Gary Sharlow is an experienced educator and mindfulness teacher with a deep commitment to fostering meaningful connections between people and the natural world. With over two decades of experience in environmental education and mindfulness, Gary specializes in guiding individuals toward a greater sense of presence and well-being through nature-based mindfulness practices. Gary’s work integrates a profound understanding of the natural world with mindfulness training, enabling him to create unique experiences that nurture awareness and connection. His background includes comprehensive training in mindfulness teaching and facilitation, with a particular focus on incorporating the natural environment as a supportive space for meditation and reflection.

During his tenure at the California Academy of Science in San Francisco, Gary developed impactful programs that bridged environmental education and community engagement including an annual international nature photography competition that is recognized as one of the most prestigious competitions of any genre anywhere in the world. This project also seeded a popular online magazine that features the work of these photographers and their subjects, while also raising awareness of the research conducted by the Academy’s robust research division. These included innovative citizen science initiatives and educational programs designed to inspire curiosity and conservation action. He also managed public programs that celebrated the intersection of science and the arts, fostering a deeper appreciation of biodiversity and ecological systems. One such project led the Academy to purchase iNaturalist, a very popular photography-based citizen science app that provides research-quality data to scientists and governments around the world.

Gary’s career also includes work with the National Park Service at Point Reyes National Seashore, where he conducted ecological studies on Tule elk herds, contributing to wildlife conservation efforts and expanding his knowledge of ecosystem dynamics.

Now based in northern New Mexico, Gary continues to teach mindfulness and environmental education, drawing on his rich professional background to inspire others to find peace, clarity, and connection in nature. His offerings include workshops, classes, and retreats designed to support individuals in cultivating mindfulness and well-being through their relationship with the natural world. In addition to leading programs through Nature Meditations, Gary directs programs for Awake in the Wild, where he is also part of a teaching sangha (community) dedicated to teaching people about nature-based mindfulness practices.

Spending time, without all our modern-day distractions, immersed in the natural world with a quiet and attentive mindset can lead one to recognize their deep sense of connection to nature and their place in the world. Nature provides the opportunity to step away from it all and quiet the mind. When we are truly present with our thoughts, insights about our lives will rise up and become clear. It’s our job to pay attention, learn and respond to what is revealed to us through contemplative practices.

When we stop to contemplate our place in the world, we come to realize that all aspects of life on Earth are connected. When we drink water, we drink clouds, rain, rivers, and oceans. When we eat a meal, we take in the sun, soil, and fruits of the Earth. When one stops to contemplate the elements of their own body, they will come to recognize they are made of this Earth and all of its wonderful elements. All beings on Earth are of the Earth. We are all connected by the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land that provides us with the basic necessities of life.

Nature Meditations strives to help people appreciate the inner and outer landscapes of our lives. When practicing mindfulness meditation in nature, we have an opportunity to quiet our inner landscape and develop a deep appreciation for the causes and conditions that have contributed to making each one of us who we are in this moment. When nature serves as our teacher, we can develop a profound appreciation for nature itself. Our programs are designed to help you develop an appreciation for your own inner experiences as well as your connection to the natural world all around you.

We protect that which we love. The IUCN developed a campaign years ago based on the concept of communicating love, not loss. Social psychology research showed that talking about extinction, crisis, and climate destruction was a losing battle for trying to motivate people to act. The research showed that the single greatest motivator to action on behalf of the natural world is awe. When we feel a deep sense of awe and wonder, we are motivated to act – to protect that which we love. By focusing our efforts on developing a love of nature, we have the greatest opportunity to be stewards of the natural world. At Nature Meditations, we are focused on mindfulness and art as a way to develop a deep sense of awe and wonder for the natural world and our place in the web of life.