As New Year’s is right around the corner, we’re reflecting on everything we’ve learned this year, including the message from our latest exhibit Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans. This exhibit features six ambitious Trolls who are traveling the world to save us, humans, by reconnecting us to nature. These important lessons inspired many classes and helped make the message of sustainability fun and magical.
But the mission must continue even after the Trolls leave on January 14! Make a Troll-inspired new year resolution to show the Trolls that you heard their message and will continue to reconnect with nature. Will you work on having a green thumb like Rosa Sunfinger or become a better listener like Sofus Lotus? If you need a review on how each of the Trolls connect with nature before making your resolution or would like additional examples of Trolls-inspired resolutions, continue reading below! Then make sure to come visit the Trolls before they’re gone!
Ibbi Pip, the Birdhouse Troll: She is an optimistic Troll who is friends with all the animals and is a great builder. When the other Trolls were discussing how they would help connect humans back to nature, Ibbi was thinking of a way to show humans how to safely share space with animals. Then she had a brilliant idea – birdhouses! By placing birdhouses in trees, humans and birds can be neighbors and live next to each other. The other Trolls felt like the birdhouse symbolized their mission so much that they painted a birdhouse symbol on their flag.
Ibbi Pip-Inspired New Year Resolutions:
- Be optimistic and always look for a solution to the new challenges that come up this year.
- Put a bird feeder or a bird bath in your yard.
- Donate to or volunteer with an organization that provides a natural habitat for native birds, like the Garden!
Rosa Sunfinger, the Gardening Troll: She is always looking for ways to bring nature and joy back into spaces that were abandoned by humans and nothing makes her happier than flowers. She decided she would help us reconnect with nature by taking the tops off “the smelly metal boxes humans run around in” and filling them with flowers to make them smell better. When you visit Rosa, you’ll notice she is reaching her hands into a small car full of bright flowers to show us her vision.
Rosa Sunfinger-Inspired New Year Resolutions:
- Plant a pollination garden or native plant garden in your yard
- Carpool more often to reduce the amount of cars on the road
- Volunteer at the Garden and help us maintain our collections
Kamma Can, the Trash Troll: She has a creative mind and is always creating something beautiful out of unlikely objects, much like Thomas Dambo! When the young Trolls were discussing what they would teach the humans, Kamma Can thought about the ways humans could reuse the colorful eternity materials, a.k.a plastic. She noticed we use this material every day for clothing, toys and storing food. She also knows that it’s not very good for plants and animals, so her wonderful idea is to show us how to reuse these materials to create jewelry!
Kamma Can-Inspired New Year Resolutions:
- Find ways to reuse plastic or paper items before tossing them in the trash
- Participate in a beach clean-up
- Substitute products that come in plastic containers for products that come in aluminum, glass or paper containers
Ronja Redeye, the Speaker Troll: Whatever she lacks in size she makes up for in passion, and Ronja feels strongly about being kind and treating everyone fairly. That’s why when she overheard the older Trolls say that humans were not worth saving, she instantly gathered her friends and had a meeting. She gave a captivating speech explaining that we, humans, simply do not understand the consequences of our actions and it is only fair to give us a chance to learn. When you visit Ronja, you’ll notice she is holding a tall flag with the birdhouse symbol painted on it. This flag lets everyone know what their mission is and where to find the Trolls so they can join!
Ronja Redeye-Inspired New Year Resolutions:
- Use kind words when speaking to yourself and others
- Share the Trolls message with your friends and family
- Gather with friends and enjoy a walk through the Garden
Basse Buller, the Painting Troll: He is considered the wild child of the group, painting the birdhouse symbol on every surface he can find. Normally, Basse is all over the place, excitedly expressing himself through symbols and shapes but calms down when he begins painting or drawing. He makes his marks with rocks, sticks, leaves, mud and anything else he can collect. Rebellious and curious, Basse respects boundaries but will continue to push his message with signs and words. He is loud and funny and will do whatever he can to get the Trolls’ message to more humans. When you find Basse Buller, he is sitting next to a giant bucket of rocks with the birdhouse symbol in front of him.
Basse Buller-Inspired New Year Resolutions:
- Make artwork out of materials found in nature
- Learn more about a plant or animal you find interesting and draw a picture of it
- Take a crafting class at the Garden
Sofus Lotus, the Listening Troll: One of his favorite things to do is lie down with his ear pressed against the ground and listen to the rhythm of the Earth. By being quiet and listening carefully he can hear all the crackle, thud and buzz happening right beneath the ground. In fact, he was the first Troll to notice that the rhythm of the Earth had changed. So when the other Trolls were deciding how they could help the humans reconnect with nature, Sofus said, “If we’re going to save the humans, we should teach them to listen because only a human who listens will hear when Nature talks.”
Sofus Lotus-Inspired New Year Resolutions:
- Slow down and be more present in nature
- Donate your kitchen scraps to a local composting site so they can make nutrient-rich soil
- Find one small way you can help fight climate change
The Trolls are truly inspiring! Make sure to share your Troll-inspired New Year’s resolutions with the Trolls before they leave on January 14. For tickets, click here.
