America's First Nature Library Loans Out Stargazing Kits

An 88-year-old grandmother just borrowed a wooden puzzle and a Danielle Steel novel from a library that also offers wildlife cameras, hammocks, and telescope kits. Welcome to America's first public nature library, where connecting with the outdoors is as easy as checking out a book.

The Anythink Nature Library opened in August in Colorado's Adams County with a simple mission: remove the barriers that keep people from experiencing nature. Executive Director Mark Fink wanted families to discover that connecting with the environment doesn't require an expensive camping trip to the mountains.

The library houses nearly 40,000 books plus 850 "try it" kits filled with outdoor gear. Visitors can borrow birdwatching equipment, gardening tools, hiking supplies, and even nightvision binoculars. Everything is completely free with a library card.

The building itself sits on 15 acres of former ranchland, now transformed into eight different gardens and a hiking trail. Solar panels cover the roof, and a geothermal system keeps the space comfortable year-round. Inside, kids scramble over boulders from a local quarry and make mudcakes in an outdoor pit.

Paula Jensen brought her 88-year-old mother Jeanette, who struggles to visit the mountains anymore. They strolled through the rock garden with Jeanette's walker, watched children play in the mud, and Jeanette couldn't believe the puzzles and books were free. "It made her so happy," Paula said.

Scientist Anna Amici visited with her two-year-old daughter Asha and borrowed a pollinator garden planning kit. She wants Asha to protect the environment from a place of love rather than doom. Next visit, they're checking out a stargazing kit for a family trip to the mountains.

The library offers free workshops on birdwatching, gardening, and hiking to build confidence. Research shows that people who spend time in nature are more likely to protect it, and even 20 minutes outside provides mental and physical health benefits.

The Ripple Effect

The library's impact reaches beyond individual families. In a state facing water shortages, Paula plans to borrow a book on drought-friendly gardens after seeing the library's sustainable landscaping. Anna hopes to identify the Rocky Mountain birds visiting their nearby lake and teach the names to Asha.

By making nature accessible where people already are, the library is creating a generation of environmental stewards. No expensive gear required, no mountain trek necessary.

Forty-one thousand ways to fall in love with the outdoors, all waiting on the shelves.