June Reflections on Stardust

Stardust 2026

By Jarrod Davis, NextGen Council Chairperson

The wicked weather of this summer in our region—five heatwaves (and counting), monumental downpours, blustery winds, and the haze enveloping our skies drifting from the north—have shown the incredible might that nature possesses in shaping our daily lives and our landscapes.

But I want to turn back to an evening where the Natural Lands community showed its might in responding to the urgency of our conservation imperative. Nature served up optimal conditions: a pleasant and dry evening which has become a rarity at our annual gathering. Natural Lands staff, vendors, and volunteers worked hard in the planning, lead-up, and execution of the event from all angles, including all due sacrifices and pleads to Mother Nature for good weather.

As Chair of the Natural Lands NextGen Council, I had the distinct honor of co-hosting Stardust this year with members of the Haas family— who donated Stoneleigh to Natural Lands to be conserved in perpetuity— and the NextGen Council past chairs Jason and Leah Morganroth. It was an incredible evening with more highlights than this blog post can name, but one that will always be memorable.

This year at Stoneleigh was particularly special as we mark the closing of the Oakwell addition, the culmination of incredible dedication and work to add 10 acres to Stoneleigh, bringing the total from 42 to 52 acres. I look forward to witnessing and being part of Natural Lands’ reunification of the Oakwell and Stoneleigh landscapes. With their history shaped by influential landscape architects the Olmsted Brothers, the opportunity to join the two properties for the first time in nearly a century will be no small task, but one Natural Lands will certainly meet.

The night is always replete with great food, drink, and conversation. I particularly enjoyed seeing everyone’s silhouettes and nature tattoos. The highlight of the night for me was the roving cannoli station!

I always end the night the same, no matter whether at Stoneleigh or Bryn Coed: by viewing the stars through the telescopes on hand. Living in the city, I don’t get the opportunity to see stars very much, much less through powerful equipment at the direction of skilled guides. I always learn something new through conversations at Stardust—about preserves I haven’t yet crossed off my list, new event series in the NatLands ecosystem, and birds. I’ve learned a lot about birds!

I couldn’t help but notice the crowd at Stardust trends younger and younger each year; my goal is for the event to look increasingly more like the region that we call home from a demographic perspective. Roughly 15 percent of Stardust tickets were held by members and guests in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, which is a serious increase over years ago. The major questions we ask ourselves in NextGen are:

1. Who are we reaching? Where are they coming from and how can we get young people excited about and involved in conservation?
2. Who aren’t we reaching? Where can we intentionally connect with new and younger audiences?

Engaging the next generation in conservation means supporting impactful events, getting the word out about Natural Lands to new audiences in new places, and forging partnerships to support the organization’s goals. Our subcommittees work closely with Natural Lands staff to advance the organization’s Strategic Plan and show up for Natural Lands whether on the preserves for our “& Connect” series of events, around the region at various farmers’ markets and festivals to spread the word about Natural Lands, or working with other groups ranging from art galleries to environmental education groups to even Longwood Gardens. I couldn’t be prouder of this dedicated group of individuals, and I look forward to continuing to grow NextGen Council and its reach throughout the Natural Lands community and our region.