Ogden Nature Center Teacher-Naturalists are fond of telling people if they are here for the first time they have a fresh perspective and a chance to see their world with brand new eyes. Last Friday, an insightful conversation with a third grade field trip student brought the importance of really seeing home to me, as well as the importance of giving children the time and space to just, simply, Look!
Toward the end of our Ponds field trip, after netting macroinvertebrates at Tadpole Pond, learning about our resident birds at the mews, and gaining a better understanding of the intricate life cycles of insects, a young girl came up to the front of the line and took my arm. She had been very observant thoroughout the lesson, excitedly pointing out details in nature from birds overhead to the smallest flower beside the trail. She said with enthusiam and relief, "I'm so glad my eyes are fixed now!" I asked what had been wrong with her eyes. She replied, "I used to see everything. I used to notice all the animals and plants, and all of the insects. I used to stop all the time when I was walking with my parents and say, 'Look!' They would tell me to get up off the ground and stop looking, because they were in a hurry and I was making them late. After a while I just stopped seeing all those things." She paused for a moment to take a wide look around and a big breath, "But today, I can see all of it again! I'm so glad this place fixed my eyes!"
I reassured her there wasn't anything wrong with her eyes. I told her we all need the time to explore, to get down on our knees, to get our hands dirty, and to really SEE and experience our world.
The research is in and more is being conducted. People need nature. Children need time to play, to rest and rejuvenate outdoors. Kids who recess outside daily score better in standardized testing. Green spaces relieve stress for people of all ages.
More of us need to take the time to fix our eyes on that which feeds us. Give yourself and your family the gift of nature exploration at the Ogden Nature Center. Deliberate and healthy memory-making is always time well spent!
