Creating in Nature, a creative treasure hunt by Reframing Creativity and Creato

Within the first round of interviews in this project, we noticed that many creators commented on having found a valuable connection to nature amid the pandemic, suggesting that Covid-19 had influenced creators’ motivations and opportunities to engage with outdoor activities.

Keeping these findings in mind, and hoping to provide more communal safe spaces for creativity, we developed Creating in nature - Treasure hunt in collaboration with Creato, a community driven organization, born in the middle of the pandemic and based in Toronto, dedicated to connecting and supporting artists and creatives who identify as Latinx in Canada.

At the beginning of the event, each participant was given a specially designed treasure hunt guide with things they could look out for while walking in the park, such as animals, figures in the clouds, something they didn’t expect to see, or something that made noise. We walked together, paying attention to the details and being fully present in the moment.

After arriving at our destination within the park, we distributed some art supplies for everyone to share. We invited the group to go back to their responses and use them as inspiration to create something. We explained that it didn’t have to be literally related to the things they wrote down — it could be related to, for example, how they were feeling or an idea they had while walking.

Opportunities for serendipity or spontaneous encounters that can spark new relationships or ideas in a casual and unscheduled setting are precious in these current times. Creating in Nature was meant to be an inclusive space that invited people to step into a creative activity while also enjoying some much needed time outside. We had lots of fun and are looking forward to doing it again!