Spark Change x Schramm Park: Creating a True Nebraska Scent!

We’re excited to share something really special — a new partnership with Schramm Park State Recreation Area. This collaboration is all about authenticity, nature, and a little bit of science. How It Started When we first met with the incredible team at Schramm Park, we shared the concept behind our Nebraska-inspired candle collection. We talked about the scents, the stories, and the parks that inspired them. Our first three candles included: Niobrara Nightfall Inspired by the wild beauty of the Niobrara State Park, this scent captures the calm of Nebraska nights outdoors. Notes include deep woods, soft earth, and the cool stillness of evening along the river bluffs. Mahoney Meadow Inspired by the prairie landscapes of Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, this candle celebrates open meadows, warm grasses, and the peaceful feeling of being surrounded by Nebraska’s natural beauty. Schramm Park Pine (Original Concept) Originally, we imagined a classic pine-forward scent inspired by Schramm Park’s wooded areas. But here’s the funny part… The Ecologists Gave Us a Plot Twist During our conversations with the park’s outdoor professionals and ecologists, we learned something fascinating: Many of the pine trees people associate with the park are actually invasive species. That realization changed everything. Instead of creating a pine-heavy candle that wasn’t truly representative of the ecosystem, we decided to do something way more fun and meaningful. Turning It Into a Nature Game 🌿 The Schramm Park ecologists gave us a list of native Nebraska plants, trees, and flowers that actually belong in the park’s ecosystem. So we turned the scent creation into a collaborative challenge: Can we recreate a candle scent that better reflects the real ecology of Schramm Park? With guidance from the park’s experts, we’re now developing a NEW Schramm Park scent, built from native species and natural elements that define the area. And here’s the best part… The outdoor professionals at Schramm Park will help vote on the final scent profile. Why This Matters At Spark Change, we believe candles can be more than just fragrance. They can tell stories about places, ecosystems, and conservation. This project lets us: Celebrate Nebraska’s native ecology Educate people about invasive vs. native species Highlight the incredible work park ecologists do Create something authentic to the land itself Follow the Journey We’re inviting you to follow along as we develop the NEW Schramm Park scent. Over the coming weeks we’ll be sharing: • The native plants being considered • Behind-the-scenes scent testing • Voting with Schramm Park outdoor professionals • The final scent reveal Follow along here on the Spark Change blog and across our social media as we bring this candle to life. Because at Spark Change, every candle is more than a scent. It’s a story about the outdoors — and every purchase helps more kids get outside and experience it for themselves.