Education
Teacher burnout is a grave reality.
A recent Gallup poll noted that educators have the highest burnout rate in any industry within the United States, with 44% of K-12 teachers reporting feeling overly stressed, exhausted, and strained.
The statistics are alarming, but also not surprising.
Yet I believe there is hope for this ever-growing problem, … 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
47 Parks
Up, up, up.
Hand over hand, one foot in front of the other.
I took a break to wipe my face, hoping to prevent the sunscreen I had just applied from going into my eyes. The sun was hot, but the strong breeze blowing from the north side made me feel less like a pastry … Read more
47 Parks
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” – John Muir
There’s a reason Yosemite is such a well-known national park: its mountains are unequivocal and its waterfalls are unparalleled. Furthermore, during the country’s most important camping trip, … Read more
47 Parks
20 Parks to Visit in 2020 (& when to go)
For me, 2019 has been a year of contentment. I took a road trip around Croatia and Italy, exploring many fantastic outdoor spaces. I also found places close to home that captured my interest and revisited some old American favorites. Despite my wanderlust, … Read more
47 Parks
Returning to a favorite national park feels like coming home.
I drove only a few miles into the Smokies and was met with waves of nostalgia. I remember that trailhead! That huge majestic willow tree looks familiar!
My last visit to the park had involved multiple adventures over the course of a week. I trekked … Read more
47 Parks
Hiking is so much better without the crowds…
…and when running water is involved.
A recent Shenandoah hike, Whiteoak Canyon, was the perfect trail to start the New Year. No resolution needed, simply a desire to get outside and check out some nearby wilderness that I hadn’t experienced during my previous foray into the park.… Read more
47 Parks
It was cold and crisp. I could see my breath wafting into the atmosphere as I stood and relished the sight. The hand warmers in my mittens were keeping my fingers nice and toasty, my wool socks protecting my toes from the sub-freezing temperatures. I scanned the horizon, noting astute differences from when I was … Read more
Spaces & Places
Looking up.
Aggressive sunrises,
Dappled clouds.
Hypnotic blues, grays, and in-betweens.
Sunsets that steal the show,
A finale that receives accolades
and encores.
While stars creep in, a vast party that
Pulses with old light
Eyes search out for splendor,
Sky that grounds me.
Throughout my travels, both national and abroad, I have always made … Read more
47 Parks
Move, Coast, Repeat (Great Sand Dunes)
She grips the cube of wax in hand, wielded like a sword
Plopping down on the sand, she quickly flips the board
Then like a desert artist, she draws a spiraling curl
Quite certain of the purpose – intent to give a whirl
She carefully removes her boots and … Read more