about the Leopold legacy. Steve went on to work for the Iowa DNR and the US Forest Service before returning to Burlington as a consultant in landscape design and architectural history. His later work with the National Park Service in western states helped focus his study on the human response to nature. He speaks frequently on the subjects of nature, design, and Leopold.
In addition to our regular Courage & Renewal sessions throughout the retreat, we will also include some special programming. These include a tour of the grounds and homes, a presentation on Aldo Leopold’s childhood and its influence on the founding and development of the land ethic, and a screening of the award-winning documentary Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time.
Saturday afternoon will be spent at a natural area in Burlington where the Leopold family “tramped.” Be prepared for time spent outdoors if you are able and choose to join us on this part of the retreat. Burlington’s average temperatures in mid-September are highs in the mid- to upper 70s and lows in the mid-50s.
We will likely also visit a couple of other Leopold sites on Saturday afternoon, including the Leopold family graves (including Aldo’s) and the Aldo Leopold Intermediate School Outdoor Prairie Classroom.
Saturday evening dinner will be at a restaurant in Burlington (not included in meals in registration fee).
The Leopold “compound” sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Aldo Leopold was born in his grandparents’ house (the Starkers) at 101 Clay St. A second house was built on the property to accommodate the growing family, which is the home Aldo grew up in as a child. The Starker-Leopold values evident at the family compound give us a direct connection with the beginnings of the new conservation era Leopold helped develop in the early 20th century. The Leopold grounds and neighboring bluffs, ravines, and river edges were the settings of Aldo’s earliest discoveries in nature. The grandparents and parents helped stimulate the children’s imagination by connecting the humanities to nature, using art, music, literature, gardening, and practical agriculture as ways to help understand their environment.
Lodging:
A limited number of bedrooms in the two Leopold homes are available for lodging. They do involve some bathroom sharing (six bathrooms for ten bedrooms). WiFi is available in the homes. Please note that all bedrooms are on the second or third floor, and there are no elevators in the homes. Cost of lodging in the homes is a donation to the Leopold Landscape Alliance; the suggested amount is what you would pay for a hotel/motel. These rooms will be available on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to stay in one of the historic Leopold homes, contact Steve Brower at [email protected].
You also have the option to camp on the grounds (bring your own tent and equipment). A rest room with shower will be available on the first floor of the Starker-Leopold House. Contact Steve Brower at [email protected] for more information. Burlington’s average temperatures in mid-September are highs in the mid- to upper 70s and lows in the mid-50s.
Several chain motels/hotels are within five miles of the Leopold homes, as well as a few bed and breakfasts a bit closer in.
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