EXPERIENCE NATURE DIFFERENTLY

From dense cities to remote wilderness, nature is all around us.
Through sharing my stories of navigating nature and vision loss,
I aspire to bring representation of disability into the outdoors and foster the narrative that embracing our differences strengthens community and resilience.

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About

There is more to nature than the eye can see.

I believe time in nature nurtures our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being—but too many people still face barriers, both visible and invisible, that prevent them from experiencing its power and beauty.

Through The Blind Naturalist, I aim to elevate the voices of people with disabilities in the outdoors and share practical guidance to help communities and organizations become more inclusive.

About Shannon's Mission

Featured photo:
Shannon and her guide dog Frasier walk towards the camera on a boardwalk through a forest. Shannon wears a flannel shirt and Frasier wears his harness and a bandana.

a background showing a man sitting on the bench with his dog, looking out to the lake few in front of him. behind him is a walking path

Features

What I do

Authentic Storytelling

I tell authentic stories through writing, public speaking, and workshops, about navigating nature with vision loss, highlighting the emotional and sensory richness of the outdoors beyond sight.

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Cultivate Collaboration

I collaborate with individuals, nonprofits, and outdoor organizations committed to disability justice, inclusive design, and creating accessible nature experiences.

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Guide

Change

I guide organizations in building more inclusive and accessible programs through consulting, training sessions, and community-centered planning rooted in lived experience.

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Projects

FEATURED STORIES

An image of a marsh amongst the forest. There is a creek reflecting the light of the sky to the left, and tall grass and vegetation to the right. Behind the marsh vegetation is trees. In the lower right corner of the image is text that reads “Life’s a Muddy Trail” in a white, handwritten font.

Life’s a Muddy Trail

It’s what we’ve all heard before. The unpredictability of life. How plans aren’t guaranteed. Trails are like that too.

An image overlooking the forests and rolling Black Hills. Wildfire smoke covers the distant hills on a sunny day. Black text says A Day in South Dakota in handwritten font.

A Day in South Dakota

What comes to mind when you think of South Dakota? For me, it was endless farmland, Mount Rushmore, and the ...

Trees on the left shade the closest portion of a grassy trail. A bluff and leafless trees are to the right of the trail. The rest of the trail shines in the sun, as it extends farther from the camera. White text in the lower left corner reads When Familiar Routes Become Foreign in handwritten font.

When Familiar Routes Become Foreign

Walks, whether to the bus stop, down a nature trail, or through my neighborhood, have taught me how to adapt. With vision loss, even the most familiar places and routes can lose familiarity.

A group of diverse hikers with backpacks and trekking poles stand along a mountain lake shoreline, facing the water and distant forested hills

Not sure where to start? I can help.
Reach out to get the conversation started and let's join together to create a more inclusive future

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EXPERIENCE NATURE DIFFERENTLY

There is more to nature than the eye can see.