Cultural Events

Newtown Forest Association To Host Bestselling Author And Forester Ethan Tapper

Published: Nov 05, 2026 10:00 am

Newtown Forest Association (NFA) invites the community to An Evening with Ethan Tapper on Wednesday, November 11, at 7 pm, at Trinity Church, 36 Main Street.

A forester, ecologist, digital storyteller, and bestselling author, Tapper will share his eye-opening perspectives on the profound connection between people and the natural world, exploring what it means to care for forests and embrace people’s vital roles as stewards of the land.

Tapper is the author of How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World, which has earned widespread acclaim for its thoughtful exploration of forest ecology, stewardship, and the evolving relationship with nature. Published in 2024, the book received the 2025 New England Book Award for Nonfiction, bringing further recognition to Tapper’s work and message.

For more than a decade, Tapper has been a leading voice in ecosystem stewardship, earning numerous regional and national awards for his work. Through his writing, social media platforms, and hundreds of walks, talks, and keynote presentations across North America, he reaches millions of people each year with a message centered on relationship, responsibility, and hope.

Tapper brings a unique perspective to his work as both a storyteller and a practicing forester and ecologist. He lives and works at Bear Island, his 175-acre working forest, homestead, orchard, and sugar bush in Vermont, where he puts his stewardship philosophy into practice. His work invites readers and audiences to look beyond conventional ideas about conservation and consider how they can build meaningful, lasting relationships with the natural world.

The evening is especially fitting for Newtown Forest Association, founded in 1924, which is both Newtown’s largest private landowner and Connecticut’s oldest land trust. Today NFA stewards approximately 2,000 acres of open space, protecting forests, wildlife habitat, and the natural landscapes that make the community special.

Organizers say they are excited to welcome Tapper to Newtown for an evening they hope will inspire attendees to think more deeply about forests and the responsibility to care for them. Tapper’s work is a reminder that stewardship is about more than protecting land; it is about understanding connection to it and making thoughtful choices for the future.

The event is co-hosted by Little Fox Bookshop, a new independent bookstore in Southbury. Copies of Tapper’s books will be available for purchase at the event, offering attendees an opportunity to take home his insights and continue exploring the themes of forest stewardship and their connection to the natural world.

Tickets are $25 ($15 Newtown Forest Association members), and NFA can be contacted by phone at 203-270-3650, or e-mail at admin@newtownforestassociation.org.

Forester, ecologist, digital storyteller, and bestselling author Ethan Tapper will share his eye-opening perspectives on the profound connection between people and the natural world, exploring what it means to care for forests and embrace people’s vital roles as stewards of the land, when he visits Newtown next week.

How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World has earned widespread acclaim for its thoughtful exploration of forest ecology, stewardship, and the evolving relationship with nature.

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Newtown Forest Association To Host Bestselling Author And Forester Ethan Tapper

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