A story by Director of Education Connie O'Connor. An excerpt of this article is also featured in the September 2, 2026 e-newsletter, Now in Nature.

Serving on a government advisory committee, submitting an insightful public comment to the EPA, writing unique and impactful letters to one’s public officials, helping a candidate run for local office are all examples of what Cincinnati Nature Center calls “Conservation Civics.”

Citizens can have influence when they work within the social, political, and economic structures of their communities to protect local natural resources. Toward this end, our nature center is leading the way with programs that give participants the knowledge, skills, and motivation to connect with local decision makers, neighbors, businesses, and community institutions. We believe this relationship-based approach empowers citizens to build bridges in divided times, healing both our environment and our communities.

For many people, national politics feels like a spectator sport.

But here in our own communities, politics looks different. Local elections are, at least for now, non-partisan. Decisions impacting our environment are made in local zoning, trustee, or council meetings run by our neighbors, and where residents can have more influence than they realize. Issues like hyperscale data centers draw democrats, republicans, and independents to the same side, seeking agreements and guidelines that benefit communities, not corporations. And landowners ultimately get to decide who should buy their land, if there should be a conservation or agricultural easement on it, or how it should be developed. Local discussions and local influence are essential to greener communities.

The key to successful civic engagement is understanding how systems work.

This September, October, and November, join us for our next Neighbors in the Know session, where we partner with the Clermont Chamber of Commerce and a variety of local experts to become better informed.