Getting outside and enjoying the natural world is important for mental health, physical well-being and fostering the next generation of environmentalists.

That’s why Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership is excited to be hosting author Richard Louv at its first Nature Talks, an annual series of thought-provoking conversations that also serves as a fundraiser for the organization.

Louv has written nine books, including the bestselling “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” His books are full of inspiring ideas about ways to incorporate nature into your life, and include tips for families, teachers, religious leaders, pediatricians, policy-makers and more.

This event is Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Friends Center, 1515 Cherry St., in Center City. Tickets are $50, and proceeds go to TTF’s outreach and educational programs. Shuttle readers are eligible for a $10 discount.

His topic is “The Nature-Rich Life: Nature-Rich Cities, Homes, Schools and More.” He believes we can create healthier and more sustainable communities, businesses and economies by tapping into the restorative powers of nature. After the discussion, there will be an opportunity to meet Louv and purchase his books.

Encouraging people to get outside and enjoy nature is a big part of what we do here at TTF. We work to improve the health and vitality of our 30-square-mile watershed, which includes neighborhoods in North, Northeast, and Northwest Philadelphia and communities in Montgomery County such as Abington, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, Rockledge and Springfield. Part of the reason why our work is so important is because our waterway, known as the Tookany upstream and the Tacony over the city line and flowing into Frankford Creek, empties into the Delaware River, a source of drinking water for many Philadelphians.

We have found that the best way to spread our message is to connect people to their local parks and creeks. We do this by marking storm drains across our watershed, and hosting many activities in Tacony Creek Park — not just cleanups but also nature, bird and history walks in the heart of Juniata. Restoration is also a large part of what we do: We partner with municipalities, schools and other institutions to install green stormwater infrastructure projects such as rain gardens, creekside plantings and more. These specialized plantings are designed to slow and filter polluted rainwater before it enters our waterways. We have more than a dozen GSI projects, including our rain gardens in Germantown and Olney, creekside plantings along the Jenkintown Creek, and our vernal pool restoration in Abington.

We hope you’ll support our work by joining us Feb. 28! To reserve tickets, visit ttfwatershed.org/NatureTalks; use the code SHUTTLE for $10 off, or call 215-744-1853 and mention this article.