Published June 13, 2025
A lesson in staying young at heart and leaving a legacy
Lauren and Andrew White are local small-business owners, creatives and storytellers who express their narratives through film. Their remarkable and prolific storytelling skills are likely shaped by their own incredible journeys — stories that will both begin and end with nature.
As children — long before they met — the Whites spent long days outdoors immersed in nature. Lauren would sneak Tupperware out of her parents’ kitchen to make mud pies and Andrew spent time at Island MetroPark playing and listening to live performances in the band shell. Though years have passed, the couple still lean into their youthful spirits by prioritizing play — especially outdoors.
You can catch them sledding in Germantown MetroPark and waging community-wide snowball fights at Island MetroPark. Their love story even began at a MetroPark shelter during a community meeting they were both attending.
“Nature is just something that is a timeless staple in our lifestyle,” Lauren said. “We don’t have kids, so when we pass, where are the things we worked so hard for going? MetroParks was the first thing on our minds.”
After the couple’s business, Indigo Life Media, filmed a series based on the Dayton region’s natural resources in MetroParks called “Decoding Nature,” plans for their legacy became clear.
“We always knew we would pick a place [to support] when we passed, but there wasn’t a lot of catalyst behind choosing — we felt like we still had time,” Lauren said. “Working on ‘Decoding Nature,’ we met people and found places that wouldn’t exist without those who had the forethought to plan for the future.”
Indeed, MetroParks’ nearly 16,000 acres of protected land, now with over 2 million visits per year, was envisioned in 1963. A small group of conservation-minded individuals saw the need to preserve greenspace that was rapidly being lost to urban sprawl.
“If we didn’t have an organization that oversaw protecting natural spaces, I don’t think we would have what we have today,” Andrew said. Lauren admits the couple almost fell into a trap of taking things like access to nature for granted.
“There are things you enjoy so much that you haven’t really thought about all it entails to keep those things,” said Lauren. “We didn’t really pause to think about everything it takes for the parks to operate.”
The experience of filming “Decoding Nature” took the couple behind-the-scenes of MetroParks operations and allowed them to understand all it requires to protect the region’s natural heritage and provide experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.
“I appreciate the commitment to clean land and the parks are well maintained,” said Andrew. “I want to be a part of that, to contribute something that helps kids and families in the future.”
While it’s never too early for young couples to think about their futures, the average age of those who make their charitable bequest commitment is around 50, according to Care.org. Indeed, the Whites have planned ahead but emphasize that they are still a young couple with a vibrant life — in many ways thanks to nature.
“We don’t look and act our age because we are in nature and spend more time in our childlike wonder,” said Lauren. “You feel free when you are outside and playing.”
Here are just a few ways the White family stays happy and youthful with help from the great outdoors:
- Mental health: Both Lauren and Andrew visit nature for their mental wellbeing—even if it’s just to have coffee outdoors or explore with their dog.
Nature is, indeed, an accessible space that is beneficial to one’s physical and mental health. Simply spending time in nature can reduce anxiety, lower your blood pressure and give you a boost of vitamin D.
- Just do it: Though the Whites plan well-thought-out excursions, they also emphasize that recreation doesn’t always have to be about covering miles or having the best gear. Andrew recommends just going outside to see what happens on an adventure without expectations. He also recommends being present, which can mean skipping screens and powering down your phone for an afternoon on the trails.
If you need some structure, but want to get out and go, consider registering for the MetroParks Trails Challenge. This annual challenge can be completed on your own time and at your own pace, and includes 28 hiking, paddling, cycling, mountain biking and horseback riding trails. The more trails you complete, the better your chances of winning sweet prizes. Learn more.
- Keep it whimsical: Andrew and Lauren love to play, from splashing in puddles to being the only adults without children on Germantown MetroPark’s sledding hill. They recommend other adults find ways to be a kid again, from laying on the ground to chat to floating down the rivers on innertubes.
Be sure to visit Andrew and Lauren’s favorite Five Rivers MetroParks locations on your next adventure
Learn more about leaving a legacy gift at the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation website.
