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
Old Rag: the iconic mountain nestled on the eastern outskirts of Shenandoah National Park. There are literally hundreds of blog posts about this popular and slightly dangerous hike – a trek laden with switchbacks, rock scrambles, and incredible panoramic views. Why add another voice into the interweb’s blend of tips, tricks, and opinions about Old … 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
Spaces & Places
Starting off with Earth Day (April 22), this past week offered a chance to celebrate our beautiful planet and appreciate all of the wonderful natural places in our world. It’s also a great reminder to care for our Earth and an opportunity to raise environmental awareness both within the United States and abroad.
Since I … Read more
Education
A teacher lies in a field.
A host of colorful rain jackets litter the grass like petals.
Students join the adventure,
Backs to dirt, watching raindrops cascade down from a gray sky.
I enjoy being an educator, but there are some days where I simply love my job and the opportunities it affords to … Read more
Regional Parks
February is the month of introspection and restlessness. Typically winter lolls about like a tantrumming toddler, beating its fists and creating headaches all around.
This year feels different. Perhaps it’s the mild weather (78° anyone???), or maybe it’s due to the plethora of random activities in which I’ve been dabbling.* In any case, I’ve been … Read more
National Forests
Cabin fever: irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter.
This season has been a strange one, vacillating between cold-frigid-dry and mild-breezy-moist. The sun has peeked out for days at a time, and then retreated back to its cloud cover, refusing to dish out Vitamin D.
I … Read more
Spaces & Places
Throughout my travels near and far, I have experienced nature in the forests, mountains, valleys, rivers, oceans, and even underground in caves.
It was high-time that I took to the skies.*
When my pilot friend (who also happens to be a flight instructor) said, “Let’s go flying”, I was … Read more
Education
We were foraging for sticks – good ones that were both sturdy and sized correctly.
“How’s this one? And look at the pine needles I found for the brush part!”
I couldn’t help but smile, relishing the contentment I felt at spending time outside with a league of children. Our current project: creating paintbrushes using … Read more