Thoughts & Things
Autumn brings a sense of peace that emerges from the quietude of falling leaves and rich colors that paint the landscape. Summer = rest. Fall = tranquility. As the season for harvest progresses, I find that I have to be intentional about recording my experiences in writing as I much prefer the internal ruminations of … Read more
Thoughts & Things
The weather is chilly and the days are short. It can be easy to hunker down with hot chocolate, Netflix, and comfy slippers. Yet there’s a whole world out there ready to be explored and experienced! Depending on where you live, winter can be such a challenging time to be outside. Oftentimes it becomes easier … Read more
Thoughts & Things
In other years, the December rains may have invoked feelings of melancholy, the white Christmases of my childhood the extraordinary ideal towards which I still tend to reach. Today, I lean into the droplets cascading from the sky, humming against my face with a sense of reverence. The rain serves as a reminder of nature’s … Read more
47 Parks
There’s something special about a serene river surrounded by an immense meadow, surrounded by blue-gray mountains. Like Russian nesting dolls, the intricate scenery just keeps going. I was above 8,000 feet, in an area of Yosemite known as Tuolumne (too-all-uh-me) Meadows. It was an absolutely beautiful place, unlike anything I had yet seen … Read more
Thoughts & Things
Spaces & Places
Happy Earth Day, friends.
As I currently write this, the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, and my feet are itching to get outside for a little stroll. While I try to appreciate nature and the outdoors on a daily basis, I find that I experience a swell of gratitude every April 22 for … Read more
Thoughts & Things
We are currently being bombarded on a daily (hourly?) basis with news, stats, and stories about COVID-19. Thus, I thought long and hard about even mentioning it here, on a site whose primary purpose is to encourage individuals to explore wild places and natural spaces. Yet it is times like these when we need the … Read more
Education
There is something about play as both a construct and an action that is so intuitive. No one has to specifically teach a child how to play. Yes, we often find children mimicking the world around them and taking the lead from an adult, but play is an intrinsic part of who we are as … Read more
Thoughts & Things
#OptOutside
Perhaps you’ve heard of it? A brilliant idea introduced by REI in 2015 as they decided to forego the typical Black Friday craziness. Whether or not you’ve participated, the simple concept behind the Opt Outside campaign has gone far above and beyond what REI ever imagined.
It began as a response to consumerism in … Read more
Thoughts & Things
It’s been too long.
I realized just today that I haven’t posted anything for over two months. Autumn weather is prime-time for nature adventures and outdoor escapades, yet I haven’t managed to write one iota.
Why?
It’s not that I haven’t been outdoors. I’ve taken pleasant evening strolls on the trail by my house, enjoyed … Read more