I’m in a classroom giving a lesson on the ecology of the Hudson River. As I always do, I start the class by asking the students: “How many of you have been down to the River?” And as usual, only about half the students raise their hands. I don’t probe …
Some of my most vivid outdoor memories revolve around the campfire. Whether I was sitting in the laps of my parents with a steaming mug of hot cocoa or wielding sticks with marshmallows, through all these memories there is always one constant: food. As your kids grow up, you might …
“Seeds are living things…intimately connected and intertwined with story, and lineage and place and people” – Rowan White, Sierra Seeds Can you remember the last time you held a seed? We all have ancestors who carried seeds, yet today we have little relationship with the food we eat and the …
Kite’s Nest, a liberatory education center located in Hudson, New York, provides space for local youth to build connections and to learn. Kites Nest activities foster self-efficacy, community and personal healing, and civic action. Youth are encouraged to use tools they create themselves to envision powerful ways of working together …
As I approach the tree where the eagle often perches, I slow down to see if he’s there. When he is, I stop underneath the tree and thank that eagle for being a source of joy and a dependable community connection. This little connection with nature has been my solace …
My effectiveness as an instructor for Wild Earth is largely determined by my ability to communicate effectively. In the first couple of weeks of my internship (here’s a link to my first post about Wild Earth), I apprenticed as an assistant to different lead instructors, spending two or three days …
Living in the Hudson Valley for nearly half of my life, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. For many children today, however, living even just a few feet away from the natural environment is not motivation enough to take the time and experience it. Through …
Since returning from the BCEP trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, I have had time to reflect and appreciate the width and depth of my experiences. The food, the people and the environment of Oaxaca provided a rich cultural experience, that continually challenged my perceptions and expectations. Even though it was easy …
There is a tendency for estuarine environments–where the river meets the sea–to hold a “nutrient trap” along the stark gradient between the estuary’s upper flow of freshwater and the lower, more dense “salt wedge” of seawater. This middle portion of the water column tends to be the most ecologically productive–where …
I have always dreamt about lobbying meetings and thought that politics are similar to the TV series, House of Cards. Not really, to be honest! Actually, lobbying on Capitol Hill isn’t as hard as I thought. After completing my internship at Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), I have a much better understanding …
