HCT’s Summer Solstice Program offers mindful way to savor the light

Here comes the sun! We are cruising through the longest days of the year, capped off by the summer solstice, set for June 20th. It’s a great time to relax, reflect and get ready for the busy season to come.

And your sunny friends at Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) have the perfect way to mark this auspicious turning point on the calendar. Our Summer Solstice Mindful Nature Walk, led by Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide Andrea Higgins, is scheduled for Wednesday June 18th, from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information and to register for this program, click here.

“A mindful outdoor experience is such a beautiful, sweet pause,” said Higgins. “It’s an opportunity to engage all your senses and really enjoy this place that we are lucky enough to live in or visit. And it’s a celebration of the longest day of the year. We’ll be there at the golden hour, so the light will be so beautiful, the flowers will be so beautiful and the air will smell so good.”

Enjoying the moment is key to a mindful nature experience. “It’s a special opportunity to slow down and engage all our senses and just appreciate the here and the now — to really be present,” said Higgins. ” We’ll celebrate the energy and the gift from the sun, and her power in helping our food grow.”

The program will take place at the lovely Rolf E. Sylvan Gardens Conservation Area, which is owned by the Town of Chatham and maintained and preserved through volunteer efforts with the Friends of Sylvan Gardens. Blooming flowers, the buzz of bees and birdsong will help set the tone for reflection.

Shining a light on the summer solstice

What the heck is the summer solstice anyway? We sought an easy-to-understand definition and found this nice passage from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):

“Earth orbits at an angle, so half the year, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun — this is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The other half of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, creating winter in the north and summer in the south. Solstices happen twice per year, at the points in Earth’s orbit where this tilt is most pronounced. These days are the longest (in the summer hemisphere) and shortest (in the winter hemisphere) of the year, and mark the change of seasons to summer and winter, respectively.”

While the summer solstice brings us the longest day of the year and the biggest dose of the sun, it typically does not deliver the highest temperatures of the summer. According to NOAA, the hottest days of the summer in our region usually occur between July 15th and July 31st, as ocean and land absorb and then gradually release solar energy.

For folks who are looking to celebrate the exact moment of the 2025 summer solstice, it arrives at 10:42 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) on June 20th, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

But perhaps the best way to get in the solstice mood is to sign up for HCT’s Summer Solstice Mindful Nature Walk on June 18th. This delightful program will help you learn how to be present in the moment and it’s a thoughtful way to kick off sweet summer on Cape Cod.

—Sign up for HCT eNews, a great way to stay in the loop about exciting HCT events, guided walks and other interesting news.

—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.