“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”
― Henry David Thoreau
Learn about the life and work of Henry David Thoreau still inspire and resonate with people today in a preview of Ken Burns' "Thoreau", a new documentary on WUCF PBS.
What is the WUCF Guide to Thoreau?
Overview
WUCF brings the ideas of Henry David Thoreau to Central Florida with an online guide designed to help you slow down and reconnect. Explore local nature, try simple activities, and find small ways to live more intentionally each day.
Who was Henry David Thoreau?
Henry David Thoreau
July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862
Henry David Thoreau helped define modern environmentalism and nonviolent resistance, yet his life has often been obscured by myth. The author of Walden and Civil Disobedience, he was brilliant but flawed, idealistic but deeply opinionated. A writer, scientist, and activist, his words resonate urgently with today’s challenges as humanity searches for ways to live in harmony with nature and each other. His life and legacy are now the focus of a new documentary by Ken Burns.
Join Us at Mead Garden
Film Screening and Conversation on April 16
Join WUCF at Mead Botanical Garden for a screening of Ken Burns' Henry David Thoreau in one of Central Florida’s most beautiful gardens.
The program will include selected clips from the film followed by a community conversation exploring Thoreau’s enduring ideas about nature, attention, and living deliberately.
Local voices will help guide the discussion, connecting Thoreau’s reflections from places like Walden Pond to the landscapes we experience here in Central Florida. Together, we will explore how our region’s wetlands, springs, and native habitats invite us to slow down, pay attention, and consider our relationship with the natural world.
- When: Thursday, April 16 | 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Where: Mead Botanical Garden | 300 S Denning Dr, Winter Park, FL
- Cost: Free - Join us for refreshments and conversation.
Where to Live Deliberately
Central Florida Nature Guide
Discover places across Central Florida where you can slow down and spend time outside. The WUCF staff handpicked quiet gardens and local trails that offer simple ways to step outside and see your surroundings differently. Using the Google Map below, you can select a spot near you.
Thinking Like Thoreau
Thoughtful Exercises
Put Thoreau’s ideas into action with easy, thoughtful exercises you can try anytime. From weekly prompts to quick resets, these small moments are designed to help you notice more and live with intention.
Water Watch
Observe a local pond, stream, or spring. What animals or plants do you notice interacting with the water? How does it change over a few days?
Sky Study
Spend 10 minutes watching the sky at the same time each day. Note the movement of clouds, the color changes, or any birds flying overhead.
Footpath Favorites
Walk a familiar trail or sidewalk slowly. What details do you notice that usually go unseen: shapes of leaves, bark textures, or small critters?
Sounds of the Wild
Sit quietly in a natural spot for 5–10 minutes. Try to identify three different sounds: birds, insects, wind, or water. Which is easiest to notice, which is easiest to miss?
Pollinator Patrol
Watch flowers in your yard, garden, or a local park. How many different pollinators (bees, butterflies, or hummingbirds) do you see visiting in 15 minutes?
Texture Hunt
Touch natural surfaces safely: tree bark, leaves, sand, or moss. How do they feel? Are some rough, smooth, wet, or dry?
One Thing I Noticed Today
Your Observations
What do we miss when we’re moving too fast? This collection brings together everyday sights in Central Florida that reveal more when we take the time to look.
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Send Us Your Observations
Thoreau believed attention was a form of living deliberately. Have an image to share? Send us an email at WUCFCommunications@wucf.org or tag "WUCF TV" on Facebook, Instagram, or X.
Family Guidebook
Hands-On Activities
Bring these ideas home with activities designed for kids and caregivers to explore together. These hands-on prompts encourage curiosity, creativity, and a deeper connection to the world just outside your door.
Celebrate Earth Month
Celebrate all things earth with this playlist of videos tackling subjects like climate change, animals, farming, and conservation from the experts at PBS.
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