Written by Jessie Crow Mermel | December 2025
Greetings friends of The Confluence,
As we transition into a new year, I find myself pausing in gratitude for the extraordinary nature and community that make Nature At The Confluence such a special place. The story of this land—first stewarded as a Ho-Chunk village, later scarred as an industrial dumping ground, and now experiencing a renaissance as people come together for its healing and care—offers profound hope as we look toward the future. The natural world is always in transition, moving in cycles that remind us of resilience, renewal, and possibility.
As we enter 2026, I am honored to serve as the new president of the board for Nature At The Confluence. In the year ahead, we look forward to deepening our stewardship, expanding our programming, and welcoming even more people into this growing community of care. It is a privilege to serve this land and all those who are committed to the wellbeing of this place.
If you are feeling like you need inspiration and renewal as we close out a globally challenging year, I invite you to take a First Day Hike out at The Confluence on New Year’s Day. Offer the land and water some of your quiet attention. Pause for a moment to reflect on all the gifts the land gives us, and envision all the beauty that is yet to come as we welcome in the cycles of a new year.
Wishing you all a peaceful transition to the new year.
– Jessie
Snow covered prairie
