Reconnecting Through Sound: Weaving Nature and Communities Together

As people spend increasing amounts of time indoors and online, communities are becoming disconnected from the natural world—particularly from the rich and meaningful sonic environments that surround them. This workshop explores how soundscape recordings and place-based composition can serve as powerful tools to reconnect individuals and communities with nature. Drawing on our work capturing soundscapes in remote locations such as Isle Royale National Park, we will share examples of how natural sound can be used to foster environmental awareness, emotional insight, and community engagement.

Participants will experience immersive listening sessions, learn techniques for capturing and integrating natural sound into creative projects, and explore how mindful listening can influence personal and collective well-being. We will also discuss how these approaches can be adapted for use in education, public programming, and interdisciplinary collaboration.