Journal Entry 1

Today’s excursion to the nature center made me think a lot about the adventure aspect of being outdoors. Ben happens to be a close representative of Tarzan in pursuit of climbing trees, chasing armadillos, and nature calling so that was entertaining. The great outdoors provide an escape from much of the materialism, social media, and technology we are bombarded with as Americans. Much of what many people enjoy doing in their free time utilizes nature. Without rivers, trees, and plants—we wouldn’t have kayaking, climbing, or gardening as hobbies. So many of my best memories growing up are being outdoors whether that was riding bikes at my cabin, jumping on the trampoline, digging for bugs, playing kickball, or just running around and enjoying my youth. I think the most significant memories are often created amidst nature because all of our senses are engaged. I also think life change for many people happen when they are able to spend more time outdoors. There is a reason why so many su...

Nicole Burns September 5, 2017 Treks and Texts: Journeys into Nature Daniel Williams My reading experience this week let me delve into the works of Meriwether Lewis. At times his work was hard to read because of the peculiar language used. It reminded me of the King James Version of the bible except replaced with nature writing. Lewis included intricate detail when describing scenery and wildlife. He articulated that it was hard to put nature into words at times because of its vastness and majestic beauty. I feel the same way—there is something about looking at a waterfall, a mountain range, or the sea that just cannot be put into words. Part of the nature experience is living in that particular moment and being able to use all of our senses to fully engage. Although scenery is not easy to create a visual for, Lewis did write extensively about the weapons used to slaughter animals. I even learned that an espontoon has a shape of an ax and was used as a hunting tool. Furtherm...

Nicole Burns August 29, 2017 Treks and Texts: Journeys into Nature Daniel Williams My first day at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge consisted of the exploration of my path. The sun was shining brightly and there was not a cloud in the sky. My path was surrounded by lush green grass because of the frequent rainfall (frequent for Texas at least). Within the first twenty feet I found a bench where visitors are able to rest. As I continued down our trail, there were plenty of trees, leaves, bushes, and flowers that I am currently not able to characterize by name. I hope to gain some insight into what exactly I am looking at. Toward the end of our trail we encountered a bridge without any railings. At this point we were deep into a forested area and the scenery was incredible. I think my first exploration of our path reminded me how important it is to slow down from the busyness of life to enjoy the creation around me. It is beneficial to do physical labor without having t...