Witten by Lisa Browning
One of the most uplifting parts of my work involves collaborations with like-minded individuals and organizations … people who are passionate about wellness and creativity, and have a love for animals and nature.
One such collaboration, which began last November, is with Focus on Nature, a registered charity operating in Southern Ontario that inspires young people to explore and connect with nature through photography. As stated on their website, they “envision a world where our connections to nature create a healthy, flourishing planet,” and they “see a critical role for the arts in fostering these connections.”
One of my annual projects is the production of The Benjamin Project’s fundraising calendar, and for 2026 I approached Focus on Nature to see if they’d be interested in providing 12 photographs of animals in nature for that calendar. Executive Director Alexandria Benitez was on board right away. Her only caveat: “You will have a lot — and I mean a LOT — of amazing photos to choose from! You’re going to have quite the hard time selecting!” Having seen some of the photos, I know without a doubt that this is true! I am excited, though, about the collaboration. Net proceeds from the calendars will be split between Focus on Nature, and the ongoing work of The Benjamin Project … a win-win situation! Calendars will be printed in the fall, but can be pre-ordered now from the One Thousand Trees online bookstore. (Not that you want to hear about Christmas in the midst of summer … but they would make a wonderful Christmas gift!)
Working on the calendars spawned a couple of other Focus on Nature projects:
- A book of flower poems, featuring student photography, in which nine poets were invited to choose (blindly) one of the submitted photographs, then write a poem in response. The result is absolutely beautiful. As one participating poet said, “Pairing poetry with photography in a book is a great way to bring two different talents together!”
- Blank journals, featuring student photography. Seven different photographs were submitted, to produce coil-bound journals in which you can write or draw as the inspiration strikes you!
Both of these items are also available through the One Thousand Trees online bookstore.
In preparation for this article, I asked Alexandria a few questions about her involvement with Focus on Nature. Following are those questions, and her responses:
1. How did you first get involved in Focus on Nature?
Alexandria: I first got involved when a friend of mine was talking about this incredible charity that’s all about photography and student workshops. As a teacher, this was a very interesting thing to be a part of! I’ve always been interested in photography myself and I could never seem to get the right angle or the right composition. I thought that maybe I could learn more about photography if I joined this charity, and I have!
2. What do you enjoy the most about your work with the organization?
Alexandria: I really love meeting new people and seeing their excitement and amazement when I tell them student photographers produce all the photos on our website. Of course, the pictures themselves are absolutely stunning! I’m lucky to look at them every day.
3. What do you think is the most inspirational and/or life-changing message the students involved in Focus on Nature receive as a result of their involvement in your programs?
Alexandria: I’ve been told by one of our workshop leaders that at least one student at every workshop tells her that they want to be a photographer when they grow up. One student feedback had to say this about our program: “[Focus on Nature’s workshop] gives us an opportunity to pay attention to the wildlife around us and view the world around us from a new point of view.” As someone who grew up in the Boy Scouts and stays connected to nature in my adult life, this brings me such joy and comfort knowing that we’re inspiring the next generation to care about the wildlife, the environment, and the natural world around them. It’s hard to remember to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature, but this feedback from the kids themselves makes it all worthwhile.
4. What creative endeavours are you involved in? How has your involvement with Focus on Nature expanded/enriched those experiences?
Alexandria: I’ve always been busy crocheting in my free time. When I joined Focus on Nature, I became interested in learning how to crochet different types of flowers to make “everlasting” bouquets of flowers for my dining table!
5. Any events/projects coming up that you’d like to highlight?
Alexandria: This Thursday – June 26th – We will be at Music on the River at Port Credit! We will be at the Community Picnic Day in Waterloo on July 1, and also at the Waterloo Day of Play on August 9th. Keep your fingers crossed for our attendance at the Burlington Art Walk on August 23rd! Be sure to check our socials for the update on all events.
