Out in Nature

Out In Nature
I hear too much civilization. I feel that even when I try to go out
into nature, I never am never fully in nature. I hear noisy traffic and
chainsaws. I can’t seem to relax because I hear things like cars and
machines. I also can’t enjoy peace and quiet when trucks drive by. It
feels extremely weird when I am around nature and can hear
civilization.

2010-2011 E3 COURSE

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End of Quarter Revisions

The following student writing pieces (posted November 4, 2009)were part of the Walking Naturalist class during Quarter One of the 2009-10 academic year. Students in this course participated in a pilot experiential learning program of cross-curricular work. The intention of the program was to introduce or re-connect students to the natural world and elements of eco-ethics.

"Stay together, learn the flowers, go light."

We tried to follow these words penned by Gary Snyder as we walked in the woods, constructed our reflections on Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, and sat around the camp fire discussing concepts of community and love of the land.

"Be the Animal" by Heidi

Spring Peeper

In early spring from March to May, I am laying my eggs. My eggs are really small, smaller than a grain of rice. I lay up to 1000 eggs and attach them to sticks and then brush them underneath the water. Even though I am a tree frog, I don’t climb above knee level. I am not that noticeable to a lot of people. I am about the size of a nickel with an X on my back. Since it has been about a week since I laid my eggs, they have hatched and are bigger than me, but they don’t have any legs yet. I live in and around woodland ponds that are full of shrubs, branches, and twigs. You can also find me in puddles, fields, and other low places, clinging to stalks of grass or perched on the edge. I don’t just eat flies, I also eat insects like ants and water bugs. Even though I am very friendly, I have a lot of predators. When I’m a tadpole I have to watch out for the diving beetle larva and when I’m an adult I have to look out for skunks, snakes, and even larger frogs.

Damien's Response to Aldo Leopold

"Now we face the question whether a still higher 'standard of living' is worth its cost in things natural, wild, and free."

Leopold means that we don’t recognize or acknowledge the beauties of nature until we find ourselves trying to do away with them, as Leopold said in the Forward section. I couldn’t agree more with Leopold’s statement. He states that “for us the minority, the opportunity to see geese is more important than television.” People may disagree with this quote, but I find viewing a flock of geese to be very graceful and calming and more epic to watch than most television shows these days.

Martha's Perspective on Nature

Martha sketched these nature images in response to Aldo Leopold's August, September, and October entries in A Sand County Almanac. She researched the characteristics of plant life mentioned in those 3 entries and added quotes of relevance from AL's text.

"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."

"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from a furnace."

"Roadside beautification is a far cry from harmony between man and land that Aldo Leopold knew and taught."

Julia's Ode

Ode to the Speckled Alder
The way your green leaves explode out of your branches
And the way your tiny little buds burst into flowers
Makes me excited.
How your flowers are a warning for spring, but also for your green brilliance
Amazes me.
I love the way your smooth bark feels against my rough hands.
Oh, speckled alder.
How beautiful you are.