[Cassandra]

Hi Everyone,

I am VERY late coming to this discussion but want to thank you all for sharing your experiences and thoughts. I wrote up a piece in answer to the guiding question and I will share that below… but reading through the discussion above, I want to rethink and reconsider and reflect more on what nature connection means to me….

This is what I initially wrote:
For years I have worked as an environmental and outdoor educator. I take kids outdoors on a regular basis. I take adults on interpretative hikes in local preserves. I’ve interned with Outward Bound and seen and experienced first-hand the potential for personal growth through challenge and outdoor adventure. I’m a hiker and a camper and, on occasion, a conservation volunteer.

But questions arose through all of these experiences: sometimes when the focus is on personal growth, nature becomes a backdrop – always present but perhaps not seen. Sometimes environmental education and interpretation focus on facts and stories – the science of ecology and impact (good or bad) of humans within the environment – and the potential for personal growth is overlooked. There is power in both, but I have wondered how we can bring more intention into our time in the natural world to build awareness of self along with understanding of nature. How can time in nature become a created space for reflection, connection, and inspiration?

From this perspective, I feel nature-connection may have three (or more) elements or dimensions: as a practice, a mindset, and a context. As a practice (something done regularly and repeatedly to deepen the experience) either spending intentional time in the natural world or developing the skills (such as those mentioned already in this course related to observing, becoming aware, and being curious) as a way of understanding and approaching life. A mindset – using nature-based metaphor and the principles of nature connection to view life events and decision-making. Seeing daily life through a lens of nature-connection. And as a context (this one I struggle more to describe) – whether physical space such as used for adventure and/or wilderness-based programming, a focal-point for inspiration (such as that used for practices such as Shinrin-Yoku), or environment (more the outdoor-classroom approach to gain ecological understanding). I think there is a role for all three of these elements in creating a deep, intentional Nature-Connection.

I often find myself outdoors – for work or personal time – but I noticed quite recently that I am often not truly aware of my environment. I hike but my brain is elsewhere. I teach facts and stories, but I don’t allow time for emotive connection. I feel that adding this dimension can deepen the experience but also – and of more interest to me – become a tool for personal awareness, experience, and growth.

I participated in most of the first video call for this course – but it has taken me nearly four weeks to finish watching the call and take the time to process, reflect upon, and synthesize what I learned and have read. This is my biggest challenge with regard to nature-connection: carving out the time in a life full of distraction and stimuli to form a regular practice and conscious mindset. Creating that space and allowing myself to slow-down, ponder, and become curious. Building awareness within myself and practicing techniques to transform Nature from a backdrop and allow it center-stage.

-Cassandra

[Cassandra]

Good morning! I’m Cassandra. I’ve been thinking for a while… but just signed up for the course this morning. I’m excited to meet all of you this evening.