I am a Thoreau Society member since 1996 from Gothenburg, Sweden. I have enjoyed the sterling publications of the Society, which come automatically with membership, ever since then: the quarterly Thoreau Society Bulletin, and the annual Concord Saunterer. The Society includes a wide range of enthusiasts, scholars, activists and literature lovers. This is also reflected in its publications, which are eclectic in the best sense. A good bunch of Thoreau Society members congregate each summer for the Annual Gathering in Concord, Massachusetts, which offers a plethora of interesting talks, discussions, happenings and guided excursions into local Thoreau country. I started coming to the AG only in 2016, but have not missed one since, despite the long journey. The Thoreau Society is friendly, dedicated, active, and especially valuable in our time of widespread environmental crisis and social strife. It speaks a word for nature, for wildness, for nurturing responsibility and simplicity in our lives.
I am a 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Language Arts teacher, who has been a member of the Thoreau Society for 5 years. During this time, the Thoreau Society has been invaluable to me as a teacher, who uses Thoreau extensively in my writing classes. The Society has provided me with an abundance of information on this American author that I share with my students. Because of the Thoreau Society and their support of me as a teacher, I have witnessed my students' writing develop in many ways emulating THoreau. Their critical thinking and awareness of social justice has also grown. The Society is readily availab=le to answer any questions and share its wealth of knowledge. Also, the Society is accepting of anyone who has an interest in Thoreau. Even though I am just a junior high teacher, I have been welcomed and priileged to share my work with younger children at the annual Gatherings. I am deeply indebted to the Thoreau Society for their fostering of Henry David Thoreau's legacy and their encouragement to others who wish to learn about this great American figure.
I've been a member of the Thoreau Society for over 20 years. If you want a way to connect with people from all walks of life who share a passion and love for the ideas of not only Thoreau, but anyone who knows the value of the preservation of nature, this is it. The annual gathering is a finely-run institution in Concord, with lots of talks, events, walks, and other opportunities to connect with people -- from all over the world!
I joined the Thoreau Society in 2015, the year before my book “Thoreau’s Wildflowers” was published. I had been to Concord many times before, but attending the Annual Gathering for the first time was a revelation. Since then I’ve attended every year. I’ve heard talks by people who know all there is to know about Thoreau as a philosopher, surveyor, naturalist, geologist, activist, and much more, and I’ve visited Walden Pond, Great Meadows, and the Estabrook Woods with people who know them intimately, and know what they meant to Thoreau. Through the Thoreau Society I’ve chaired panels, visited Sweden (Iceland soon!) and made new friends. The Thoreau Society makes an invaluable contribution to environmental, philosophical, and literary awareness.