We are connected to nature. Each day we stand on this earth, nurtured by the light of the sun, refreshed by clean water and breathing fresh air. Yet for some reason, our current culture seems to have forgotten to acknowledge this connection to a large degree, therefore creating a disconnection that has imbalanced the entire ecosystem.
The Vilda Foundation is dedicated to rebuilding the awareness that creates a deep, meaningful connection to the natural world. We believe the way to do that is by actually spending time outdoors, with our hands in the dirt and feet on the ground, planting trees, clearing brush, finding frogs in a creek, making a meal out of wild plants, learning how to turn a piece of wood into an instrument or creating natural dyes with berries.
The Vilda Foundation:
- provides hands-on place-based nature education to children, adults and educators
- creates initiatives that enhance the health and accessibility of our public lands
- engages in areas of healthy community building, sustainability, and regenerative living
- serves as a connection point and resource for local nature educators
What’s in A Name?
Our founder, Mia, grew up sailing in the Finnish archipelago with her family. Each summer they would leave the mainland for a few months and head off to the sea, leaving the usual comforts of showers, televisions and reliable refrigeration behind. Her brothers, parents and her would spend week after week in a fairly small space together visiting islands inhabited by friendly fishermen, seabirds and small saunas (talk about teambuilding). Once on the islands, the kids would spend entire days exploring coves and forests, catching fish, swimming and inventing games and toys made out of natural found objects. It was a truly timeless experience each summer, where the cares of the modern world hardly existed, and things like weather and wind became much more important.
Mia truly appreciates now how important this time in nature was to her life, how much it taught her and how much it is a foundation for her. The boat her family sailed on was named “Vildanden” which translates into wild duck. Vilda came from that. It’s the little boat, out in the elements setting its course on a lighthouse. The Vilda foundation creates opportunities for journeys in nature that can become guiding lights on our path through life’s changes.